AUP Ups & Downs

Most unfortunately, we have been having some issues with students hacking into Destiny Quest accounts and being unkind to others. Grrrr! This coupled with various other infractions have led Chrissy and I to do some major technology triage! We spent one class period in the library reviewing the AUP terms of agreement with all second and third graders and re-signed a huge poster version of the AUP. This now hangs in the Hub as a reminder.

But I wanted to take something negative and turn it into something fun and positive where they could teach other students how to behave appropriately. I searched for some easy cartoon sites and stumbled upon Go Animate. It's my new favorite site for kids as it is so easy and fun.

In our second lesson, we spoke about what our message would be in the video, and it had to be one of the terms of the AUP that we were struggling with. We then did a shared writing exercise that included the dialogue. It was so cute because #1 character was the cheeky one and #2 was the wise one. Cheeky person had to be cheeky twice before realizing the error of his/her way and making a better choice. And for some really bizarre reason that only second graders would do (one of the reasons I love this age), the first class decided they would end it with going to get some "computer flavored ice cream." This led to every class ending with going to get some item of food that tasted like a computer. Funny how none of them thought that eating something that tasted like a computer might not be delicious. Suffice it to say there was a lot of laughing in the last few days.

Here are a few samples of videos we made. Please note in this one that the characters go to get an "electric special cappucino" at Starbucks after making this grave mistake.

GoAnimate.com: Not+following+Directions by Ms. Tara



And one more just because they are pretty adorable.

GoAnimate.com: Don%27t+Destroy+Computers by Ms. Tara



There is an innocence in their dialogues that is so precious.  Almost like their recent Destiny Quest cheekiness was just because they all forgot. Forgiven.