First Tech Tip of the 2015-2016 School Year

Back to School Ipad Activities

As the new school year begins, we all know getting to know each other and establishing a classroom community is a top priority.  Below are a few simple ideas for mixing up your usual activities and allowing the students to get creative with technology! These activities also set the tone that collaboration will be a huge component of your classroom.  A bonus reason to use iPads the first week of school – you are refamiliarizing your students with the iPad basics right away!

1. Make a “Friend Diagram” using the app Venn Diagram or Tools 4 Students-Students interview a partner and then work together to make a venn diagram noting their similarities and differences.
2. Create an “Talking Artifact” using the Chatter Pix app.  Students take a picture of their artifact, draw a mouth on it, and record how the object represents them.
3. Have students create word clouds to describe themselves to the class using the Wordle app.
4. Have students go on a QR code scavenger hunt in teams to get to know each other and learn about your classroom/school in a fun, engaging way. Or give them a list and have each team take pictures of the items they find using Pic Collage.
5. Using Popplet, allow teams to discuss and create hopes and dreams for the upcoming school year.

*All of the apps mentioned are FREE!

If you need any help implementing or planning these activities, please reach out to me and I will be happy to work with you.