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[|Finding My House-Google Maps]

In kindergarten, one of the goals that we have for our students is for them to be able to learn their addresses. In this activity, students are able to use Google Maps to pinpoint their houses and get directions to and from school. By locating students homes and learning directions, students are motivated to learn their addresses for safety purposes as well as practicing writing. I would use this lesson as a whole group activity in my Smart Board in my classroom. If I was able to have classroom helpers, I could take my kindergartners to the computer lab. Students could sit in small groups and take turns finding their houses. Besides looking at students homes, we could also pinpoint local points of interest in relationship to our school.

[|Write a Number Story]  During this lesson, students hear number stories, see number stories drawn out, and then create their own using the paint program that is available on AppleWorks or Microsoft Office. After all students have created their number stories, all the files are shared in one large PowerPoint program. These can be used to share with the rest of the class, other classes, or with parents. This lesson is great way to practice basic number facts as well as practice writing/solving number stories. I also like the part where students get to see the other number stories that were created. While these are being presented students could be solving the problems. I could also print out student work and create a class book. This book could be looked at even after the presentation is over.

[|The Bear Necessities]

This lesson integrates technology with Science. Students are asked to fill out a KWL chart about what they already know and want to know about polar bears. Individually, in small groups, or as a large group, students are asked to go to the website Enchanted Learning to find out basic facts and find answers to their questions about polar bears. This lesson also suggests going to the National Geographic website and look under the section "Creature Features" I would change this activity to better suit my kindergartners by doing it in a whole group setting. As a class we could fill out the KWL chart and look at the webites together. However, if I was able to have some help in my classroom, there could be small groups in the computer lab along with an adult, to find the answers to questions that asked.