Creating Math Activities

Tania wanted to know how to create clock math activities in Inspiration today. In 10 minutes she had made 2 activities that children are going to be using independently and in groups using the mimio.

Step 1: Google 'Blank Clock Faces'. Click on Line Drawing in the side panel options
Step 2: Drag the clock face of your choice onto the Kidspiration or Inspiration page
Step 3: Draw the lines by clicking on the line tool on the toolbar

Step 4: Change the lines into arrows by going to Link - Arrow Direction

Step 5: Add a text box below the clock

Step 6: Click and drag around the whole clock picture and text box, press Ctrl or Command C and paste on another part of the page, repeat until you have covered the page. Save your activity as a template.

Use the same template to create other activities.

The same activities can be created in IWB notebook software as well. Do a search for clock and you will find a clock face, hands and digital display.

mimio, Smart notebook, Activinspire

Webcams and Kids

With the latest of rollouts of laptops a lot of them have webcams built into them and I am amazed at how many teachers do not realise that they are there! (Apples have had them forever!) This is a valuable resource that you can use with your children.

• read your story to the camera, turn your book around to show the picture (upload movie to wiki or blog)
• take a photo of your art masterpiece (print out or post on wiki or blog)
• read/act a play (place the laptop somewhere where it can see a large area, record your play, edit in Moviemaker or iMovie
• create your avatar (use the photo editing features of your camera to add effects)
• record your speech and watch it back (critique and make some improvements)
• Skype or iChat with students in other classrooms
• Skype or iChat with invited guests and ask prepared questions
• take your laptop for a walk and show your viewer what you are seeing
• record a newscast for podcasts