Monday, September 19, 2011

Thing #7

I loved exploring these tools!  I found Voki, Animoto, and Wordle to be particularly interesting.  There are just so many ways I could use these tools in my first grade classroom!

Wordle is an excellent tool for displaying new vocabulary.  Whenever we begin a new unit, I always start by introducing the vocabulary of the unit.  Then I remind the students of those vocabulary words throughout the lesson so that students can begin to make connections.  Wordle would make a beautiful display for the vocabulary!

Each year, I do an animal research project with my students.  We go through all the stages of the writing process to get a complete paragraph in which students are required to present information about their animal.  After playing around with Voki, I thought it might be cool for them to create a talking "avatar" to present the information! 

I will definitely use Animoto to create video clips and TEASEs.  I made a video at the end of last year featuring video clips and pictures of my students.  I took a video clip of each of them showing their favorite thing to do in First Grade.  I added pictures I had taken throughout the year.  I tried to use Windows Movie Maker to put them together and set them to music, but ran into some technical difficulties. :)  This year, I may try again and use Animoto....hopefully I'll have better luck!

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