Observation

Observation: March 17, 2009
Audience: 22 second graders
Timeline: 50 minute class
Topic: Literature
The class was introduced to the scripts they will need to create an animated version of the book, The Mitten by Jan Brett.

Purpose: The students will be expected to create an animated version of the correct order the animals that go onto the mitten.

Scripts needed: go to x and glide to

The students were instructed to create one sprite that looked like a house and then to choose one that was animal or even a person. The students knew how to do this so they were able to complete this on their own. Once all students had been given time to finish this they were called back up to the carpet for the next part. Maijue explained to the kids that they were going to learn two new commands. She told them the purpose of each command before she demonstrated them.
For the go to x command she explained that the screen has a number name for each place on the window.  She demonstrated how to get the software to show you that number so they would always have it correct. She then demonstrated the glide command the same way.
Students went off to their own computers to try it out. Able students were enlisted to help students who were confused or just needed a little reminder.
There were lots of exclaims of surprise as the sprite disappeared and then reappeared when the kids click the show script.  They enjoyed that they could make something “cool” as they said, happen.

One student was having a very difficult time understanding just what to do, so the class was brought together to help. They acted out what the scripts were telling the sprites to do. We will see next week if it helped