Technology Ideas for the Beginning of the Year

My school is getting an iPad lab this year!  I can not wait to have the opportunity to use the iPads with all my first graders at the same time!  I have been searching the web for great apps and ideas for using this technology in the primary grades.  Here are some of my ideas for incorporating the iPad lab with my students for back to school, community building, and getting to know each other lessons.

All About Me with Popplet

I made this one by drawing some of my favorite things in the Doodle Buddy app.  I then saved those images to my camera roll.  Then I imported my saved images into my popplet.  I'm thinking this is how I will have my students make their own.  I am hoping to have them draw about 5 of their favorite things and then use their drawings in the popplet app.  I know that drawing their favorites will be easier than spelling their favorites at the beginning of the year.

This is another popplet example that my niece Ruthie made when I showed her my example.  She chose to take some photos of her favorites to use in her popplet.  

Telling about our Summer with Tellagami

I have just learned about the Tellagami app and I am in love with it!  I can see so many possibilities for this app with my first graders!  I am thinking I will start the year off with letting them use the app to tell the class a little bit about their summer.  Here is an example I made.