Educational App Review- ABC Letter Tracing

Item No.	37
App Name	ABC Letter Tracing
Description/Purpose	Fun train, truck and worm animations come to life for children to  follow, while showing the proper way to write alphabet letters and numbers.
Designer/Developer	Oncilla Technologies Inc
Developer's Website	http://funlittleapps.com/
Cost (Free vs. $$$)	FREE
Works on Following Platforms iPad (IPA), iPhone (IPH), Windows Tablet (WTAB), Windows Phone (WPH), Android Tablet (ATAB), Android Phone (APH)	IPA, IPH
Online Tutorial Address	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnxvE2e3sTo&list=PL8720FF69775A2955&index=2
Apprropriate Grade Levels Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Adult	Pre-K, K-2
Learning Curve Score LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	MOD; 3
Ease of Use (LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	LO; 1
Overall Rating (POOR - EXCELLENT; 1-5)	Satisfactory; 4
General Comments	I think the Alphabet Tracing game is very neat, and educational for a young learner.  There is not much variety to the app, but the consistency will help these young  children when learning to write letters.

Educational App Review- Google Earth

Item No.	1
App Name	Google Earth
Description/Purpose	Google Earth helps people for driving to other places seeing maps and seeing places without going there.  Google describes Google Earth as a tool "allowing you to travel  the world through a virtual globe and view satellite imagery,  maps, terrain, 3D buildings, and much more."
Designer/Developer	Keyhole, Inc
Developer's Website	http://www.google.com/earth/
Cost (Free vs. $$$)	FREE
Works on Following Platforms iPad (IPA), iPhone (IPH), Windows Tablet (WTAB), Windows Phone (WPH), Android Tablet (ATAB), Android Phone (APH)	IPA, IPH, WTAB, WPH, ATAB, APH, any device with internet
Online Tutorial Address	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5zU6XCmvE
Apprropriate Grade Levels Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Adult	Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Adult
Learning Curve Score LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	HIGH; 5
Ease of Use (LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	LO; 1
Overall Rating (POOR - EXCELLENT; 1-5)	EXCELLENT
General Comments	Google Earth is one of the most advanced apps out there. Although the app is fairly simple to work, I feel it is most beneficial to students of upper grades. I have used Google Earth many times in the past, and I plan on continuing to use this app until it is no longer available.

Educational App Review- MeeGenius' Kid's Books

Item No.	17
App Name	MeeGenius" Kids' Books
Description/Purpose	Offers FREE books online for children.  The books are not only entertaining but also educational.  This app has a wide variety of books for all reading levels.
Designer/Developer	MeeGenius, Inc.
Developer's Website	http://www.meegenius.com/
Cost (Free vs. $$$)	FREE
Works on Following Platforms iPad (IPA), iPhone (IPH), Windows Tablet (WTAB), Windows Phone (WPH), Android Tablet (ATAB), Android Phone (APH)	ATAB, IPA, IPH, internet, APH, Google TV
Online Tutorial Address	http://prezi.com/f94ies9ofru8/meegenius/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=prezi_landing_related_solr&utm_campaign=prezi_ landing_related_solr
Apprropriate Grade Levels Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Adult	Pre-K, K-2, 3-5
Learning Curve Score LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	LO - 1
Ease of Use (LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	LO - 1
Overall Rating (POOR - EXCELLENT; 1-5)	EXCELLENT - 5
General Comments	GREAT website/app. As a future teacher/mom, I am very excited to learn about MeeGenius.

Educational App Review- Calculator for IPad FREE

Item No.	8
App Name	Calculator for I-Pad FREE
Description/Purpose	Offers a free calculator for all IPad users.  This calculator can be used for any age, or educational level.  The calculator offers a wider variety of tools that can complete basic math all the way through calculus.  This app combines the normal and scientific calculator.
Designer/Developer	International Travel Weather Calculator
Developer's Website	http://www.itwcalculator.com/
Cost (Free vs. $$$)	FREE
Works on Following Platforms iPad (IPA), iPhone (IPH), Windows Tablet (WTAB), Windows Phone (WPH), Android Tablet (ATAB), Android Phone (APH)	IPA
Online Tutorial Address	N/A
Apprropriate Grade Levels Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Adult	Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Adult
Learning Curve Score LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	MOD; 3
Ease of Use (LO-MOD-HIGH; 1-5)	LO; 1
Overall Rating (POOR - EXCELLENT; 1-5)	Satisfactory; 4
General Comments	Overall this is a great calculator app. It completes all levels of mathematical computations and best of all, IT'S FREE!

Easy Rain Gauge Tutorial

Hello again!

Today I have a tutorial for a rain gauge I used with my 2nd graders whom all have hearing impairments! This was taught at the end of our lesson on the 2013 Boulder Colorado Flood, which we used to teach all there is to know about floods. Before beginning our rain gauge craft, we discussed the spelling and definition of flooding, as well as the dangers that flooding can cause.

My students really seemed to enjoy this lesson. We also peeped a short video clip of the Boulder flooding. ( I saw many jaws dropping in amazement) I will definitely be using this lesson again in the future! 
 
(https://www.google.com/search?q=homemade+rain+gauge&client=firefox-a&hs=ZOD&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yOReUonZF7i-4AOo7oCwDw&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=666#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=kG1MU6Q30iyrJM%3A%3BHu1OQYgSWaeAGM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fb.vimeocdn.com%252Fts%252F159%
252F200%252F159200831_640.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fvimeo.com%252F24317443%3B64
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Rain Gauge Tutorial-

1) Hand out rain gauge template and have students cut along the outer most lines.

(Copy and paste template link in URL : http://www.promotional-items-inc.com/catalog/rain_gauge-6_inch_rain_drop_features.html )

2) Glue the back of the ruler to a Popsicle stick.

3) Line up the bottom of the ruler to the bottom on a clear cup and tape around  the entire cup.

4) Test out the rain gauge by pouring some water in and quizzing the students by asking them how much water has been collected.


Enjoy!
XOXO Ms. Hayes

Integrating Prezi in Daily Lesson Plans

Hello Everyone!

Today I thought I would post a Prezi I have created to introduce the BP Oil Spill to my 5th grade class.

http://prezi.com/najlah61nr9n/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

(To view the Prezi, copy & paste the link above into your URL bar)

Feel free to share with your students :) I hope you enjoy!

Best Wishes,
Amanda Hayes (a.k.a. Ms. Hayes)