·  Class Level
 6^th Class
 

·  Curricular Area/s
 Maths/Art/SESE
 

·  Desired Learning Outcomes
 Use problem solving and mathematical skills in an authentic setting. 

 Create an animation incorporating movement and images. 

 Create an animation of a natural habitat.

Create a code identifying and using x/y coordinates
 Recognise the location of the cursor/sprite on an x/y coordinate map
 

·  Resources Needed
 Computer room
 Internet
 Scratch.ie
 x/y coordinate map

Children’s research on sea habitat and creature to help design.
 

·  Classroom Organisation / Management
 Whole class discussion about x/y coordinate map and how to find the x/y coordinates. Teacher models how the cursor moving changes the coordinates on the screen. Children work in pairs to place a sprite on various coordinate points. 
 Whole class discussion and individual research on the sea habitat and sea life. Children work in pairs to design their sprites and backgrounds appropriate to the theme and code the sprites to move on the screen according to the x/y coordinates. Possible extension: adding a challenge to find coordinates (eg battleship type). 
 

·  What challenges might you face?
Sprite design may be time consuming, although they could use predesigned sprites
 Internet speed, although we could download scratch. 

Data: Representing and interpreting data (collect, organise and represent data using pictograms)

The children will work in pairs or small groups to create a visual representation of the data collected regarding the classes favourite sport. They will use Scratch to complete this task. The children will use the y-axis to represent the number of children who like each sport and they x-axis to represent the sport chosen. They will use the preloaded pictures for the sport for the pictogram and will choose the background themselves. 

Children will collect the data as part of the previous lessons work, compile it and have it ready for the next day.

A timer should be used.

The code for repeat falling of blocks should be posted on the wall to help some children.

The classroom should be divided into 6 groups to compile the data the previous day, and the computer room will be used for the scratch activity. The computer room contains 15 pcs and a teacher demonstration pc with projector.

Computer room, IWB, copies and pencils, Scratch.

The children will be informally assessed while working. They will be asked to explain what theyre doing, how, why etc. They will also be asked to pause during work, switch computers with their neighbouring group and watch what they’ve completed so far and provide feedback to the neighbours. They will then be assessed by the final project.

What Scratch activity forms part of the lesson?  
  The children will complete the reading assigned for that nights homework. They will meet in a pairs the following day and discuss their reading. they will devise a plan for creating a scratch project to retell their reading. They will work collaboratively to choose appropriate sprites and backdrops, write the narratives and the dialogues to effectively retell their reading. They should also complete a title and ending scene. (During the activity I will signal the pairs to swap computers in order for their neighbouring pairs to review and provide feedback, thus helping each other improve and provide ideas).

What classroom management strategies will you employ?
I will have the children in pairs working in the computer room. I would have a time on the projector to ensure the children are aware of the time constraints (our computer room timetable is very strict!)

What is the classroom layout and what resources are needed?
The children will complete the discussion and planning in the classroom in pairs at their group tables, they will then move to the computer room and work in pairs. We have 15 pcs, each pair will have a pc.

How will you assess the activity?
I will use informal assessment while walking between and interacting with the pairs. I will use peer assessment, having the children show their projects to each other and provide feedback. i can also assess the projects online after the lesson to provide more thorough feedback to the pairs.

Class Level: 6th

Curricular Area/s: English (but worked well with geog, science, sphe etc)

Desired Learning Outcomes: to enable the child to retell a story in sequence

Specific ICT Resources required: Class pc/laptop, 

Any other resources/supports required: the reading 

Description of the activity: The child took part in the lesson as usual, although having the reading read to him.  The child would then move to the pc while the class began to complete the summarising of the reading. The child then uses Scratch to complete his own summary. He coded a sequence of backgrounds to suit the story setting, sprites appropriate to the story and then using the microphone function added the narrative in order to retell the reading that we heard in sequence. The child was adapt at using scratch as he had used it all year as a way to express his work and to aid his maths (a very visual tool).  It was a very easy manner for me to assess his understanding of the reading. Also it was a good tool for him to use when predicting what would happen. He was not very capable or confident in writing and caused him alot of stress, but when given the option of using scratch he was very motivated and enthusiatic.

How does the use of Scratch in this way support the pupil/s?
The programme allows him to partake in the lesson fully, allows him to complete the task at his ability, allows him to express his opinion, allows him to be assessed for learning on his work. helps to motivate him to finish his work (he hates anything that involves pen and paper and can be very reluctant to work), allows his confidence to grow (he loves when his work is shown to peers as they fully appreciate his work and provide positive feedback) and helps him to engage with the curriculum without providing stress.

·         How to effectively plan for IT/Scratch 

·         How to effectively execute a Scratch lesson, bearing in mind the challenges that could occur

·         How to use Scratch for SEN children to allow them to fully work to their abilities

·         How to use Scratch as a teacher created resource to support the classes learning and stimulate interest

·         How to plan for e-learning

·         Where to source great child friendly sites for searching/pics 

 

How will this knowledge be applied to your teaching when you return to school in September?

When I return to school in September I think that the knowledge I have gained will lead me to be a better teacher. I know my lessons will be more interested, and keep children motivated. I have seen many examples of how I can create resources that are meaningful and interesting. I will begin in September with some of the introductory lessons from Scratch.ie to introduce the children the Scratch programme and build on these as the first term progresses. I would hope that the children would be able to pick up the ideas quickly and that they could start with simple dialogue recount soon, building it to include history timelines or narratives, maths practice etc. I definitely think that Scratch will be a seamless way for me to differentiate for a child in my class that has dyslexia and also the child who has Asperger’s. It will allow them to fully participate in class with a meaningful contribution of their own as I can absolutely see them picking up the coding quickly! 

 

What are the main challenges that you need to be prepared for? How will you deal with these challenges?

I think that the main challenges will be the internet connection and time. Our internet connection, while a new connection is very temperamental and to overcome this I will download scratch on the computers in the computer room. Time is a big factor as we have 45 minutes per week of discreet IT time. To overcome this I will use integration with other subjects. As I have outlined above I intend using it for English and history among other subjects and the tasks can be completed under the subjects time. 

 

What are your next steps in relation to the use of Scratch in your classroom? 

My next step in relation to Scratch will be:

·         Use some teacher created projects in class in order to stimulate the children’s interest. 

·         Then I will move onto using Scratch on the IWB with the children to create some simple stories and to introduce them to coding. 

·         I think the next step I will take is to use some lessons from Scratch.ie. I will allow the children in small groups/pairs to work on these in the Computer room during our IT time. 

This will obviously allow for further work and creation but these are the steps that I think would make most sense to use with my class this September.

Thanks Niall for a great course, looking forward to starting it in sept with my class! Something to look forward to going back to school! Thanks everyone for the great website recommendations! I'll throw mine into the hat too - not strictly related to the topic here but makes life a little easier for me in school - learnboost! great way to keep track of children's progress and can be sent home too!

Slán, Michelle