I was reading a Grade 1 teacher’s blog pages recently (http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337 and http://staff.prairiesouth.ca/~cassidy.kathy/index.html), and came upon this fun tool. It is an online program called “This is sand” (link to http://thisissand.com/), where you can create beautiful pictures by dropping ‘sand’ in different colours, onto the screen. (The colours are changed by pressing ‘c’ on the key board, and then choosing the colour you want.) Afterwards you can upload your creations to the gallery, so they can be viewed online. Of course, you could also printscreen the image, and copy it to Paint or Word, and then save it to your computer as a picture. This picture can then be uploaded to your own blog or digital portfolio.
Aterwards, students are invited give feedback about their own creations and experience in creating the pictures, and also to view each other’s creations, and leave positive comments. Students thus develop their skills in Literacy, communication, art and social interaction all at the same time. You can read some comments left by teachers and students here: http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blog_id=926048&mode=comment&blogger_id=1337
If you want to use this program you need to have flash and javascript enabled. Click on the links to download them, then follow the install instructioins. Java and Flash are both important web platforms that allow you view movies, animation and sound.
Examples of This is Sand pictures:
Below is a screenshot of the gallery with many This is Sand pictures:
