(Team) Building Projections

Most educators can agree that LCD projectors have revolutionized our classroom "chalkboards" in many ways, so when I stumbled across this video on YouTube, I wondered what students would choose to display if/when given the opportunity?

Would the content change depending on the audience (students vs. faculty vs. parents vs. public)? What message would they unite behind?

Would the message change depending on the venue (classroom vs. library vs. playground vs. cafeteria vs. art room vs. the front of the school)?

I think this would be an interesting and creative project. Have ideas? Want to try it out? Let's go for it! Let me know what you plan to do or have done here.

Boys of Summer

I've had many requests for guy stuff that people can do over the summer to keep their boys occupied, so here is our list (as of today):

-Webelos activities
-Read Ultra-Gross! blog (from Bart King; author of The Big Book of Boy Stuff)
-View constellations on either projector or Google Sky
-Read stories about two constellations per week (accompanied by streaming Pandora's Nakai music channel)
-Read one (pre-censored) Guys Write For Guys Read story
-Take one trip to GameStop for a pre-used video game (two player sports or flight game)
-Arrange overnight with two buddies
-Calculate mileage for full day bike trip
-Take bike to Skate Park (with buddy), then ride through fountain on the way back.
-Root for the Celtics with a mug of ice cold A&W Root Beer
-Coordinate pick-up baseball game at school field (Aug.)
-Launch AlkaSeltzer Rocket
-Examine sunburn peelings/scabs/splinters with tv-connected microscope
-Eat charred hotdogs with too much ketchup outside
-Water balloons
-Race each other outside each time the visiting Super Fortress or other warbird, flies overhead
-Watch lumberjacking on TV
-Make special-recipe pancakes (using leftover sprinkles and other cookie decorations)
-Catch an insect (either grasshopper, butterfly or moth) and present it to mother/grandma/nana

Magna and Anime

Earlier this year some dedicated, artistic intermediate students introduced me to the wonders of Magna and Anime.

Both Magna and Anime are forms of graphic art which took root in Japan beginning in the 1960s.

Dedicated literacy teachers already know how important graphic novels can be to help readers understand complex story lines and add nuance to character traits. Now there is a daily newspaper in Japan, Manga No Shimbun, that features current event articles drawn in this popular visual form (note: as with most newspapers, some content may not be appropriate for all ages/grade levels).

Need examples? Look no further than your public library or local bookstore. Or the doodles left behind at the end of the school day.

Earth Hour

Turn your lights out tomorrow night from 8:30-9:30 PM local time to support Earth Hour!

Here's some additional ways to affect climate change in your neck of the woods:

"Tips to living green

1. Purchase energy efficient appliances. They cut carbon pollution and save you money!
2. Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are always full before you run them as this will save energy and money
3. Weather-proofing your home is a great way to save energy. Caulk your doors and windows, add insulation or add shades to use in the summer!
4. Leaving your computer for awhile? Put it on stand-by & it will take less energy than shutting down and restarting.
5. Fix leaking faucets. The constant drip wastes water, energy and money, so repair them as soon as possible.
6. Eat more veggies! On average, it takes nearly 10 times as much fossil fuel to produce animal protein compared to plant protein
7. Unplug appliances and phone charges when they aren’t in use. If they’re plugged in, they’re drawing energy and costing you money."

Copied on 3/26/10 from http://www.myearthhour.org/

Poll Everwhere

Based on it's relevance to our curriculum and student interest, Poll Everywhere is a smashing success.

Most of the readers to this page already know how much interactivity and peer audiences matter to students. Many of us remember slogging through hand-made graphs when we were younger and the frustrations that our teachers expressed at incorrectly-reported rough data. By the time that students figured out that they were drawing their hash marks in the wrong region of their T Chart, it was too late to fix it becuase the period had already expired.

If your secure goal is teaching students how to interpret a graph, this free service can harness student interest and tie it to math and science. See how we used Poll Everywhere above along with a sample of our practice for an upcoming school-wide Sock Hop.

Holiday Fun

I just updated my Delicious (social bookmarking account) account with some fun holiday electronic content that you might be interested in. I know that my students will be surprised when some of the following content appears on the wiki!

Create your own old-school portrait without the long lines and K-Mart blue light announcements. Pho-ho-hoto Booth let's you upload an image, choose a body, then a background. Adjust the contrast to match the surroundings. Keep it for yourself or share it publicly. Free.

Want flames without the heat or smoke? Check out this computer-based fireplace. High-quality streaming holiday music included! Free.

In order to help parents with bed time on Dec. 24th, NORAD continues it's annual tradition of monitoring Santa as he makes his way around the world. Google has joined forces with the military of the United States and Canada and now we can track Santa's circuit around the world in 3D using GoogleEarth. The link is found here both for GoogleEarth and the special file (available Dec. 24). Free.

Have a great winter vacation!

Does anyone have ideas for songs to play in the classroom?

We tried using the song "Fireflies" by Owl Moon (with lyrics, without lyrics) as an auditory timer while we were cutting out our word sorts and it worked like a charm. There seemed to be less chatter, more quiet focus. The task was also completed faster compared to when we just put our online timer up on the screen during the previous week.

One final benefit: There is something eerily peaceful about listening to people whispering along with a song like this.

I'd love your suggestions if anyone has any...