Mrs. Tech

So I know that I have already shared with you some of my favorite coding apps on my blog both for iPads and desktops , but I wanted to get back on here and share with you about Apple's Swift Playgrounds that they released as their version of a coding app. As always, something that is based on the device on which it is being played is going to function beautifully, and this is no exception with Swift Playgrounds. I love that Apple shares user guides, help guides, and starts with the most basic versions to get you coding. I wouldn't recommend this as the very first coding you ever do, but I sat in a classroom with many other educators who had never coded before, and they did just fine on this. It does require more reading, so I would recommend it to students who are readers, but we all know that our students are smart enough to figure lots of things out without reading the directions. I love the cute little character that Apple came up with and I also like that there ar...

Play and Learn Science is a PBS Kids game that is aimed at PreK-2nd grade, and is great for exploring science topics in a hands on way through technology. None of the games last forever or have a million levels, but they are just long enough that they get the students engaged and they start to better understand the topic.  The science activities that are covered are as follows:  • Weather Control : Read the Temperature, Weather Controller, Thermometer Picking • Gear Up : Photo Weather, Gear Up, The Amazing Umbrella • Ramp & Roll : Explore the Roll, Hit the Target, Surface Challenge • Shadow Play : Exploring Shadows, Shadow Scenes, Guess the Shadow Part of what I love about this game is all the discussions that you can have after have students explore different aspects of the app. I share what discussions I have had with my students in my resource here .  Let me know if you try this app out, Be a scientist, Hilary 

One of my favorite parts of Draw & Tell is the freedom to have students draw freely. I love to use this for them to create a word picture while we are reading a book to keep their hands busy. It is also a fun way for them to just color for a brain break and to fill in a little free time while they wait for their other classmates to finish. Honestly, who doesn't love to color?! While they are coloring, they can also add clip art or extra designs to the picture and they can color in patterns - say what?! If you want to see how I used Draw & Tell in my classroom, check out my resource here ! Also, any of the other Duck, Duck Moose Apps (like Superhero HD) are pretty much the bomb.com, too!  Happy Drawing, Hilary

Lego Creator is a game that all of my students have enjoyed working on over the course of the year. I originally found it as entertainment for my boys when I had a small group project that I was completing with my girls, but it has honestly been enjoyed by all. You essentially start out with an empty island and you collect blocks to use as currency to build up your island (and add future islands). Each time you are able to build something new, it gives the students choices on what they can pick. They really enjoy the creative part of it, as well as seeing how many blocks they can collect. (As you can see in the picture below, I hold the record with 1500+ :p)  To read more about Lego Creator and see how you might use it in your classroom, check out my resource here .  Happy Building, Hilary