Grade 4 Green Screen

Titanic Survivor Interviews

Students in Ms. Sitak's fourth grade class recently completed their study of of the H.M.S Titanic.  One part of the project asked students to step back in time and conduct interviews with real-life survivors.  Student "reporters" researched and asked appropriate questions.  Student "survivors" researched a real-life Titanic survivor and answered the questions as they imagined that person might have answered them.Using the Green Screen app and iMovie we created video versions of these mock interviews.

Grade 4 Behind the Scenes

Technology Essential Questions:

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

How can we use this software to address the different needs, learning styles, interests and abilities of students?

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Grade 4 State Fair

4th Grade presents:

Spofford Pond School State Fair

Students in grade 4 have been studying the U.S. States over the past several weeks.  In a culminating project, they create a presentation including everything they have learned about their State.  Families, teachers and other students are invited to the State Fair to see their discoveries.This year, the State Fair also included this fun Midway Game:Using Flipgrid, each student left a video recording that included two truths and a lie about their State.  Fair participants were encouraged to leave a video reply, trying to guess which statement was the lie.In this scenario, everyone was a winner!
Flipgrids:passcode:  B0xf0rd*State Fair Fun:

Students also created a sing-along to Renald Francoeur's "Tour the States".Check it out:

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Grade 3 "How To" Videos

Creating "How To" videos using Explain Everything, Drawing Pad and the Camera

Students in Mrs. Holt's grade three classroom recently used the iPad apps, Explain Everything and Drawing Pad, and the iPad camera to create "How To" videos.  Students chose a topic such as, "how to make a sandwich" or "how to play checkers" and then wrote a script of steps that could teach the skill to someone else.  They used Explain Everything, Drawing Pad and the camera to turn their scripts into videos.  Here are a few examples:
How to Paint a Rock PetHow to Paint Your Nails

Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

Grade 3 Common Core Standards: W.3.2, W.3.3, W.3.5, W. 3.6, SL.3.4, SL.3.5, SL.3.62016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework3-5.DTC.a.2; 3-5.DTC.a.3; 3-5.DTC.b.1

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The American Southwest - Grade 4

Mrs. Viviani's Social Studies ClassesStudents have been studying the American Southwest.  As a culminating project, they were tasked with creating an "Explain Everything" screencast to show what they have learned about this incredible region of our country.  Students used print and digital sources to research the topic and presented their findings digitally. Check it out!



Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

Grade 4 Common Core Standards:  RI.4.10; SL.4.4; SL.4.5

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Grade 4 Explain Everything

Students in Mrs. Macelhiney's grade 4 class were tasked with creating screencasts to explain everything they know about the United States.  Each student researched a U.S. State andcreated their tutorials using the iPads and the app, Explain Everything.Check it out:
Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

Grade 4 Common Core Standards:  RI.4.10; SL.4.4; SL.4.5; 

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Green Screen in Grade 5

Technology IntegrationwithMrs. Wiles-Stasko's Social Studies ClassesStudents have been studying explorers during social studies over the past few weeks.  As a culminating project, they were asked to "interview" a famous explorer.Here is the assignment criteria:

  

Next students spent time creating and memorizing their skits:

 

Then it was time to enter the Green Screen Studio and tape their skits.  We had camera operators, directors, set managers and talent working collaboratively to make it happen!  "Quiet on set!"

Finally, we took our segments to the editing room andused Green Screen and iMovie to put on the final touches.
Enjoy!

Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

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Grade 3 Penguins

Students in Mrs. Estella's 3rd grade have been studying and researching penguins.They have been reading books about penguins and doing online research using Kids InfoBitsThey recently used the app "Book Creator" to create eBooks to show what they know.Enjoy!

Click to view:Technology Essential Question:How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

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Grade 5 Explorer Holiday Proposals

Grade 5 Social Studies Students use Explain Everything

 Students in Mrs. Medugno's and Mrs. Bouffard's social studies classes have recently finished creating Explain Everything screencasts explaining why certain

explorers of the past deserve a holiday.

Students researched an explorer and then presented their facts and gave reasons whythey believe their explorer should have a holiday in their honor and how it will be celebrated.Check it out:Technology Essential Questions:

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

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Grade 3 Google Slides

Grade 3 Students:Discovering How to Collaborate DigitallyUsing Google Slides...
Students in Mrs. Holt's third grade have been studying weather.Recently, they were tasked with reading books about various weather subjects andthen working in collaborative groups to share what they learned.Student groups each created a Google Slides project andpresented it to their classmates. Students were able to work individually on their own laptop on ashared digital presentation, in real time.Wow!  Google Slides and The Power of Collaboration!

Finished Slide Presentation:
Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

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States of Matter - Grade 3

Grade 3 Students in Mrs. Gibson's ClassTopic:  The States of Matter

Grade 3 working hard!

Students used the App Explain Everything to explain the three states of matter.
Check out their finished projects:
Massachusetts Physical Science (Chemistry - Physics) Standards, Grades 3 - 5:Standard 2:  Compare and contrast solids, liquids, and gases based on thebasic properties of each of these states of matter.Technology Essential Question:How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

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Radical Readers Recommend: Grade 3

Mrs. Holt's Grade Three Students have been very busy!

Here are some highlights from their most recent technology-integrated project.All students were asked to read a book of their choice and write a review.Students then turned their review into a script and memorized it.Next,  we filmed their reviews in the Green Screen Studio:

Students used the Green Screen App to create backgrounds and edit their videos:

All Digital Music was created by the class during Music with Ms. Horgan using GarageBand and

added to the students' reviews using iMovie. 

Enjoy!

Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

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4th Grade Persuasive eBooks

Mrs. Macelhiney's 4th GradeCreating Opinion eBooksRecently, 4th graders have been writing persuasive essays.  Upon completion, they were asked to create an illustrated eBook to highlight their opinion and compelling reasons.
Do you think Boxford should have sidewalks?Click below for Caroline's reasons why it should.  Enjoy!

Mrs. Macelhiney's 4th Grade Class

Technology Essential Question:How can this technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

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Online Research and eBook Presentations

Martin Luther King, Jr - by Grade 4Students were tasked with:1.  Using Kids InfoBits (online database) to research at least five facts about Martin Luther King, Jr.
2.  Creating online notes and summaries of their research, send to Google Drive
3.  Creating citations for the resources they used, send to Google Drive
4.  Compiling their findings by creating an eBook about M.L.K., Jr. for a young audienceusing Book Creator

Researching Martin Luther King, Jr

Creating an eBook

Click on images to view finished projects:

Click here for a sample of Research Notes

Click here for a sample of Citations

Common Core Standards for Grade 4:  Reading Informational Text: RI.4; RI.4.9,
Writing:  W.4.2; W.4.4; W.4.7; W.4.8; W.4.9, Language:  L.4.1; L.4.2; L.4.3

Technology Essential Question: How can this technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

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Grade 3 Winter Poems

Grade 3 Winter Poem BooksIn December, students in Ms. Hartley's third grade class spent some time creatingWinter Poem books using iPads and an app called Book Creator. 

Click on the image below to check out their collaborative effort:

Technology Essential Question:How can we use this software to create original collaborative projects?

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Grade3 and the Outdoor Classroom

The Outdoor Classroom

Students in Mrs. Holt's Grade Three Class recently visited the Outdoor Classroom.
They used iPads to take pictures of what they discovered outside.
They compiled their pictures in an Explain Everything screencast and described their experiences.

They discovered iPads can be used for things other than selfies!

Grade Three students working hard!

Grade Three students helping each other!

Finished Project:

Essential Questions:

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this technology to create original, innovative works and ideas?

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Scenes from the Hour of Code

Spofford Pond School

Hour of Code

Dec. 7 - 11, 2015

Click on pictures below to watch scenes from our Hour of Code week.23 classes (over 430 students and teachers) participated and discovered The Power of CODE!

Third graders proudly displaying their Technology Award

Here are a few games students created:

by C., Grade 4

by A., grade 3

Code Behind the Scenes, Snapshots:

Hour of Code Lesson Essential Question:How can we use software to create original, innovative works and ideas?
Also, check out my iPad Apps page.  I have added a few links and app suggestions for coding.

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Technology Essential Questions

Technology Essential Questions for 21st Century Learners

What is 21st Century Learning?  21st Century Learning is the development of certain skills in today's students across all grades and throughout the curriculum.  At its core, it involves mastery of the 4 C's:  creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication.

Each time a class uses technology within their curriculum, we always ask a few essential questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

For additional information see:

The 21st century classroom – where the 3 R’s meet the 4 C’s!

Creativity and Innovation

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Developing the 4 C's

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