Kindergarten students are beginning to explore our iPads during our weekly technology time. Before we even touched the screens though, we talked about how to handle them safely, like being careful and keeping our hands clean. Then, I put out mirrors and we used Doodle Buddy to create self portraits. This is a great unintimidating way for young students explore how to navigate the various options an app can offer. For example students figured out how to select various colors, change the gauge of their lines, erase unwanted lines, and more. Additionally they are developing strong listening skills in order to follow directions and basic troubleshooting skills when unintended changes to the screen occur. So when you look at these portraits take a moment to think about all the steps and thinking that our students had to take to make them.
