KidPix
What is it?
KidPix is an innovative learning tool which allows students to create new and unique projects based on their ideas and individual creativity while staying within the boundaries of an teacher’s instructions. Students can draw pictures of their own, add previously acquired graphics, and/or insert animations. They can insert text, make a slideshow, and add many different features to their final product. KidPix is a great way to encourage learning through a different means of instruction. The program is designed for students grade levels K-6; however, the difficulty level of the assignment can be tailored to meet the needs and ability level of the students.
This video gives a basic overview of what KidPix is and its various features.
How is it used to improve English skills?
Students love the opportunity to use the computer. Programs such as KidPix often give children the confidence to try something new and expand their creativity. The program allows students to add text which can bu supplemented with creative designs. This makes the students much more interested and involved in their writing. The range of different tools allows students to expand beyond the limits of the typical tools available in a classroom without a computer. It allows students to practice their skills that they have just learned in the typical classroom setting.
How does it work?
The main menu has six different options of where to begin when you open KidPix. It consists of Wacky TV, Moopies, Stampimator, Digital Puppets, Slide Show, and the main - Kid Pix.
Simple directions
This Quick Guide to KidPix is a great, simple guide to the basic in's and out's of the program. Look at this first to get the basic ideas of what to do.
Some examples of what you can do with KidPix
Projects done by kids of all ages are shown here
Mrs. Shaul's Fabulous Facts About the Sea
Lesson Plan Overview
Grade Level: 6th
Standards Addressed: STANDARD 2: Students write and speak for a variety of purposes and audiences.
STANDARD 3: Students write and speak using conventional grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
STANDARD 5: Students read to locate, select, and make use of relevant information from a variety of media, reference, and technological sources.
Objective: Students will pull from recent learning experiences regarding poetry (specifically Shakespeare) and expand on that knowledge. Students will reinforce their previous learning by developing their own poetry in a format similar to that which they have leaned about in their previous lesson reading Shakespeare. Students’ poems should tell some type of story. Students will work with the KidPix program to type, illustrate and make their poem into a “movie” using slideshow.
Procedure:
Resources: These tutorials are a great resources put out by a teacher and should be utilized throughout this lesson.
More Lesson Ideas
http://www.lttechno.com/links/kidpix.html
http://www.marcias-lesson-links.com/shareideas.html
http://www.edzone.net/~mwestern/KidPix/kidpixacts.html
http://www.k12.hi.us/~dtisdell/training/haines.html
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/software/resources/kidpix.html
Resources
http://www.learningvillage.com/html/rkidpix.html
http://www.ehow.com/way_5344419_kid-pix-tutorial.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JjfR3MaNuI
http://www.mackiev.com/kidpix/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kid_Pix