Welcome to March! Spring is right around the corner!
February brought collaborations using Scratch, a block-based visual programming language developed by the MIT Media Lab, https://scratch.mit.edu/. Because students may use any coding platform for the Create portion of the AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) Test, Scratch becomes another resource for their toolbox. Scratch would work well in Language Arts classrooms for summarizing a novel or short story. Music classes can use Scratch to compose and record original music, and art classes can create a narrated gallery tour of their favorite famous paintings or their own original art. Your local Librarian may have all the details!
How did you celebrate Digital Learning Day?
At our school, the AP Computer Science Principles Students showed off their Scratch stories through a Gallery Walk that included our school’s Librarian, Mrs. Ward and the Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, Mrs. Harvey. Some classes celebrated by having students complete a digital timeline of their lives. Others created digital timelines showing the history of an innovation. Remember, if you didn’t Celebrate Digital Learning Day on February 28th, you can pick any day and have your students create a digital timeline.
February brought collaborations using Scratch, a block-based visual programming language developed by the MIT Media Lab, https://scratch.mit.edu/. Because students may use any coding platform for the Create portion of the AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) Test, Scratch becomes another resource for their toolbox. Scratch would work well in Language Arts classrooms for summarizing a novel or short story. Music classes can use Scratch to compose and record original music, and art classes can create a narrated gallery tour of their favorite famous paintings or their own original art. Your local Librarian may have all the details!
How did you celebrate Digital Learning Day?
At our school, the AP Computer Science Principles Students showed off their Scratch stories through a Gallery Walk that included our school’s Librarian, Mrs. Ward and the Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, Mrs. Harvey. Some classes celebrated by having students complete a digital timeline of their lives. Others created digital timelines showing the history of an innovation. Remember, if you didn’t Celebrate Digital Learning Day on February 28th, you can pick any day and have your students create a digital timeline.
March is Women’s History Month
You might be surprised to find that Women’s History Month’s roots go back as far as 1909. Take some time to discover Herstory! where the American Women’s History Initiative “amplifies women’s voices to honor the past, inform the present and inspire the future.” Check out the For Teachers tab to find out about American Women in Wartime and selected resources for teachers from The Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution!
Do not miss the Audio and Video tab which features amazing archival footage from the government agencies above.
A Mighty Girl, a website with resources for “smart, confident and courageous girls” has an impressive list of books, movies, music and a best of lists just for girls. It also has a set of very colorful, cool, free, downloadable posters celebrating women role models in science, technology and math.
The posters were created by Nevertheless “ a podcast which celebrates women transforming teaching and learning through technology.”
This year’s theme is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence.”
Teen Tech Week is the second week in March. YALSA is re envisioning it to create a larger advocacy/awareness campaign to promote the importance of year round services. The TTW
Page has a publicity kit and tips for celebrating and has lists of apps, 3D projects and more, much more.
March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day
For Grades PreK-12, Free Resources for Teaching About St. Patrick’s Day may be found at:
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/51015.htm
TeAchnology offers Writing Starters with lesson plan titles such as: “A Day in the Life of a Leprechaun” and “An Irish Blessing”. Social Studies and Economics classes could plan A Visit to Ireland or create a timeline showing the significant events and contributions that have come from the Irish immigrating to America.
The Techie Teacher also has digital activities for St Patrick’s Day for kids. There are ideas for an ipad story, Google Drawing and Google Slides as well as others.
You might be surprised to find that Women’s History Month’s roots go back as far as 1909. Take some time to discover Herstory! where the American Women’s History Initiative “amplifies women’s voices to honor the past, inform the present and inspire the future.” Check out the For Teachers tab to find out about American Women in Wartime and selected resources for teachers from The Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution!
Do not miss the Audio and Video tab which features amazing archival footage from the government agencies above.
A Mighty Girl, a website with resources for “smart, confident and courageous girls” has an impressive list of books, movies, music and a best of lists just for girls. It also has a set of very colorful, cool, free, downloadable posters celebrating women role models in science, technology and math.
The posters were created by Nevertheless “ a podcast which celebrates women transforming teaching and learning through technology.”
This year’s theme is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence.”
Teen Tech Week is the second week in March. YALSA is re envisioning it to create a larger advocacy/awareness campaign to promote the importance of year round services. The TTW
Page has a publicity kit and tips for celebrating and has lists of apps, 3D projects and more, much more.
March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day
For Grades PreK-12, Free Resources for Teaching About St. Patrick’s Day may be found at:
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/51015.htm
TeAchnology offers Writing Starters with lesson plan titles such as: “A Day in the Life of a Leprechaun” and “An Irish Blessing”. Social Studies and Economics classes could plan A Visit to Ireland or create a timeline showing the significant events and contributions that have come from the Irish immigrating to America.
The Techie Teacher also has digital activities for St Patrick’s Day for kids. There are ideas for an ipad story, Google Drawing and Google Slides as well as others.
81st International Technology & Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA)
Annual Conference
If you are in the Kansas City, Missouri area on Thursday, March 28th, consider dropping by the ITEEA STEM Showcase from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm. We will be showcasing “Libraries: Bringing STEM to All through Collaborations: Collaborating with teachers from different content areas, Partnering with other schools and Community Businesses/Organization, Granby High School’s Librarians through Digital Learning and ALA International Games Day and monthly gatherings bring STEM activities, both plugged and unplugged, introduce students to career ideas and other opportunities.”
The conference runs from Wednesday, March 27th-Friday, March 29th. This years theme is Technology and Engineering Bring STEM to Life! If you can’t make it, check out the details at ITEEA 2019 Conference.
Annual Conference
If you are in the Kansas City, Missouri area on Thursday, March 28th, consider dropping by the ITEEA STEM Showcase from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm. We will be showcasing “Libraries: Bringing STEM to All through Collaborations: Collaborating with teachers from different content areas, Partnering with other schools and Community Businesses/Organization, Granby High School’s Librarians through Digital Learning and ALA International Games Day and monthly gatherings bring STEM activities, both plugged and unplugged, introduce students to career ideas and other opportunities.”
The conference runs from Wednesday, March 27th-Friday, March 29th. This years theme is Technology and Engineering Bring STEM to Life! If you can’t make it, check out the details at ITEEA 2019 Conference.
April/Upcoming Events:
Easter
National Poetry Month
Remember Spring is right around the corner!
Deborah & Lisa
Easter
National Poetry Month
Remember Spring is right around the corner!
Deborah & Lisa