Seed Vocabulary QR Board

As we were growing our plants during the life science unit, we were reading about how plants grow and there were several vocabulary words that the students needed to understand to be able to fully comprehend how seeds grow. So instead of giving them a list of the words and asking them to define each,  I decided to provide them with an opportunity to engage in an inquiry project using multimedia resources.

I provided them with different resources about plants and seeds and asked them to find a vocabulary word that they didn’t know and wanted to learn more about. Once they had their word they had to create a definition for the word and find a picture that represented the word to provide further meaning for their classmates. Then they got to create a short video explaining the word and using it in context so that their peers would truly understand what they word means. After they created their document with the definition and their video we created QR codes. Then the students collaboratively designed and created a bulletin board.  They chose the pictures they wanted , where they wanted them, colored and decorated the board, and placed the vocabulary words where they needed to be.

     

Once our board was complete the students got to participate in a scavenger hunt to find the meanings of the different words. They were able to watch each other’s videos and learn from each other. They also got to teach another 3rd grade class how to use the tablets to scan the QR codes and were able to teach them more about seeds through their videos and definitions.

     

After we completed this activity we spent some time reflecting on how it went. Since this was their first time using the tablets to create videos and scan QR codes they had great advice on how to make it a more successful experience for the next time we would use them.

Coding the Classroom

Christi and I are thrilled (and a little terrified) about presenting at our district’s teaching and learning conference. Initially we called our presentation, “The Student Becomes the Teacher: Using QR Codes to Expand Learning Opportunities,” but then we came up with a much better name, “Coding the Classroom.”

For our presentation we created a website that informs teachers of what QR codes are, how to use them, and ideas for the classroom. Our goal is to inform teachers of how they can create a digital learning environment through the implementation of QR codes. Please visit our website to learn more.

QR Code Bulletin Boards

Making your classroom bulletin boards more interactive is easy with QR codes. I recently changed up three of my bulletin boards and added QR codes that link to activities, forms, websites, and student work. These QR boards are also great for students who finish work early and need something to do that is meaningful and connected to the current curriculum.

   Our current reading strategy focuses on visualizing. I found a few passages that helped students practice this skill. I made a QR code out of them and posted them on the board. There was also a great website that had a visualizing game for students to play that I made a code for. Finally I made a Google Form for students to use to reflect on what they visualized while they were reading. On my students' centers checklist I added "visit the Reading Board" as an activity.

   On my Writing Board, I posted the current theme vocabulary words with a QR code that links to a kid friendly dictionary definition. I then chose 3 of my students' essays to make a QR code for and posted them as "spotlights." The kids loved having their work in the spotlight and the other students enjoyed being able to read their peers work. And let's be honest, it is so much cooler being able to scan a code to read an essay than having the actual essay on the board.

   For my Math Board, I created QR codes of Google Forms that I made for our number corner curriculum. This month we have two graphs that the students analyze that I put into a form and I also made a form for the calendar pattern. The students fill out what they notice about the pieces and what the pattern is throughout the month. At the end of the month we look at the spreadsheet with all of their responses and have a meaningful conversation about it. I also included a QR code that links to a website that has challenge math problems for 3rd graders.

   Another bulletin board I am working on is a Book Review Board where students will post QR codes that link to a voice recording of their book reviews. For more information on this project click here.

Inquiry Based Astronomy Unit

For our current science unit on Astronomy, I decided to restructure how I was going to teach by focusing on inquiry and now that we are a 1:1 classroom, we had all of the tools and resources available to be able to do this effectively. My goal was to provide my students with more opportunities to explore and create.

As a team we decided on 4 main topics to focus this unit on: phases of the moon, stars and constellations, seasons, and planets. I created mini lessons on these four topics focusing on the basics that I wanted my students to learn. After I taught each lesson I allowed time for my students to generate lists of questions that they wanted to explore more about within each topic. They then decided who to work with, what they were going to do to learn more about their question, and what they were going to create to demonstrate what they learned. 

After the group or individual created a digital project, we made a QR code for it and added it to a bulletin board. My intention of creating the bulletin board was to allow my students a place to display their digital work and provide them with the opportunity to teach other students more about space. The projects ranged from a simple paragraph about the moon phases to a movie about 3 students’ journey to the moon. I also had students create poems, new casts, voice recordings, comic strips, and presentations. For Deerfield families and teachers, here are links to some of the projects that were created (make sure you are logged into your dps109 Google account to view the projects.)

• Going to Neptune Presentation
• Sun Poem & Collage
• Moon Movie

I then created a Google Form for students to fill out as they viewed the other students’ projects. This provided accountability and a chance to reflect on what they learned from the other students. I shared the responses with my students so that they could view what other students were learning from them and the comments and suggestions they had about the project.

The overall consensus from my class about this unit was, “Inquiry makes learning so much more fun!” They really enjoyed being able to explore topics that they were interested in and having the opportunity to become teachers. I even had students working on their projects during indoor recess and at home during their “free time.” We love inquiry!

Book Review QR Codes

In our classrooms, we are always looking for new ways to encourage students to read.  Teachers will try just about anything!  When we found a blog post about using QR codes to record students giving book reviews, I knew this was something that would encourage my students to read more.  The benefits went far beyond that, though!  Students worked on writing and paragraph organization, adding interest through vocabulary choice, and practiced writing for an authentic audience.

Mrs. Christopoulos is a 2nd grade teacher at our school who is doing the iPad pilot.  I was discussing this project with her, and we thought this would be a great opportunity for our classrooms to partner up!  I love when younger and older students can work together, because the leadership skills in the older students really comes out, and the younger students are so much more engaged in what they are learning.  This was true in this case as well, as I watched my students work hard to create well-written book reviews, and the 2nd graders were able to learn about a new app on their iPads with one-on-one teaching from the 3rd graders.

For this project, my students each chose a book from Mrs. Christopoulos’ classroom library.  Most were able to find a book they had read before, so they were able to begin working on their book review right away.  We then discussed as a class what needed to go into a book review - title, author, main characters, main idea or problem, and the reason someone should read the book.  As a class, we created a graphic organizer, and students used this information to write a paragraph about their book.  Here is where our new technology comes in.

Students each created an audio recording of their book review using the Chromebook App Voice Recorder.  These were saved to their Drive accounts, and students created a QR code link to the file using the URL Shortener Extension for Chrome. They shared this link with me so that they could be printed.  The QR codes were taped directly onto the back of the books for easy access by students.  As this was the first time, we took about two 30 minute sessions, and a little time during independent work time to create these.  Students can now work independently or in pairs to create new codes during their independent work time.

We then took our books back to Mrs. Christopoulos’ classroom to share with the 2nd graders.  The students paired up, and the 3rd graders showed the 2nd graders how to scan the code and listen to the recording on their iPads.  After they had learned how to do it, the 3rd graders circulated with their books and let the 2nd graders listen to different reviews.  We of course encountered a few bumps in the road, but overall it was a very successful event. 

 

I am excited for students to continue to create book reviews for the books in my classroom.  Other teachers in the school have expressed interest in how they can do this in their own classroom, even our librarian!  What a neat way to encourage all students to read more, by hearing about books from their peers!

For more information on how to create book reviews in your own classroom, see our website on using QR codes in the classroom here.

Interested in hearing about this from the 2nd grade perspective? Read about it here.