This is a guest post from Jennifer Carey (@TeacherJenCarey) of EdTechTeacher - an advertiser on this site.
iPads have entered classrooms at an unprecedented rate. In response to the prevalence of this device in schools, Apple has released a series of free eBooks outlining lesson plans for various apps. What makes these especially powerful is that they harness iPad’s unique feature of being a mobile creation device. All of the eBooks are free and the apps, if not free, are heavily discounted under
Apple’s Volume Purchase Program for Educational Institutions.
Each of these eBooks focuses on a specific app and outlines a series of lesson plan ideas by grade level and subject matter. A quick note for educators, many of these Apps have iPhone and Android Options so these eBooks could be used for other platforms as well.
SketchBook Express allows students to draw, paint, and draft using just their fingerprints! Not just for art and design, there are lessons for Mathematics K-5, Science 5-8, History 5-12, Art K-5, and Science 9-12.
Stop Motion Studio allows students to act out their own scenes or incorporate clay, drawings, and photos to “create animated sequences.” This is a creative way to bring video into your classroom. There are lessons for Mathematics K-5, Science K-8, Literacy 9-12, and History 9-12.
Lessons cover mathematics for grades K-12, Literacy grades K-12, Social Studies 9-12, and Science 6-8. Each lesson outlines age levels, objectives, sample rubrics, and examples. The outlines are a great way to get started and to build from as you progress with the tool.
Hopscotch is a simple tool that “helps students learn to code, letting them get creative while developing computer science, problem-solving, and logical-thinking skills.” However, don’t think that all of the exercises are focused on computer science and coding. Rather, they provide lessons that help you to infuse coding skills into a “traditional” curriculum. Lessons cover K-8 mathematics, Literacy K-5, Foreign Language 6-8, Science K-5, and Geography 6-8.
Puppet Pals allows students to create their own characters and record voice overs in order to tell stories. It’s similar to other comic book apps, but allows for moveable characters that can be personalized. Lessons include topics for Science K-5, Literacy K-5, Geography 5-8, and Foreign Language 5-8.
If you would like to explore more tools for your Mobile Device classroom, check out EdTechTeacher’s “Apps for the Classroom” and “Tech Tools by Subject and Skills" or come join them for their February 9-11 iPad Summit in San Diego.
The Molecular Workbench is an excellent site produced by the Concord Consortium with funding from the National Science Foundation. On the Molecular Workbench you can find dozens of interactive models, simulations, and lessons in biology, chemistry, and physics. Each of the lessons walk students through a concept or series of concepts using a set of models and simulations. For example, the Cellular Respiration activity is actually a series of nine lessons using simulations of the process. In addition to the pre-made models, simulations, and lessons users can create their own using the tools provided by the Molecular Workbench.
Chem Collective is a project designed and maintained by Carnegie Mellon University's chemistry department and the National Science Digital Library. On Chem Collective you will find virtual labs for chemistry experiments, simulations, visualizations, tutorials, and auto-graded problems. Students and teachers can search the site by resource type or by chemistry topic.
goREACT is a free iPad and Android app from the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. This free iPad app allows students to virtually create chemical reactions. To create the reactions students simply drag elements from the periodic table to the “reaction area.” The app features suggested reactions to help students get started. In all there are nearly 300 chemical reactions supported on the app. The app includes pictures and videos related to the reactions that students can virtually create on goREACT.
Elements 4D is an augmented reality app through which students can create virtual reactions. Elements 4D provides templates for cutting and folding paper cubes. Each cube represents elements from the Periodic Table of Elements. Students scan the cubes with their iPads or Android tablets to learn more about the elements they represent. Put two cubes together and scan them to see how the elements interact with each other. Elements 4D now offers a collection of lesson plans that utilize the augmented reality app in elementary school, middle school, and high school. Elements 4D is available for iPad and Android.