Creating puzzles out of rubrics

One activity that I have my students complete to understand rubrics better is to turn the rubric into a puzzle! 

We first read the rubric together and talk about how you can earn different numbers on each section.  I give a copy of the rubric to each group and have them cut it into small pieces. As a group they work together to put it back together.  I have found that this helps them understand the layout of rubrics better and creates great conversations.

SSCC when creating a brochure

Today I did a designed a computer lab lesson that used SSCC. The students were told that the National Zoo had a problem they needed help with. The zoo was tired of people asking them what happens to the animals in the winter and wanted to see if we could create a brochure for them to hand out. The students were very excited to help!

For the most part it went very well.  I provided the website they would use to find the information. They are not ready to search through the web alone. I did take 20 minutes to go over the software skills that were needed for the lesson.  Student used a website and a software program to research the information. They used paper and pencil to create the brochure. They do not have the software skills to use a word program yet.  (That will be another lesson!) I made sure to match up the children with a strong reader and a strong user of information. Most of the students were able to finish in one computer lab session which is 40 minutes. The ones who did not finish will get to finish tomorrow during centers. Below you will see the steps that were given to the student. Most were able to follow along.

Animals Surviving the Winter

The National Zoo would like to have information to give to visitors explaining what animals do during the winter months.

1.  With a partner you will search the internet to find out information.

2.Once you have your information you will decide what you think is most important.

3.You will create a brochure to send to the zoo.

4.The zoo will pass the brochure out to visitors.

1. Click on the link below to find out the three ways animals survive the winter.

How do animals survive the winter?

2. Open BrainPop jr. and login.

(liberty2         liberty1)

1.        Click on SCIENCE

2.       Click on ANIMALS

3.       Click on HIBERNATION

4.       Click on MIGRATION

3. Create a brochure for the zoo to pass out to visitors.

Software skills

26 comments from 26 first graders during computer lab:

"I forgot my username!"
"I forgot my password!"
"What do I click now?"
"what did you say we were doing?"
"What do I need to click?"
"Why did my window close?"
"Something is not working!"
"Ms. Cunningham, I don't know what to do!"
"Where did my mouse go?"
"Why did it open so many screens?"
"Woops...I printed it 10 times!"
"I forgot to save" (followed by 20 minutes of tears)
"She is pressing on my keyboard!"
"He keeps hitting my mouse."
"I can't get my screen to turn on."
"I don't understand"
"I need to go to the bathroom."
"I closed the screen by mistake."
"My typing is gone now."
"He copied me!!!"
"Where is it?"
"I forgot what you said to do."
"I can't find the letter H"
"I don't know how to go back."
"How do you get there again."
"I need help!"


1 comment from the first grade teacher:

"ahhhhhhhhhhhh"


I have noticed that when I am designing lessons a lot of my time is spent on teaching the needed software skills.  I want to give the students a chance to use other programs other than Pixie2.  Pixie2 is great but is not always the best software tool for certain projects. I can't wait for them to get past this hump and really start using the technology to communicate their ideas.