Making a Crossword Puzzle!

I made a crossword puzzle using Microsoft Excel. I am familiar with the Excel program. I followed the tutorial and found it easy to make. I learned how to copy and paste the black outline and how to write the number indented in the upper left hand corner. I think this is a great way to teach students to learn vocabulary. I made a crossword puzzle using third grade geography terms.
Here is a snapshot of my crossword puzzle and its corresponding clues (definitions of the geography terms).













First, I would introduce the vocabulary terms they need to know. Students would simultaneously learn how to use Excel while learning new vocabulary. Then students can share their crosswords puzzles with classmates and have them complete it. Making their own crossword puzzle gives them ownership. Students are exposed to vocabulary several times. Students can give their fellow classmates the crossword puzzle to complete. Students will also have to complete a crossword puzzle given to them by a fellow classmate. This will help the students to easily remember the terms. Next time, I think that I chose a topic with less vocabulary terms.
Teachers should not only teach Excel as a software program but they should also integrate the program into different content areas. As seen, students can use excel to make crossword puzzles to learn vocabulary in content areas such as English, Social Studies and Science. Students can also use Excel when experimenting during science. They can keep data taken in charts (such as temperatures recorded). Students can also use Excel during math lessons they can record survey and also make predictions and record the actual results and compare them.
For the extra credit assignment, to make a crossword puzzle using a Web 2.0 puzzle maker I decided to use ABCTeach.com They provided several free crossword puzzles templates for the topics such as Spanish numbers, rain forest, "at" words, homophones, opposites, and school days. If you are a member of ABCTeach.com you can make crossword puzzles with your own word list. I liked this website. It was easy to make and you could format the crossword puzzle in different fonts, colors, and background colors. In the future, when I have my own classroom I would sign up for this website. The site provides a custom worksheet generator you can make your own worksheets for: ABC sort, Handwriting, Word Wall, Unscramble, Math, Soduko, Bingo, Spelling and Missing Letters.

Webquest on Constructivism

Over the last two weeks our group worked on the Constructivism Webquest. I have made my own Webquest before and I like the format. It is very easy to follow with the Introduction, Task, Resources, Process, and Evaluation (which provided a rubric). By using this Webquest I gained a better understanding of Constructivism its theory and how it can be used to teach in the classroom. For the assignment, we decided to make a power point with information regarding the theory and history of Constructivism and the essential ideas as well. We listed the advantages and disadvantages and Lindsay turned the information into a visual display using Inspiration. We then made science lessons plan that aligned with the 5E lesson plan design. I picked a second grade science unit on air and weather. This lesson introduces the concept of air and weather. Students were able to experiment on their own with materials to see how air affected their movement. In the explanation stage teacher and students work together, by comparing and contrasting students observations. The teacher then clarifies and thoroughly explained the concept of air. Students are actively engaged in the inquiry process as learn about air.

How is the 5E lesson plan design (from the Constructivism, Webquest) aligned with the inquiry process? If you were a principal of the school, will you encourage your teachers using it in their classrooms? Why?

Constructivism is the philosophy about learning, that proposes learners need to build their own understanding of new ideas. When learning new things we use both our prior knowledge and knowledge gained from new explorations. Many times we are curious about a topic and are motivated to learn and answer our own questions about the topic. We poke, probe, inquire and explore the topic until we gain some information. As we investigate the topic we learn new ideas and combine them with our prior experiences to gain a better understanding of the topic. We extend our understanding by discussions. We then validate the theory as we solve problems.
It is up to the teacher to facilitate the constructivism theory into the classroom. Students come to school full of questions. Sometimes teachers hinder students from asking questions because they do not have enough time to teach them everything there is on the curriculum. Teachers should promote opportunities and events that encourage and support student’s inquiry. I think that principals should stress the 5 E lesson plan model when teaching science to their students. This type of model encourages active learning and I believe that students will gain a thorough understanding of the topic.

Mindmapping on Inspiration and Gliffy.com

I used Inspiration to make a mind map diagram. I signed up for the thirty-day free trail. I watched the tutorial and found it very helpful when creating my mind map. I liked the many pictures from clip art, note pads, templates for different subject areas and easy to use link to urls.
I chose to make a graphic organizer called Sense Sketcher. Students have to fill in the graphic organizer with the senses and emotions they pictured from the reading. Then they can use the points from the graphic organizer to draw their own picture. I also put pictures that corresponded to the five senses. This will help the students to visually remember and identify the five senses.

I used gliffy.com to make my second mind map. I did not find this program as easy to use as Inspiration. However I did like how easy it was to save and to make into a webpage and the various ways that you could save the picture (in different sizes).
I chose to make a graphic organizer Tips for studying abroad in Oxford, England. I went to England and thought students who are going to travel abroad this summer might find this map mind helpful.



Overall, I enjoyed using these programs to make mind maps. In the future, I will use these programs in my classroom to make mind maps and graphic organizers!!