Hello everyone,
Nicole here, from Today, in Second Grade! Jenn has so graciously invited me to guest blog and I couldn't be happier! I am also beyond excited to share some great resources with you. My school just recently purchased Kidspiration and I have been having a blast playing around with it and discovering all the wonderful things it has to offer.
Nicole here, from Today, in Second Grade! Jenn has so graciously invited me to guest blog and I couldn't be happier! I am also beyond excited to share some great resources with you. My school just recently purchased Kidspiration and I have been having a blast playing around with it and discovering all the wonderful things it has to offer.
If you are not familiar with the software, it is a program that is geared towards grades K-5 and serves as a great visual tool for those students who may need a little extra something, but can also be used with all students. My kiddies looooooooove it!
It is mostly known for its great story/idea mapping but you can also create all kinds of fun and engaging activities for language arts, math, science, and even social studies!
Many students can map out their ideas for a story and then click on “outline mode." This drafts out their story for them.
Then, they simply copy and paste to a word document, remove the headings if they so wish, and VOILA! An instant story for them to share. This is great for those reluctant writers and even those who feel overwhelmed by a blank page. Once they map out their ideas and copy them to a document, they get to see how much they actually have to say about a topic. It’s a great tool!
I decided to try out the math component with my students last week. We are working on Data Management and I was looking to create a meaningful, fun, and engaging lesson on Venn Diagrams.
I figured, it’s never too soon to try out Kidspiration and took a go at it. It was extremely user friendly and saved me quite a lot of time.
This is our completed diagram. My students really enjoyed sorting all the objects in the correct place. Some of the graphics are even animated! They got a real kick out of that. For an added challenge, I asked one of my enriched students to create a Venn Diagram problem for us on the computer (while others reviewed the concept again) and then we completed it on the SmartBoard.
Once we returned to our seats, the students were expected to complete a Venn Diagram of their own. I created a small package with various Venn Diagram activities.
First, they sorted the object cards on a Venn Diagram. Then, they drew the objects on their own diagram and finally, they colored it.
They learned a lot and had great fun doing it. The amazing thing about Kidspiration is that you can try it out for FREE! Check out their website and download a free trial. If you like it, you might want to ask your school to purchase the full program.
It’s well worth it!
Click HERE to learn more about Kidspiration.
Click on the picture below to grab yourself a free copy of my Venn Diagram Fun.
Have fun exploring!
Nicole
Hope you enjoyed Nicole's visit!!
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