Encouraging Imagination Digitally

I recently taught a summer school session entitled Virtual Field Trips to students in grades 3-5. Using many digital tools, we journeyed to ancient China, Australia, boarded the USS Constitution and ended up on Mars!

I began by brainstorming possible destinations, based on personal interests and travels, availability of engaging digital resources and ideas that would motivate and excite children.  From feedback I received from students and adults, this was a successful 16 day unit.

The factor that brought excitement to the class was my students' imaginations, which I encouraged through conversation with them.  I introduced places and activities as simulations that we were experiencing.  We "flew" using Google Earth.  We experienced sailing and pirate encounters via videos.  We became sailors through digital and physical gaming.  We learned how to tie various knots to rig our sails.  We created art under local influence.

Here are some photographs with brief descriptions of some of our experiences.  I am also creating a Pinterest board titled "Our Virtual Field Trips" with many of the digital resources we used in our adventures.

Learning about ancient Chinese inventions.  We spontaneously kept making connections back to these!

dot painting in Tux Paint

poster illustrating Chinese zodiac

origami creations

using Comic Life to learn about Australian animals

simulation of a sailor's life abord the USS Constitution
http://www.asailorslifeforme.org/

practicing rope knots

modeling using my imagination

treasure hunt: playing a game using latitude and longitude

animated app: Barefoot Atlas

space station app: Earthlapse

Classroom Newsletters

We all know that developing relationships with parents can be very helpful. It helps parents to entrust their children to our care for a significant part of their lives. Our students benefit by having important people in their lives working together on their part. When we have healthy relationships with parents, we are able to communicate better and enlist their help.

One facet of building a relationship is through clear communication. While face to face communication is often best, it's not always possible or practical. A classroom newsletter can be used to communicate with parents and encourage two-way communication.

I teach in a very diverse community in which the majority of parents speak and read English. I use Comic Life to publish our classroom newsletters. My students and I plan and create them.


















My goals are to inform parents about the current work and standards, give specific expectations and offer means of contacting me. I do this by using brief text boxes, photographs and other images. I believe Comic Life provides an efficient, attractive way to include and arrange the elements I need.