Sunday, January 19, 2014

Padlet, QR Codes, Amusement Parks and Weather

I love when I can sit down with a teacher and within a few minutes we have created an engaging lesson that students are going to love!

She brought the standards and I brought the technology. The standard was . . . identify the importance of weather and seasonal information to make choices in clothing, activities, and transportation;

A great way to start a weather unit (or any unit for that matter) is to use Padlet  - formerly known as Wallwishers. Create a wall where students can post questions that they have about weather. It's as simple as having your students double click on the wall and post their question.


Once, students have posted their questions share, Why does Lightening Strike? with your students.
It is such a cute book about questions students ask about weather.

Simple text and great pictures.


 Add in another book, World Book Encyclopedia's, Weather.

We took a lesson from StemScopes and tweaked it a bit . . . ok, a bunch. The task was to have each student travel to various amusement parks around the world, investigate the temperature and determine what clothing to pack. Students used a QR Code to take them to the weather for that day for each location. The weather for that day helped them determine what items to pack in their suitcase. 


As each student traveled from station to station, they took their file folder with them to record their findings. The file folder contained a map of the world with each amusement park location, one suitcase per location full of clothing (they circled the appropriate clothing), a box to write the temperature, and finally a writing prompt asking which location they would choose for their next holiday and why. Students traveled to Hong Kong, California, Florida, Paris . . . 

I love that a map of the amusement park was added to each station. It was fun to listen to students compare what was at each amusement park.

These second graders tweeted about their experience! Check it out and follow this awesome 2nd grade classroom, @learninginTX!


Head over to Collaboration Cuties for some other science mentor texts!


Happy Sunday!


7 comments:

  1. What a fabulous post, Charlotte! I love how you incorporated so many different technology elements. I've been wanting to do a QR codes lesson, and our tech specialist is teaming me in a few weeks to research internet safety after we study Bully by Patricia Polacco. I love your blog design too...very whimsical! I'm a 4/5 Reading Specialist, so I'm glad to discover your blog.

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    1. Thank you so much Carla! We love using QR codes since they send students to a direct link. Haven't seen Bully...gonna investigate. We need to work on our digital citizenship in our district. This looks perfect! Thanks!
      I love my design also . . . just need to change the name due to job change! Having a hard time coming up with a name!

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  2. How fun!!!! I love all of this! I just discovered Padlet this year! It's a lot of fun! I love that they could "go" to each amusement park! I can't wait til we get wifi in our building!!!
    Thanks for linking up!
    Amanda

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    1. The kids loved visiting amusement parks. Gotta be honest . . . was a bit shocked when you said "can't wait until we get wifi"... wow! so challenging, yet you all post so many amazing things that your students are doing!

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  3. Charlotte,

    Are those maps inside your unit? I really like those and the wheels are churning. They would be able to be used for so many skills. We don't have StemScopes since I am not in Texas.. ahhhh.. love the QRs. I am in a 1:1 classroom and my 5th graders love technology!!

    Susan
    LopezLandLearners

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    1. We found the maps on the Internet! Gotta love Google!

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