The Other Shot Heard Round The World

Current events in the tech lab

5th Grade

Our 5th grade students just completed their expedition on the events leading to the Revolutionary War.  They made some amazing timelines on the website prezi.com.  Check out a few of them below:

http://prezi.com/qxqvasysfp7w/revolutionary-war/

http://prezi.com/ddvpvk9z0qrv/american-revolution/

http://prezi.com/pvnpxugy87xh/american-revolution/

http://prezi.com/uth6hpes5ois/edit/#0

For the next few weeks, we are going to be creating blogs on blogger.com. 

4th Grade

In the 4th grade, the students are creating websites on grey wolves.  They also will be using prezi.com as their website, and will be including many videos on these magnificent creatures.  Their celebration will be on Friday, January 13th.  More information will follow in the ensuing weeks.

3rd Grade

In 3rd grade, the students will soon be making an online brochure about the regions of Colorado.  The students have been learning about these diverse regions for the past few weeks, and are looking forward to creating these brochures.

2nd Grade

The 2nd graders are still learning how to type.  Most students are now typing on the top row after learning all the keys on the home row.  They will be taking their first typing test the last week of December.

1st Grade

In the 1st grade, the students have been learning all about insects.  In the technology lab, they have been learning about word processing.  They are going to type body parts of their insect, print these, and use them as labels for the insect they created in art class.  We are all extremely excited about seeing their final products.

Kindergarten

The Kindergarteners are focusing on writing their letters, and creating simple words.  They are usually using the iPads for this, or a couple of diffferent websites.  





Technology at Tollgate

     5th Grade

     This year, we have created some pretty cool projects in the 5th grade.  The 5th graders started off the year by making movies of themselves, using pictures they used on Google Images to represent themselves, and adding both text and audio.  After that, the students were given gmail accounts through the APS domain, and learned how to use email as a productive tool.  In October, the entire class went on a 3-day field trip to Buena Vista, and brought along 9 iPads.  When they returned from their trip, the students created movies/slideshows of their trip on iMovie, and presented these to the rest of the class.
     With the email accounts, the students are now creating their first ever website.  This has been their greatest endeavor so far.  In collaboration with the 5th grade teachers, the students are creating a timeline using the website prezi.com.  This interactive and visual presentational software is relatively new, and very engaging for the students.  The timelines can include videos, images, and 'paths', which connect one event or date to the next.  These will be presented to the parents on Friday, November 18th.  Examples of our students' projects will be here in a few weeks.

4th Grade

 
      In 4th grade, we started off the year by making Power Point presentations about our lives and interests.  We learned how to save files on the server, shortcuts, and numerous skills that can be applied to other software programs.  The 4th graders also received a gmail account, which they used when learning how to email, and like the 5th grade, will use when creating websites.  We then learned about podcasts, and made simple podcasts using GarageBand on our iPads.
    When the students got back from their field trip to the Colorado Springs Zoo, we used the iPads to create slideshows of their trip on iMovie.  These were then presented to the rest of the class.  The students included videos, still photos, text, and sound.  The students are, in mid-November, going to create a presentation on grey wolves, possibly using prezi.com.

3rd Grade

    The 3rd grade, like the 4th, started off the year by creating projects about themselves using PowerPoint, while also learning numerous transferable skills.   We then conducted two webquests about the respiratory system, and then created a non-smoking poster using MS Publisher.  We are now using Google Earth to learn about maps and the different areas of Colorado.  In December, we are going to start using a brochure program to make brochures on these regions.

2nd Grade

   In the 2nd grade this year we are focusing on keyboarding skills.  We have been using the website typingweb.com.  There are some great exercises on this site, and it does allow for you to create an account to track your progress, but our students have yet to do this.  Our goal is to have our students learn where each key is this year, so that we can create even more dynamic projects next year.

1st Grade

    At the beginning of 1st grade, we created a couple of projects using Kidspiration (see examples here). We then used Starfall.com to help the students learn sight words, phonics, and the letters of the alphabet.  

In November and December, the students are going to learn the basics of word processing, which will allow them to type simple stories and print them.

Kindergarten

    At the beginning of the school year, we had the Kindergarten students learn how to use a mouse by using MS Paint.  We then used several apps on the iPad, which allowed the students to draw the letters of the alphabet.  The students have also used starfall.com, which allows them to understand the alphabet and hear examples of each letter and group of letters.