ELMO Document Camera and Projector use in Kindergarten

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris Erickson on May 12, 2009 at 1:22am

We use our cameras for making the little details observable by all in the classroom. Showing student work is very powerful and motivating. Word work, letter work etc. We use Aver Media doc cameras and have been very happy with their performance.

Permalink Reply by MariaD on May 12, 2009 at 3:26am

Look up Reggio Emilia approach - they have a whole lot on documentation in early childhood. For example, check out this article: http://www.cariboo.bc.ca/ae/literacies/reggio/reggioarticle1.htm

The general idea: documentation allows kids to build on their previous work in more powerful ways, and also reflect.

Permalink Reply by marybethcroft on June 26, 2009 at 6:18am

I am a third grade teacher and have started using the doc cam the second half of this year. I have loved it. You can Google "ways to use document cameras and come up with some great ideas. I've attached one document for your reading pleasure. Enjoy for the upcoming year!
Mary Beth Croft

Attachments:

• 101_ways_booklet.pdf, 316 KB

Permalink Reply by Florence McGee on July 19, 2009 at 5:04am

One way I have used .. that the kids loved! They all had to draw a picture of what it meant to be an American.. And then each of the students brought their picture up, Presented it on the Elmo -- and the class came up with the caption / sentence for it. Having it on the computer then allowed me to collect all the pages together to create a class book... Since I am Media - I publish one for the Media center and one for the classroom library.and one as an "e-book" .. The Kindergarten teachers can do this activity with any subject or any topic... Say bats near Halloween.. Or describing Math concepts.. For the kids to see their contribution to a book is amazing and it astounds me all the time how well they can read those books!
Most of the time I just use a word processing or drawing program. At other times I have directed my teachers to and Enchanted Learning site. http://members.enchantedlearning.com/books/general/makeabook/index....

Another big use.. manipulitives for math.. then connected to the Math tools in Kidspiration3 activites..

Permalink Reply by Joy Rumsey on August 6, 2009 at 8:31am

In years past we have always had the traditional Author's Chair in our kindergarten classrooms. We now have the kids share their daily journal writing under the document camera. When the kids see their work on the "big screen" they are so proud! The students take turns commenting on what the student did well, and suggesting ways to make their writing better the next time.
Quick, easy, powerful.

Permalink Reply by Rachel Onyskin on November 5, 2009 at 7:51am

I've just helped our Art teacher set up her document camera... I didn't even think about using the camera to send work to the computer and make a class book! WOW! I sooooo have to explore this amazing possibility! Thank you! We only have a couple document cameras in our school and none are in kindergarten. Our media specialist uses it with all grades when she is sharing books. She said she read a book the old fashioned way without the camera and the kids were so upset because they couldn't see the pictures like they can when she reads with the document camera. I love that you can just hit a button and "record" a picture. This provides a wonderful way to refresh students memory without finding that piece of paper or book again.

Permalink Reply by Aaroni Chris on May 11, 2010 at 2:00am

Document cameras can be used for analysis time though students read along to the projected reading on the big screen. Basically placing the text on the face of the camera, then extending the arm will project images great enough for the whole class to view from their seats. Answers to follow-up questions can be placed up as students reply them. The class can score them together, with the teacher satisfying in answers on the document.

Permalink Reply by Donna GUTHRIE on May 20, 2010 at 6:46am

What about the use of pinhole cameras in the classroom? Tae a look at the MEET ME AT THE CORNER virtual field trip to San Diego to learn about a pinhole photography and cameras made of paint cans.
http://www.meetmeatthecorner.org/episodes/pinhole-photography-for-kids

Permalink Reply by Michelle Thomson on July 10, 2010 at 8:51am

I LOVE my document camera. It is so easy to slide a book under it and model something. I use it mostly for writing lessons and for math manipulatives. The kids especially loved looking at coins they brought from home during our money unit because we zoomed in really close. If you camera has a record feature like mine does, you can do a mini-lesson under it and save it for review/absent students.