Creating Characters

I love using online tools and apps which allow students to customise and develop their creativity.  There are many avatar makers and creature creators available.  I have updated this presentation to include a few new ones I have found.  I have also included a few ideas on how to use them in the classroom.

Creating Characters

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Talking Avatar Videos

I know this is not a new device and many people use it but I thought I would share some ideas anyway. The Logitech webcam offers a great function.

You can choose from a range of avatars and the camera calibrates to your face. This makes the avatar move with you, the eyes blink when you blink and the mouth moves as you speak. The webcam has a built in microphone allowing you to film and record a voice at the same time. Here are a few of the avatar options.

It is very easy to use, simply select the avatar and sit in front of the webcam, you need a well lit and quiet area. I encourage students to practice first and then record. Students may need to do a few takes. The video saves to the computer. Using this device is fun to use and encourages students to practice their speaking skills.  It is also useful because you don't need a classroom of computers.  All you need is access to one lap top or a computer and one web cam, students can take turns using it.

Here are a few ideas on how to use it in the classroom

Student use:

• Reflection of a task
• Reflection of an excursion or camp
• Research task
• Book review
• Use in a poetry unit, write and recite a poem about one of the avatars
• An alternative to an oral presentation for students who are not comfortable
• Read a book to share with younger year levels
• Read out a story they have written
• Speak as though they are a character from a story eg. Gingerbread man
• Use to practice speaking languages other than English
• Add to a PowerPoint presentation
• Add to a blog or Glog
• Use as an introduction to a movie or animation students are making

 Teacher use:

• Project on a screen or IWB at the beginning of the lesson to gain students attention
• Use to give instructions
• Give hints to a new unit of work
• Add to a virtual classroom
• Add to PowerPoint presentation
• Use at a staff meeting
• Use at a Subject selection night

Furbles

This is a great site I heard about at the Blast Conference I recently presented at. It is called Furbles, the site offers demo versions to work with. It is a great way to engage young students in maths activities by looking at shapes, numbers and colours. Students can also see the relationship between data and visual interpretations such as bar graphs, tables and pie charts. These would be great activities to use on an Interactive Whiteboard.

You select the number of furbles you want, the colours, shapes and number of eyes.

The eyes move as you move your mouse around, students love this!

If you select the bar graph option along the bottom bar, you can select the category you wish to look at in bar graph form. Here is an example of one using colour. The furbles move themselves into place to create a bar graph.

The same happens when you select the table format or the pie chart.

If you select the shoe icon, students can move the furbles themselves to form different groups according to the colour, shape or eyes. This would be a great interactive whiteboard activity.

More Fun Interactive Sites for Kids

Here are a few more sites which are sure to keep students busy and happy!

http://www.funbrain.com/brain/SweepsBrain/sweepsbrain.html

This is a great interactive site where students can explore and engage in learning by clicking on the characters.

Little Einsteins

http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/littleeinsteins/index.html

This site is based on the TV show of the same name.  The site offers a range of activities involving art and music.

Painting Game

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/games/#/lb/somethingspecial/paintinggame

This is a fun game where you add to a story by drawing characters and story settings.

Number Jacks

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/numberjacks/games/

This is a site based on the TV show about numbers.  It provides games which help the development of numeracy skills.

Sid the Science Kid

http://pbskids.org/sid/

This site provides many opportunities to explore. 

Students can visit different rooms and engage in different science oriented activities.

Crayon Physics Deluxe

http://www.crayonphysics.com/

I like to focus on digital tools and games which are free, however, this one I couldn't resist.

“Crayon Physics Deluxe is a 2D physics puzzle / sandbox game, in which you get to experience what it would be like if your drawings would be magically transformed into real physical objects. Solve puzzles with your artistic vision and creative use of physics.” http://www.crayonphysics.com/


The aim of the game is to create a path for the ball to move and roll over the star. There is a range of levels to work through.

This is a great game for problem solving, decision making and creativity. As the title suggests it can be used to understand different rules of physics such as the effects of gravity, size and weight. It is great for all ages.

This link shows videos of the game in use.

http://www.youtube.com/user/kloonigames#p/a

So you want to be a Rock Star!

Recently I have been experimenting with Music games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band. While I was strumming the guitar I started to think of possible ways to integrate these games into the classroom. My immediate thoughts went to how I would use them in Art and Multimedia classes and then I continued to explore further.  (One thing to be aware of is some games may have inappropriate images so choose a game which best suits the age of your students).

Here are a few ideas, (Happy to hear any ideas you might have to add)


• Write a blog of experiences, levels and songs mastered

• Document the songs and artists

• Research the artists

• Create an online timeline of the different styles of music
 http://www.xtimeline.com/

 http://www.timerime.com/

• Explore the period of time or culture associated with each song

• Interpret the lyrics of a song

• Write lyrics for a song

• Look at music search sites
http://audiomap.tuneglue.net/
http://www.liveplasma.com/
http://musicovery.com/

• Look at different instruments

• Create a Glossary of Music terms

This site could be useful in this task

Fun with Music

• Analyse the game

• Write a comparison between two similar games

• Write a review for the game to be published in a game magazine or blog

• Design a rubric to assess a game

• Hold a tournament between students with teams and prizes to win

• Design own rock star

http://www.blogger.com/•http://www.ugo.com/heromachine/rockstar/

• Design a Guitar

http://www.flashninjaclan.com/zzz1644_Custom_Guitar.php

• Design a poster for a band or rock star

• Write a story about rock star

• Create a virtual tour for a rock band

• Create a comic based on a rock star

• Create your own music       You can use the Audio Editor on the Aviary site

http://aviary.com/

• Beat Maker ipod app

Benefits of playing Music Games:

• develop rhythm
• develop hand-eye co-ordination
• motor skills
• develop memory and indentifying skills
• music recognition

Here are a list of games:

Game Consoles:

http://hub.guitarhero.com/

http://www.rockband.com/

Online Games:

Guitar Hero II

http://www.multigames.com/game/Guitar_Hero_II-EKn57X5O

Guitar Master

http://www.funny-games.biz/guitar-master-4.html

http://www.agame.com/game/Alvins-Guitar-Genius.html

There is also a range of ipod apps such as:

Guitar Rock Tour

Guitar Rock Tour 2

Rock Band

             Tap Tap Pro

 

Soup Toys

http://www.souptoys.com/

Soup Toys is a free download game. You play it straight on to your desktop. It allows you to set up different sequences and contraptions using different items. You can keep your desktop as the background or choose a blue background.

It is a great tool for problem solving, predicting results, physics and decision making. You can also record each sequence and save them.

A great activity would be to set a few limits for students and see the different results they create.
Eg. You can only use three levers and five balls or build a castle to house four dolls.

It is also a lot of fun just to play with.