Today I am linking up with
Fourth Grade Flipper for her first linky party. Tried it Tuesday-it is where you share something that you tried recently-be sure to check out her blog for the details.
Last week my students and I started our study on the westward expansion of the United States. I found this really cute QR code activity for
Lewis and Clark on TPT. The pack includes six QR codes that link to six different movies/video clips that ranged from one min. to eight min. long. The QR codes linked right to YouTube videos so I remade the codes after I used safe share.tv (we aren't allowed to give kids links directly to YouTube in my school because of the types of adds and other videos that can pop up.)
Once I remade the QR codes I hung them up around the room. I signed the iPads and headphones out of our computer lab and explained to the kids what they were going to be learning about, then as I went to pass out the first iPad the WiFi went down, no lie. Thankfully, my kiddos are really flexible and we switched gears to work on our big writing project instead.
The next day our WiFi was down all day, but finally on Thursday the WiFi was up and running! The students had a blast watching the different videos.
They wandered around the classroom and watched the videos. some students took notes, others just enjoyed the clips.
When they finished I gave them seven options they could choose from to tell me things that they learned. Most of them chose to share the top three facts that they learned, others drew a picture or wrote a letter. It was neat to see their personalities come out in their choices and the way the accomplished the task. Some chose to rewatch a movie to hear facts again, others looked back at their notes to help them. No matter what they chose they all enjoyed it, and they retained a lot more than they would have if we had only read our textbooks!
What's something new that you tried? Link up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried it Tuesday and share something new you have tried!
This is a really cool idea! I always wondered how I could use QR codes in the classroom, especially with so many restrictions! Thanks for sharing how you did this :) I'll definitely keep it in mind the next time I teach Westward Expansion (hopefully next year :)
ReplyDelete--jen
teaching,life,and everything in between
Hi Bethany! This is something I would love to try in my class. I only have one iPad in my room but we may be getting carts for a class to borrow and use next year. I am pinning this because I need to research it more. QR codes are completely foreign to me and the part how you had "to remake the codes using safe.share TV" is a little...well, scary! haha!!
ReplyDeleteI am loving this linky already because of the wealth of knowledge that is being shared! Thank you so much linking up:)
~Holly
Fourth Grade Flipper
I will have to do a blog post about QR codes sometime soon, they are actually super easy to make, and the safeshare.tv is a great site too.
DeleteI've been wanting to try QR codes in my class, but I don't have access to the technology for it. A few teachers use it for homework, which I think is adorable!
ReplyDeletehttp://dontlettheteacher.blogspot.com/2013/03/giveaway.html
I'll do a blog post about making QR codes soon, they are super easy and the kids love them.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
What a great lesson! I would love to learn more about using QR codes!
ReplyDelete-Maria
Everyone deServes to Learn
OMG what a fun idea! I love it and am going to pin this in case we EVER get ipads for our classrooms. Thanks for sharing this idea :)
ReplyDeleteGina
Third Grade Tidbits
QR codes are such fun! I liked doing a scavenger hunt with them. I am now your newest follower :) Also, good luck with your state testing too!
ReplyDeleteShana
Enchanted with Technology
Thank you so much for using our "Lewis and Clark" product in your blog today! That was a great idea to change the codes from linking from you tube to safe share.tv! You are the best! :) QR Queens
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower! I found you from the Tried it Tuesday link-up. :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to do this in my classroom, but we're really far behind in technology. I'm working on a Donors Choose project for a classroom iPad - one at a time.
Wish we had iPads for students, I would love to try QR codes! Can you email me at jam082381@yahoo.com so I can send you my Biography in a Bag for linking up last week? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJess