Introduction

Kidspiration is used to help students K-5 develop graphic organizers. With visual learning, young readers and writers build confidence in organizing information, understanding concepts, and expressing their thoughts.


Students can create graphic organizers that use pictures and/or words. Using the drag and drop feature these pictures and words can easily be moved around to better organize and categorize information visually. Kidspiration will also take a students pictures and words and create a written outline. This outline can be used to create and organize stories. Kidspiration can even identify a URL and send students to pre-selected Web pages. Teachers can create templates to help students find and organize information.

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Useful Links to Visit

Kidspiration Tutorial

Atomic Learning (Mac) http://www.atomiclearning.com/freekidsmac.shtml

Atomic Learning (PC) http://www.atomiclearning.com/freekidspc.shtml?842;1043014139

Getting Started with Kidspiration http://itc.gsu.edu/howto/kidspirationhandout.htm

Sample Templates to Download

Remember to read the directions for downloading these templates.

  1. Download the template
  2. Open Kidspiration software
  3. Open the template

Computer Based Study Strategies http://cbss.uoregon.edu/clearing/index.html

Best Strategies in Technology Education http://www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us/curriculum/conceptmaps/index.htm

T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R -Together On G-Mail Every Teacher Helps Exchange Resources http://www.globalclassroom.org/together/kidspiration.html

Kidspiration in the Classroom Created by Teachers (Materials from a teacher inservice class from District Five Schools of Spartanburg County http://www.spart5.k12.sc.us/TechTraining/KidspirationMatrix.htm

OCSD Using Kidspiration Oswego City School District http://www.oswego.org/staff/cchamber/inspire/kidspiration.htm

Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Kidspiration Lesson Plans Canby School District, Oregon

Sample Lessons

Landforms (Harcourt Social Studies-Grade 2- Pgs 51-52)

Land Habitats (Harcourt Science- Grace 2- Pgs. B9-B13)

Writing Lesson

Student Samples (Free Time)

Dinosaur Template Compare 2 dinosaurs using the Enchanted Learning Web site.

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Picture and Writing Views

Comparing the Picture View and the Writing View

The Picture Toolbar

Picture view provides a simple, friendly interface that lets kids use symbols to represent ideas and concepts. The symbol libraries offer more than 1,200 images designed specifically for kids in kindergarten through third grade. Symbols make it simple to create and use graphical organizers, webs, concept maps, and other visual learning diagrams.
Copyright © 2000 Inspiration Software, Inc.

 

  • Go to Writing View: Changes from Picture View to Writing View
  • Add a Symbol: Adds a new symbol
  • Link Symbols: Links details together
  • Add a SuperGrouper category: Add a category and links the symbols together.(kind of)
  • Clear the selection: Clears the currently selected item
  • Undo the last change: Will undo the last action
  • Turn on the Listen tool: Turns on the sound
  • Print name or class information on top of page: Brings you to an area to enter the child's name.
The Writing Toolbar
  1. Writing view integrates with Picture view to help students connect their visual thoughts with words. From the thought webs and maps they create in Picture view, students can expand their ideas into written thoughts.
    Copyright © 2000 Inspiration Software, Inc.
  • Go to Picture view: Changes from Writing View to Picture View
  • Add and idea: Add an idea while in the Writing View
  • Move idea left on level: Indents idea one level to the left for outlining purposes
  • Move idea right on level: Indents idea one level to the right for outlining purposes
  • Clear the selection: Clears the currently selected item
  • Undo the last change: Will undo the last action
  • Turn on the Listen tool: Turns on the sound
  • Print name or class information on top of page: Brings you to an area to enter the child's name.

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Creating a Visual Organizer

  1. If the "main idea" symbol is already on the page, simply highlight the text and type in the main idea of your organizer.
  2. To add a symbol, place the light gray curser (+) on the document where you want the next symbol. Select the symbol from the library. Click the mouse and your symbol will appear on the document. Enter your text on to the symbol.
  3. Link the symbols together.
    • Click on the "Link" icon.
    • Click on the main idea (Power 1)link.
    • Click on the detail (Power 2) link.
    • Follow the same steps for connecting any 2 symbols.

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Saving as a Template

This is a great feature if you need to direct students to specific information.

  1. Design a graphic organizer that you wish for students to use.
  2. In the Menu Bar select "Teacher".
  3. From the Teacher submenu, select "Enable Teacher Menu"
  4. Return to the "Teacher submenu" and select "Save as Activity".
  5. Follow the directions on the next set of screens.
  6. Under the teacher menu, there is the option to create a URL link. To do this:
    • Highlight the text that you would like to use as the link.
    • Select "URL Hyperlink" from the Teacher submenu.
    • Enter the URL in the URL box.

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Created by Bill Sarazen - Last Updated: January 19, 2003

Graphics from http://www.kidspiration.com

E-Mail me at Webmaster@teachme2tech.com