Kindergarten iPad Projects
Our media center has 11 iPads. For all projects, K-5 students work in groups of 2-3 to create an iPad project that supports the Common Core and incorporates the 4Cs (collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking). Through project-based learning, students increase their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
Chatterpix Introductions:
Students worked with a partner and used the Chatterpix app on their iPad to introduce themselves to the class. For their video, students took their selfies, selected a background, and said their name and one thing about themselves. (For example: "I am Rachel. I am 6 years old." or "I am Rachel. I like the color red." Students shared their videos with the class. (1 class period)
Pumpkin Research Chatterpix:
As a class, we read an informational e-book about pumpkins on Big Universe. On a graphic organizer, we recorded what pumpkins are, have, and can do. Then, students colored and labeled the parts of a pumpkin (seeds, stem, leaf, vine). For their Chatterpix video, students used their iPad camera to take a picture of their pumpkin. They drew a mouth for their pumpkin and then recorded themselves saying one thing they learned about pumpkins from their research. (For example: "I am a pumpkin. I am orange." or "I am a pumpkin. I have seeds.") Students created a text box with their name and used digital stickers to decorate their pumpkin with a mouth, eyes, and hat. Students shared their videos with the class. (3-4 class periods)
Polar Bears Research Chatterpix:
To activate prior knowledge, we watched a short video about polar bears. As a class, we read an informational e-book about polar bears on Big Universe. On a graphic organizer, students took notes on what polar bears are, can, have, and eat. Then, students labeled the parts of a polar bear. For their Chatterpix video, students went to pics4learning and saved a picture of a polar bear to their camera roll. Using the Chatterpix app on their iPad, students drew a mouth on their polar bear to make him/her talk in their video. Then, students recorded themselves saying one thing they learned about polar bears from their research. (For example: "I am a polar bear. I have fur." or "I am a polar bear. I eat seals.") Students created a text box with their name. Students shared their videos with the class. (3-4 class periods)
Pirate Puppet Pals Video:
To promote our Pirate Book Fair, we researched and read aloud stories about pirates. Then, students used the Puppet Pals app on the iPad to create a video in which they shared one thing they learned about pirates from research and stories. (For example: "I am a pirate. I look for treasures." or "I am a pirate. I sail on a ship.") For their video, students chose pirate puppets and a background and talked like a pirate. Students shared their videos with the class. (3-4 class periods)
Dr. Seuss Chatterpix:
To celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America Week, we spent several weeks reading Dr. Seuss books and doing some special activities. To culminate our Dr. Seuss unit, students used the Chatterpix app on their iPad to record themselves reading aloud a page from a Dr. Seuss book. Students used their iPad camera to take a picture of their page. They drew a mouth on a book character, so it talked in their video. Students created a text box with their name. Students shared their videos with the class. (1 class period)
Ant Research Chatterpix:
To activate prior knowledge, we brainstormed examples of insects and discussed some characteristics and body parts of insects. As a class, we read an informational e-book about ants on Big Universe. On a graphic organizer, students took notes on what ants are, can, have, and eat. Then, students labeled the parts of an ant. For their Chatterpix video, students went to Photos for Class and saved a picture of an ant to their camera roll. Using the Chatterpix app on their iPad, students drew a mouth on their ant to make it talk in their video. Then, students recorded themselves saying one thing they learned about ants from their research. (For example: "I am an ant. I have antennae." or "I am an ant. I have six legs.") Students created a text box with their name. Students shared their videos with the class. (2-3 class periods)
2D Shapes Digital Book:
As a class, we used books and videos to compare and contrast 2D and 3D shapes. With a partner, students used the Story Creator app on their iPad to create an 8-page digital book about 2D shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, oval, star, and heart). On each page, students typed the name of their shape, drew a picture of the shape, and added a sound recording. Students shared their shape books with the class. (3-4 class periods)
My Five Senses Digital Book:
As a class, we watched a video about the five senses. With a partner, students used the Story Creator app on their iPad to create a 7-page digital book about the five senses. For example, they typed "I smell flowers," used the doodle button to draw a picture of flowers, and then added a sound recording of themselves reading "I smell flowers." Students shared their five senses books with the class. (3-4 class periods)
Chatterpix Introductions:
Students worked with a partner and used the Chatterpix app on their iPad to introduce themselves to the class. For their video, students took their selfies, selected a background, and said their name and one thing about themselves. (For example: "I am Rachel. I am 6 years old." or "I am Rachel. I like the color red." Students shared their videos with the class. (1 class period)
Pumpkin Research Chatterpix:
As a class, we read an informational e-book about pumpkins on Big Universe. On a graphic organizer, we recorded what pumpkins are, have, and can do. Then, students colored and labeled the parts of a pumpkin (seeds, stem, leaf, vine). For their Chatterpix video, students used their iPad camera to take a picture of their pumpkin. They drew a mouth for their pumpkin and then recorded themselves saying one thing they learned about pumpkins from their research. (For example: "I am a pumpkin. I am orange." or "I am a pumpkin. I have seeds.") Students created a text box with their name and used digital stickers to decorate their pumpkin with a mouth, eyes, and hat. Students shared their videos with the class. (3-4 class periods)
Polar Bears Research Chatterpix:
To activate prior knowledge, we watched a short video about polar bears. As a class, we read an informational e-book about polar bears on Big Universe. On a graphic organizer, students took notes on what polar bears are, can, have, and eat. Then, students labeled the parts of a polar bear. For their Chatterpix video, students went to pics4learning and saved a picture of a polar bear to their camera roll. Using the Chatterpix app on their iPad, students drew a mouth on their polar bear to make him/her talk in their video. Then, students recorded themselves saying one thing they learned about polar bears from their research. (For example: "I am a polar bear. I have fur." or "I am a polar bear. I eat seals.") Students created a text box with their name. Students shared their videos with the class. (3-4 class periods)
Pirate Puppet Pals Video:
To promote our Pirate Book Fair, we researched and read aloud stories about pirates. Then, students used the Puppet Pals app on the iPad to create a video in which they shared one thing they learned about pirates from research and stories. (For example: "I am a pirate. I look for treasures." or "I am a pirate. I sail on a ship.") For their video, students chose pirate puppets and a background and talked like a pirate. Students shared their videos with the class. (3-4 class periods)
Dr. Seuss Chatterpix:
To celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America Week, we spent several weeks reading Dr. Seuss books and doing some special activities. To culminate our Dr. Seuss unit, students used the Chatterpix app on their iPad to record themselves reading aloud a page from a Dr. Seuss book. Students used their iPad camera to take a picture of their page. They drew a mouth on a book character, so it talked in their video. Students created a text box with their name. Students shared their videos with the class. (1 class period)
Ant Research Chatterpix:
To activate prior knowledge, we brainstormed examples of insects and discussed some characteristics and body parts of insects. As a class, we read an informational e-book about ants on Big Universe. On a graphic organizer, students took notes on what ants are, can, have, and eat. Then, students labeled the parts of an ant. For their Chatterpix video, students went to Photos for Class and saved a picture of an ant to their camera roll. Using the Chatterpix app on their iPad, students drew a mouth on their ant to make it talk in their video. Then, students recorded themselves saying one thing they learned about ants from their research. (For example: "I am an ant. I have antennae." or "I am an ant. I have six legs.") Students created a text box with their name. Students shared their videos with the class. (2-3 class periods)
2D Shapes Digital Book:
As a class, we used books and videos to compare and contrast 2D and 3D shapes. With a partner, students used the Story Creator app on their iPad to create an 8-page digital book about 2D shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, oval, star, and heart). On each page, students typed the name of their shape, drew a picture of the shape, and added a sound recording. Students shared their shape books with the class. (3-4 class periods)
My Five Senses Digital Book:
As a class, we watched a video about the five senses. With a partner, students used the Story Creator app on their iPad to create a 7-page digital book about the five senses. For example, they typed "I smell flowers," used the doodle button to draw a picture of flowers, and then added a sound recording of themselves reading "I smell flowers." Students shared their five senses books with the class. (3-4 class periods)