I Learn with Poko: Science and Weather by Applicable2U

I Learn with Poko: Seasons and Weather HD
 by Tribal Nova

Are you familiar with the latest trend in professional development, theResponsive Classroom?   A responsive classroom is a well known phrase in my school.  Currently our district is training a large group of teachers in this research based method which will “increase academic achievement, decrease problem behaviors, improve social skills, and lead to more high-quality instruction.”  Part of a responsive classroom is to start each day with what is called a morning meeting.  Some might also call it circle time.  Morning meetings constitute a greeting from the classroom teacher with an educational twist on large chart paper.  As I think of what a technology morning meeting might look like, I instantly think, “There is an app for that!”  

From the creators of  the award winning PBS Kids Play and CBS Wonderworld online learning game, Tribal Nova has designed a cross curricular app for children ages 3-7. Available now in your iTunes library called I Learn with Poko: Seasons and Weather HD.  With the integration of National Standards, preschoolers and kindergarteners will meet the necessary benchmarks of: observe and graph daily weather, while also observing the cyclical pattern of the seasons.  As your child navigates through three levels of learning, they will be investigating critical science skills while having fun with three friends: Poko, Bibi and Mr. Murphy.  As your child(ren) or student(s) learn science, they will also be developing their observation, language, literacy, and matching skills. With very clear directions both verbally and pictorially, continued reinforcement and eye catching graphics, your little ones will not even realize they are meeting necessary learning standards.  All they will know is that they are having fun during circle or meeting time.   It is important to note that I Learn with Poko: Science and Weather HD meets the needs of each individual child or student. Progression from one level to the next is based on their individual success rate.  

What Does It Look Like:

Level 1 – Weather Conditions:  Here users are to help Bibi fill her photo album with memories of her and her friends in various seasons.  You are given four pictures, however, Bibi can’t put all of them in her album.  Through such skills as listening, observing and comparing, you will learn to distinguish between seasons and weather conditions.   Level 2 – What to Wear:  If you are familiar with the activity of “What’s Wrong With This Picture“, then your little scientist will have no problems. Simply listen to the verbal clues the announcer provides and determine what is wrong with the picture.  Before you begin tapping the screen, check out the camera at the bottom and see how many buttons are yellow.  This will indicate how many errors there are with the picture.  As you locate the mistakes, those buttons will be filled in orange.  Level 3 – Days and Activities:  Help Poko fill in his calendar.  Here, users will become familiar with the names of the months, days of the week and coordinating activities that Poko may have done based on the weather conditions of each empty day.

How To Integrate Into A Responsive Classroom:

Upon entering a preschool or kindergarten classroom, children will notice a brief note from their teacher at the front of the room.  This note will contain a greeting, today’s date, the weather and maybe a survey question.  As a group, students will read the note and be given opportunities to discuss what is on the note and to then share.  As weather and seasons are introduced and reinforced during this time, why not incorporate a morning meeting through the use of an educational app and an iPad.  With the recent launch of the iPad2, simply connect your device to a large screen and let, I Learn With Poko: Science and Weather HD, come to life for a whole class experience.  If your classroom is only equipped with one iPad, then use this morning meeting time as a way to model the application, extend conversations, and to provide opportunities to problem solve.  A note to the developers – would it be possible to create multiple accounts within the application.  If devices are being shared, and progress is individually based, this might flow better in a classroom or even a small center time activity.

Overall, Applicable2U gives this science application a definite thumbs up!  If you have a preschooler or kindergartener, then this application applies to you.   If you would like learn more about Tribal Nova and what they have currently developed, then be sure to visit their website here. If you are in need of science and weather resources for your preschool or kindergarten classroom, then consider downloading I Learn WithPoko: Science and Weather HD from your iTunes library here.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Easy Chart Weather Lesson Using Easy Chart and Weather Apps

Cross Posted to iEAR wikispace.

Apps Used:  Easy Chart - $ Free for iPod/iPhone $0.99 for iPad; Weather - $ Free

Subjects that can be taught using apps:  Math (Graphs and Data), Geography, Science (Weather)

Grade Levels: 4th-6th, could be adapted for younger grades.  This activity works well individually or in pairs. 

Time:  60 minutes

Lesson:    Once students have the devices available, start in Easy Chart. I like to have the students familiar with how the app works before gathering the data. 

Once in the app have them go to the settings. Change the input from slider to keyboard. You can adjust the output size for the charts as well here. 

Tap Save.

Once back in the app, scroll to the bottom of charts that have already been created. You will find a green plus sign. Tap that plus sign to start a new chart.

 

 The chart opens with a Chart #, that can be changed by selecting the name and then tapping the x.

You will see two data points labeled one and two. You tap on the names to change those. Then you can tap on the numbers to change those. You can add more data points by tapping on the next line.

 With that instruction you should be ready to go into the Weather app and gather your data.  

 

Here is a city already set up in the Weather app. To set up a new city in the app, tap on the information ( i ) button in the lower left hand corner. 

This brings up the screen to add and delete cities. Ask the students not to delete any cities as there may be other groups using those.

 Tap on the plus ( + ) sign to bring up the search screen.

 Type in the name of the city you would like to add to the app. Be aware that many states and even countries may have cities with the same name, make sure you select the correct city to add. 

After they have added the 3 cities, have students get out a piece of paper and pencil. Have them create a data table with the expected high temperature for the next 5 days for each city. 

 Now they can go back into Easy Chart and enter the data for their chart. I have them build 2 charts to begin with. For the first chart I have them do a comparison of the highs in the 3 cities for one of the five days.  

Next I have them build a chart of the highs for all 5 days for one city. 

When the charts are built, have the students discuss whether the default chart (pie chart) is the best way to display this data. Have them tap the chart button in the lower left corner of the screen to cycle through the different chart options. Ask them to decide which chart best tells the story of the data. 

Now have them tap the button next to the chart button. This changes the color scheme for the chart. They can cycle through and choose the scheme they like best for any particular chart. 

I like discussing how different kinds of charts tell a different story with the data. 

For a final activity with this lesson I like to do some live data collection. I may choose favorite ice cream flavors or favorite candy bars, but I let students give me five choices. Then I ask all students to vote on one of the five and we graph that data. This helps to bring data collection and understanding data home to the students.