A first grader at Elm Grove uses the Smart Board in the Library

A Smart Board was recently mounted in the Elm Grove library.  Librarian Mark Weems and Library Tech Karan Ratliff have been using the interactive white board with their classes and the kids couldn’t be more excited to jump up and participate in the lesson.  The photo above was captured during a first grade lesson in which the kids were asked to help “dress the naked mole rat”.  The game is based on a character in Mo Willems book, “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed”.

3rd Graders at Elm Grove Elementary are eager to answer a question posed by the NASA Scientist

Third graders at Elm Grove Elementary recently had the opportunity to participate in a videoconference with NASA.  After learning all about the Solar System in their classrooms, the students were eager to share their knowledge with their “virtual” teacher and had some very thoughtful questions preparred for him as well. 

All six third grade classes were able to attend the videoconference in four separate sessions coordinated by Distance Learning Specialist, Christie Rickert and Elm Grove Instructional Technologist, Amanda Bodine.  During the videoconferences, the representative from NASA showed the students a virtual model of the Solar System that helped to reinforce what they had been learning in class.  Many of the questions that the students asked had to do with eating and sleeping in space.  They were shown some very interesting video footage of Astronauts doing these very things in the space station.  For every question asked by the students, the NASA Scientist had an answer including pictures or videos.  It was a very interesting, impacting, and worthwhile experience for the students and the teachers.

Fifth graders at Elm Grove Elementary are given the opportunity to learn how to use the same type of technology used at a network news station.  Students present the weather as well as the daily lunch menu, birthdays, and other news to the students in the school every morning under the leadership of Instructional Technologist, Amanda Bodine.   Fifth graders spend eight weeks working as part of the news crew and during that time they learn how to use the video mixer, sound mixer, and teleprompter, while also developing good public speaking skills and confidence.  Power point is used to create the background images for the broadcast and chroma key technology along with a “green screen” is used to create the look and feel of a real news broadcast.