Constellations

As part of the second grade science curriculum, the students learn about the stars and how they form various constellations. Since school occurs during the daytime when the stars are not visible, visuals are needed. Here are a few ways for students to learn about the constellations and demonstrate knowledge through the use of software, websites, and apps:

Software

Stellarium: A free downloadable program that works on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Turn on the constellation labels, lines, and art to get the full experience. When a star is clicked on, its distance away in light years is displayed. (Free)

Celestia: This free downloadable program lets students pull themselves around the atmosphere to look at constellations. Under the Displays menu, it is possible to make the stars more visible and add lines to connect the constellations. As a bonus, users can view planets as well. The program can run on Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms. (Free)

General Paint Program:  During the study of this unit at our school, each student is assigned a constellation to investigate. Using a paint program, students draw their assigned constellation. To start, the background is filled in black and either white or yellow dots are made to represent the stars.  The stars are then connected using a thinner paintbrush or the line tool.

Websites

Planetarium: As an option, students can specify their current location and it will show a map of the night sky based upon the given location and date. Otherwise, students can explore the night sky from any place on Earth.

Google Sky:  This is searchable by constellation names. The names of the nearby constellations appear after clicking on the blue markers. This site does require plentiful bandwidth.

Make a Star Finder: Print out a game students can play at night to quiz themselves and others on the location of the various constellations. The site also provides a brief introduction to constellations.

FOSSweb Star Maps: Need a printable map of the constellations? This website provides maps of what the sky looks like during the different months.

Constellation Hunt: This site provides the student with the name and picture of a constellation. It is their job to find it in the simulated sky. If needed, an outline of all the constellations can be shown.

iPad Apps

Stars New:  Open the app to view a small portion of the night sky.  Drag your finger to change the view.  If you tap on the screen, it will provide some of the individual star names.  The app helps the students to see that the night sky is continuous and that there is more than the eye can see at the current moment. (Free)

GoSkyWatch Planetarium for iPad: This app has free and paid versions. The free version works just fine for us. The constellations can be denoted by lines, boundaries, and/or images. By clicking on the magnifying glass in the upper left hand corner, one can search for and find all of the stars and constellations. Within the information window that pops up, there are links to Wikipedia and Ian Ridpath’s Star Tales. (Free)

Counting Money

Counting coins can be difficult for any kindergartener, first grader, or even a second grader.  With all the different denominations, it is easy to mix them up and get confused.  Here are a few ways to practice counting money using software, websites, and apps:

Software

Penny Panda: A program created by Micrograms that was purchased as a site license. Within the program, students have multiple ways to practice counting money that include basic counting, comparing amounts, paying an exact amount, and determining the amount of change to give.  My favorite feature in this program is the ability to change the options, which can easily be done by the teachers or even the students. This makes the program perfect for kindergarteners who are counting pennies and nickels and also makes the program relevant for second graders who are counting change and dollars.  In the options, the various denominations of coins can be selected as well as the total amount given in that particular problem.

Everyday Math Games Early Childhood: There are three particular games within this suite of games that apply: Coin Exchange, One-Dollar Game, and Paper Money Exchange Game. In the Coin Exchange, students trade in their pennies, nickels, and dimes to receive a quarter. The goal of the One-Dollar Game is to trade in pennies and dimes for a dollar bill.  Then, in the Paper Money Exchange Game students trade one dollar bills for ten dollar bills until there are enough for a one-hundred dollar bill.  These games were purchased as a site license.

Websites

Counting Money: Calculate the total of the given coins that may include pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

Let’s Compare Money: Count the coins on both sides of the screen and compare their amounts. Students can be quizzed on pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

Count the Money!: A total amount is given, and a certain number of a specified coin is given. How many other coins are needed? Type the answer.

Drag and Drop Coins: Drag the coins to the top of the slide to make the required amount.

Ca$h Out: Make change for customers purchasing items at your store. There are easy, medium, and hard levels. Hints as to amount of change to given can be provided.

Shopping Math – Buy Toys for the Exact Amount of Money: You are given a certain amount of money and need to find toys to buy that equal that sum.

iPad Apps

Counting Coins:  Practice includes counting, making, and matching a certain sum. The Show Values section could be paired with a worksheet or used with a partner. (Free)

Counting Bills & Coins: Includes all denominations of coins and bills up to $20.  It can be used to practice counting money and making the correct change. (Free)

Coin Genius Lite: This is a free version of this app. The only function of this app is to count coins and choose the correct answer. A timer on the screen counts down from one minute. (Free)

Recording Reading Fluency

As part of our reading curriculum, students practice reading poems out loud as a class or in pairs.  The teacher can monitor and make suggestions to the students on how to increase their fluency.  An improvement on this process is allowing the students to hear themselves read the poems.  This is possible by using a laptop, iPad, or other device to record them.  Some technologies make this easier than others even to the point of students doing it themselves.  Another way to use this technology is to record individual students at various times throughout the year in order to keep track of their progress.  Here are a few ways to record your students using software, websites, and apps:

Software

Audacity: A free download that is compatible with Windows, Mac, or Unix/Linux. Upon opening the program it is easy to record; just hit the red record button when you are ready.  The finished audio recordings can be saved as Audacity files or exported as audio files that will play on any computer.

GarageBand: A Mac based program.  It is likely that this program came with your Apple computer, if not it can be purchased for $4.99 in the Mac App Store.  Apple’s website provides tutorials such as a video on how to Record Your Voice. The finished audio recordings can be saved as GarageBand files or, if you click on Share in the upper menu, they can be exported as audio files that will play on any computer. 

Websites

Vocaroo: The simplest website around! Just “Click to Record.”  The resulting file can be emailed, posted to a website using the given html code, or downloaded as a .wav file that can be played on any computer.

Soundation: Without registering, audio recordings can be created and saved to your computer. The recordings can also be edited using this site.

iPad Apps

iTalk Recorder: Just hit the big red record button to get started.  The recordings can be removed from the device via email.  If you are not exporting the files, make sure to keep track of which iPad the students record on. (Free)

iTalk Recorder Premium: The same as above, but files can be also synced to Dropbox.  Furthermore, existing files can have additional audio added to them after they are created. ($1.99)

GarageBand: This works similarly to the Mac version mentioned above. ($4.99)

Spelling

In first grade, the students are responsible for weekly sets of spelling words.  The classroom teachers provide the students with activities to complete at home to further practice the words.  As the year progresses, the teachers provide the students with ways to practice the spelling words on the iPads as well as online. Here are some of the ways they practice their skills using low-tech means, websites, and apps:

No Technology Needed

Write the Words: Students practice writing each word three times.

Practice Test: At home, parents or siblings give the student a simulated test.  This test must be signed by a parent and returned to school.

Concentration: Students are provided with a sheet of paper with the spelling words on it to cut out and play the game individually or with others.

Follow the Path: Students finish making this board game by writing their spelling words in the empty spaces.  At home, students play the game with their family members.  Each player takes a turn rolling a die and moving that number of spaces.  After moving their playing piece, they must follow the directions on the space.  If there is a spelling word, he or she must spell the word correctly to stay on that space.  Otherwise, the playing piece is moved back to the last space he or she was on.

21 Ways to Support Spelling in the Classroom: This resource provides many ways to practice spelling with or without the help of technology.  All of the ideas were compiled into this one resource from many contributors. I really like tip #9 Mix It Up a Bit which links to a set of cards with many different ways to practice spelling words.

Website

Spelling City: Students type in their word lists and play games such as HangMouse, Word Search, Unscramble, Missing Letter. There is the option for the website to give the students a spelling test that verbally tells the students the words which the students then type in.

iPad Apps

Spelling Test: Enter the spelling words, and it will quiz you. ($1.99)

Word Magic: Using the given word lists, fill in the missing letters or blends. Each word is paired with a correlating picture. ($0.99)

Spell Blocks with Sight Words: Using the given word lists, unscramble the letters to spell the words. ($1.99)

Montessori Approach to Language - Moving Alphabet HD: Students can either use the letters to make their own words or have the app provide them with a picture of a word to spell from the provided word lists.  The app does not provide feedback as to whether the answer is correct. ($3.99)