Teaching with Technology

Geocaching, Lessons, Roanoke County Schools

Geocaching Fever!!

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Tina Coffey

Have you seen small groups of students running around hunting for boxes at your school lately? If so, then you’ve seen us geocaching, a fun, active way to solve SOL related problems! It’s a great way for students to move around outside while working in groups and solving SOL related problems. They love it!!

Here’s the basic idea: It’s like a high-tech scavenger hunt. The kids use a handheld gps units to find hidden boxes around the school yard (your ITRT will help you set this up ahead of time). When they get to a box, they use clues inside to figure out the answer to a problem or complete and activitiy.

Currently we have sets of activities created (or being created) for the following units:

Regions of VA (4th)
Pirate Math (end of 2nd)
Global Studies (5th)
Library (Genres)
PE (Fall activity involving math and PE)
Phases of the Moon (4th)
Weather
Native Americans (2nd)
Native Americans (4th)
Carnivore/Herbivoire/Omnivore (3rd)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Musical Instrument Families

We are coming up with more each day….and would be happy to create one for a different unit with your help if you have an idea! If you are interested in trying out this activity with your students before it gets too cold, let me know.

ActivStudio Directions, Roanoke County Schools

Inserting Pics into ActivStudio from a File

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Tina Coffey

There are many ways to add picture files to a Flipchart. This is useful if you have taken pictures with a document camera, scanner, or digital camera and would like to then use them in your flipchart.

To view a full-size version of this screencast, click here. You’ll probably want to do this…it’s small here!
http://content.screencast.com/users/elemitrt/folders/Jing/media/ef66077c-f802-497a-ada1-e0fda38c9dc7/jingswfplayer.swf

Method 1: Click and Drag Between Folders:

Open the folder where the pictures are located.
Open a blank flipchart
Size the windows so you can see both of them.
Click and drag from the image from the File Window to FlipChart.
Choose “Add Object”

Method 2: Drop the file directly into the My Images folder

Drop directly into My Documents>ActivStudio 3>My Images
Open Up ActivStudio
You will see the file in your resource folder under My Resource Library.

Method 3: Insert the File from Design Mode

Turn on Design Mode while in ActivStudio
Go to Insert>Image>From File
Navigate to the file and click on it.
Make sure to turn off Design Mode when you are done.

Method 4: Click and Drag Between Word and a Flipchart:

Open the Word Document.
Open a blank flipchart
Size the windows so you can see both of them.
Click and drag from file windoWord Doc to FlipChart.
Choose “Drop Image”

Method 5: Snap a Picture with the Camera Tool

Open a ActivStudio
Minimize the FlipChart
Find the image on your computer
Click the camera icon>Area
Choose the area you want to save
Choose the first icon “To Current Flipchart Page”

With all but Method 2, you may want to drag the folder over to your Resource Library if you plan on using it more than once.

Office Picture Manager will help you edit your pictures before you insert them into a flipchart. You can find it by going to Start>Programs>Microsoft Office>Microsoft Office Tools>Microsoft Office Picture Manage. If you allow it to be your default picture editor, it will open picture files anytime you double click on them.

To learn more about the functions of Picture Manager, download this handout.

There are more ways to add images…these are just my favorite. You don’t have to use all of the methods, just pick one that’s comfortable to you and stick with it. If you want to share another way to add images, please comment below! 🙂

Clip Art and Images, Links

Phillip Martin Clip Art

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Tina Coffey

As I sit here working on a project that requires some clipart, I’m reminded of my favorite FREE clipart site of all time for school projects. I’m not sure if you know about it already, but just in case you don’t, here it is:

Phillip Martin Clip Art

You can find CUTE, elementary clipart for all subject areas, and even graphics that match the SOLs in a cute way. I love it!

Just in case you’ve never downloaded clipart from a website before, here’s how you do it:

Left click on the small version of the image (so you can view it in it’s largest form).
Right click on the large form of the image.
Choose “Save Picture As” or “Save Image As”
Find a spot to save it on your computer. Remember where you put it so you can find it again.
Click Save.

Phillip Martin, the artist, also creates cute powerpoints based on school subjects. You might want to check them out while looking at his site.

(Phillip Martin allows you to use this clipart free for your classroom, newsletters, and other non-profit things…just as long as you do not add it to other clip art collections. Please honor his request when using these wonderful resources.)

Fun, Holidays, Links