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Monthly Archives: April 2015
YEAR 3 PROGRAMMING WITH APPS
Programming with Apps
On Monday 27th April, select students from Year 3, with the support of the Year 6 ICT Mentors participated in a PROGRAMMING WITH APPS session.
The students were introduced to the following concepts:
- What a program is
- How a computer ‘thinks’
- Computer languages and visual programming
They experimented with following instructions and thinking computationally through the use programmable Bee-Bots and the Bee-Bot app. These tools are excellent for reinforcing directional and procedural language.
Through the use of visual programming apps, the students also learnt to create simple programs. Apps like Daisy the Dinosaur and Kodable support students to learn to code by solving puzzles. The ability to problem solve is a critical and creative skill for students to develop.
The students were now ready to create their own program using Scratch Jnr. This app has a drag and drop interface designed specifically for programming with younger children.
The students were given the task to collaboratively design a simple story, selecting an appropriate setting and writing an interaction between characters. This task made connections between the story writing process and computer literacy through programming. The ICT Mentors supported and directed the younger students exceptionally well at this stage.
All these apps are available for free. More apps can be found at Programming for Primary Students.
If you would like to learn more, read some of our blog posts about programming on the JS Library blog or come and see the Bee-Bots in action during first break in the JS Library.
Which book would you read to the world?
“Everyone needs stories read to them: Mum, Grandpa, the dog, and the monster under the bed.” Source
The Share a Story theme for May is perfect for an IB and PYP school. Looking through the lens of Internationalism, PYP and picture books we examine literature that develops the IB Concepts, Learner Profile and Attitudes.
PYP and Fiction
We have many of these books in our library. Which have you read?
- Fiction Resource Books for the Primary Years Programme of Inquiry
- Literature for Learner Profile and Attitudes
A couple of my favourites are Mirror (because of the uniqueness of the layout and the dual story) and The Island (specifically because of the power of the illustrations).
Another two I recommend are If the World were a Village and We Are All Born Free (although we have these in our Non-Fiction collection).
Q: What is your favourite (picture book) story?
Have a look at these suggestions
We will be surveying and voting for our Top 10 Picture Book Read Alouds.
Another fantastic way to celebrate reading is through the national event of simultaneous storytime where students around Australia read the same book, on the same day (… at the same time).
National Simultaneous Storytime 2015
On May 27th we will be celebrating National Simultaneous Storytime. The book this year is The Brothers Quibble by Aaron Blabey.
Resources to help celebrate NSS
In the JS Library we also be promoting this through the Feature Books.
Feature Books
During the term we will be re-reading (and for some introducing) the picture books that have featured over the years.
- 2014 – Too Many Elephants in this House by Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrated by Andrew Joyner
- 2013 –The Wrong Book by Nick Bland
- 2012 –The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland
- 2011 – Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement
- 2010 – Little White Dogs Can’t Jump by Bruce Whatley and Rosie Smith and illustrated by Bruce Whatley
- 2009 – Pete the Sheep by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley
- 2008 – Arthur written by Amanda Graham and illustrated by Donna Gynell
- 2007 – The Magic Hat written by Mem Fox and Illustrated by Tricia Tusa
- 2006 – Good night, Me by Andrew Daddo and illustrated by Emma Quay
- 2005 – Wombat Stew by Marcia K Vaughan and Pamela Lofts
- 2004 – Muddled-up Farm written by Mike Dumbleton and illustrated by Jobi Murphy
- 2003 – I don’t want to go to school written by Christine Harris and illustrated by Craig Smith
- 2002 – Mrs Wilkinson’s Chooks by Leone Peguero and Mike Spoor
- 2001 – Edward the Emu written by Sheena Knowles and illustrated by Rod Clement
List from https://www.alia.org.au/nss
So, What story would you share with someone else? Feel free to share below.
Follow the tweets at #readtheworldastory and #shareastorycalendar
“Calendar concept © Jackie French. Calendar © ACLA”
Thumbnail image reproduced with permission.
See more at
http://www.childrenslaureate.org.au/events/
May 2015 Feature Books – LibraryThing
SEE- FEEL- HEAR: SHARE A STORY IN JUNE
Explore new worlds through your senses – SEE – HEAR – FEEL
We see stories through movies, theatre and plays; feel the emotions through character development and stories; specialist materials for visually impaired and through audio books.
The ‘Hear a Story, See a Story, Feel a Story’ challenge
How to you hear, see and feel stories?
TAKE THE ‘HEAR A BOOK’ CHALLENGE
We hear stories through patterning, rhymes and rhythm, poetry (often an under used part of the collection) and obviously audio books.
Picture Books with Strong Rhyme and Rhythm
View more lists from Susan Stephenson
HEAR A BOOK CHALLENGE 1
Locate the POETRY section in the JS Library and borrow a book or share a poem from one of these books.
810 Poetry, Plays, Jokes & Riddles
HEAR A BOOK CHALLENGE 2
Create your own poetry – try the Lark app.
Poetry app: Lark Lark, by Storybird. Make and share art-inspired poetry. by Storybird, Inc
See The Book Chook blog post related to poetry resources for the classroom
Tips and Resources for Poem in your Pocket Day
HEAR A BOOK CHALLENGE 3
When did you last listen to an audio book? Come and locate the audio books in the JS Library.
See other JS Library Blog Posts about use of Audio Books and literacy.
**** WE HAVE A BRAILLE PICTURE BOOK IN THE JS LIBRARY COLLECTION ****
LOCATE THIS BOOK AND BRING IT TO THE CIRCULATION DESK (first ten students to do so receive a prize).
SHARE A STORY “Calendar concept © Jackie French. Calendar © ACLA” http://www.childrenslaureate.org.au/events/
The Australian Children’s Laureate: enriching the lives of young Australians through the power of story.
Download your Share a Story Calendar 2015 from the Laureate website!
#hearastoryseeastory
#shareastorycalendar
Term 2: JS LIBRARY Events & Activities
What kids want in books
Great reading and visuals at Scholastic’s Reading Report
Screenshot sourced from the report above and redesigned using ComicBook app.
@Scholastic: Here’s what kids ages 6-17 told us they want in the #books they read for fun: http://t.co/Gbx2uxUK0f #KFRR http://t.co/Dgg1ejQPNr
Library Learnings:Term 1 in Review
Green Screen: It’s not just for superheroes or movie stars
A group of Year 3 students have been experimenting with the green screen as a means to share their learning this term. These students have been considering ways to evaluate, reflect and report on reading.
These green screen movie reflections were created using a variety of apps on the iPad (using the video, camera, drawing and green screen apps).
- Touch Cast
- Green Screen by Do Ink
- Doodle Buddy
This is what the students have thought about the process so far…
See below for two reviews they have created. When the students create their next review (in Term Two) they will direct this (almost) independently, with the aim to become experts for the other students in the class, teaching how to use the green screen and its associated apps.
These reviews are not polished presentations but have been created in a short time frame as a tool to engage and enhance the learning experience.
Book Reviews
Today the students were introduced to the concept of a book hook to ‘sell’ the book to another reader.
See “How to write a book hook” wiki how with pictures.
The Treasure Island: A Fun Map
The students shared why someone should ‘read’ this map.
As the students become more confident and self reflective, the presentations will become more diverse and ‘professional’.
Finally, students are presenting for an authentic audience.