Engaging our youngest writers with a show and tell activity using Freeform.

Using Freeform on iPad, students will demonstrate creative writing skills by sketch-noting their peers’ show-and-tell objects. They will use shapes, letters, and objects to quickly draw what they observed.

I value show and tell as a vast learning opportunity. I teach my students to speak with purpose. When presenting, students use a level 2 voice or a proud voice (not a whisper). We also discuss speaking clearly and avoiding filler words like ‘umm’ or ‘like’ when describing and questioning. Additionally, we learn about the why and the how of asking good questions.

Note-taking by my students reinforces listening and focusing on what their peers are presenting. Sketchnoting allows students to reflect on what they saw using simple drawings with shapes and doodles.

My Process: 

I have show and tell every day for 30 minutes. During that time, 3 to 4 students present an object they love or are passionate about. Each student participates in show and tell once a week on the same day each week. Please refer to the flyer sent home with each student at the beginning of the year for more details.

Link to show and tell document

Presenter:

Each student provides information for at least these four questions: What is it? When did you get it, or how old is it? Where did you get it? What is special about it?

Audience: 

Students sit on the rug with their iPads on the floor next to them. I say, ‘Apples up and stylus down,’ which means the iPad is turned over and the stylus is placed on top of it. After each presenter, 1-3 students are allowed to ask questions. This is an opportunity to reinforce quality questioning. Once questions are finished I have students open Freeform on the iPads.

Freeform:

Students open the Freeform app, tap a new board, students tap the draw at the top and start drawing. I do it at the same time on my teacher iPad. I give the students 1-2 minutes to sketchnote then ask them to “Apples up, stylus down”.  If you have a way to share templates with your students, I have provided a Freeform template below. I explain in the best practice below on how I share to my class.

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Student Example

Student Example

Taking it further in the middle or end of the year. I have students write the name of each student at the top of each drawing, then towards the end of the year have students starting using sound spelling and write words to the drawings.

Freeform Sketchnote Template (Duplicate when it opens)

Best Practice Suggestions: 

• Create a group for each student in the Classroom app to share content with one or all student devices.
• When the 1 or 2 minutes are up, I use the Classroom app to lock the screens.
• Empower a student by displaying their screen on a projector using the Classroom app to view the student’s screen.
• Want to get started with Classroom app click the link here.

Comment below how you are using this with your leaners.

*Student images coming August 2024

#kindergarten #freeform