What does 1:3 look like?

First I arranged my desks into groups of three and hung a "group name" over each pod of desks.

The signs hanging from the ceiling are a country name withe a map of the country and a map showing where that country is in the world.  I just chose to call my groups by country names because it was better group 1, 2, 3, etc.  BUT this still allows me to make sure that each of the groups gets the same iPad that they worked on yesterday.

**Plus it allows me to make my super cheesy teacher joke "Guys there are NO travel visas issued today so stay in your own country!" :)

We use an image that represents that country as the screensaver so that I can immediately tell which iPad it is without having to take a Sharpie to my Otterboxes

Even when we are not using the iPads the trios with assigned roles is very conducive to the learning environment.

Vocab Scavenger Hunt using Label Box on iPads/iPhones

Goal: To teach new vocab, provide visual reinforcements, maximize repetitions

Objective: The students will use iPads to take and label pictures of the new vocab structures.

What we did:

First, we went over some good examples of how to act out a vocab. word.  This step is extremely important!  The first time I did this activity I assumed that kids would automatically know what makes a good visual aid of a vocabulary word...I was very wrong.  One group had a picture of one kid pointing angrily at another kid holding a notebook piece of paper with a picture of a sandwich on it for the vocab. structure "says".  When I questioned how in the world that picture would help me remember that dice means "says" the kids replied, "Because the guys says make me a sandwich."

Students were given an ipad and 1 handout per group.  We went over the top term/phrases for each set and they filled in the blank w/ the translation.

Then, after giving them very explicit expectations for not disrupting any other classes, they are set free for set amount of time (I highly recommend having a time keeper for each group to make sure they all come back on time). I make it clear that they come back at the assigned time regardless of if they have all the pictures done or not.  It's a scavenger hunt, so they should get just as many as they can.

Students put the pictures into storykit and email me the finished product.




Here's an example of the handout:

Piratas cap. 2 vocab scavenger hunt

Nombres: _______________________________________

iPad apps needed: iphoto to take pictures, label box to label the pictures, storykit to put labeled pics together and turn it in via email

Handout

• llama  ____________    
• llama por telefóno
• llama por la ventana

• están mirando ____________
• están mirando la tele
• están mirando un partido de voleibol
• están mirando las fotos de los estudiantes pasados
• están mirando un mapa
•  están mirando ….(¿?)

• habla __________________
• habla con Sra. Hall
• habla con Tai
• habla con Jeff
• habla con Sr. Adkins, Srta Nies, o Sr. Smith
• habla con  ….(¿?)

• buscan ____________________
• buscan un libro
• buscan un coche
• buscan un maestro
• buscan  ….(¿?)

• me gusta ________________
• le gusta _________________
• le gusta el libro
• le gusta el árbol
• le gusta la comida
• no le gusta el libro
• no le gusta la comida
• le gusta  ….(¿?)

A Warning that I verbalized AND put as a footer on the handout:

Do NOT interrupt any classes, meetings, etc! 

Do not disturb the instructional environment. 

Do NOT form a line to all take a picture with the same person, go on to the next one

Student Samples:

****AWESOME ADDED BONUS THAT HAPPENED COMPLETELY BY ACCIDENT***

(although I wish I could say I was brilliant enough to have methodically planned this out)

After all groups have turned in their photos via an emailed link, I copy/paste each groups link into a poll on our class edmodo page.  The homework is that the kids have to go on and use the poll to vote for which group they think had the best pictures to help us remember our vocab.  They LOVED the competition and I accidently got them to look at the key structures that many more times and think critically about them--hm this one is/isn't a good depiction of such and such word. 

I love it when an accident turns out awesome!