Teacher Tips for Using
KidPix
KidPix
as a Learning Center
A very good use of KidPix is
in classroom learning centers. Teacher-created electronic templates
can be used to reinforce concepts, practice skills, challenge
learners, and promote cooperative learning. The following sites
provide step-by-step instructions, as well as examples for using
KidPix in a classroom center. (Also visit the Primary
Literacy Activities
for more examples, paying special attention to the Phonemic
& Phonetic Activities.)
- Making
Interactive Student Centers with KidPix - This
site provides step-by-step instructions for creating an
interactive center with KidPix. Learn how to record directions and
save pictures as templates so students can complete the projects
without a lot of teacher direction and without destroying the
original picture.
- Making
a Venn Diagram using KidPix - One
of the more popular type of templates are Venn Diagrams. Use this
site for step-by-step instructions for creating a venn diagram in
KidPix. Students can then complete the Venn diagram by placing
stamps in the correct place.
- How to
Create a Template.
- Follow these directions to
turn your KidPix pictures into templates.
- Creating
Templates with a Mac - This
site provides another step-by-step instruction sheet for creating
templates using a Mac computer. (Note that this option can be used
for files created from a variety of applications.)
- Creating
Templates in Windows - This
site provides a step-by-step instruction sheet for creating
templates using a Windows computer. (Note that this option can be
used for files created from a variety of
applications.)
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Teaching
Helps/Activities
For many teachers, one of the
obstacles in using technology is the time involved in learning and/or
teaching the skills needed to work the program. KidPix is a program
that students will generally learn quickly. There are some helps,
however, for teachers just beginning to work on a computer
themselves:
- Activity
Cards - From this site you
can access 12 step-by-step lessons that can be printed out to give
students practice when learning how to use the KidPix draw
tools.
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Beginning
Animation with SlideShow
Animation is a skill used by
cartoon developers, as well as instructional designers and
programers. KidPix Studio can be ued to give students hands-on
practice in creating frame-by-frame animations. Visit this site to
see how one teacher did this:
- Using
SlideShows to Animate
- A classroom teacher shares a
lesson plan to teach students how to create animations using the
slideshow. Site includes classroom examples from 3rd, 4th and 5th
grade students as well as step-by-step instructions.
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Using
ClipArt and Other Graphic Resources
KidPix will accept most of
the common graphic formats including: pict, gif, and jpeg. Graphics
that have been scanned or taken with a digital camera can be added to
KidPix. This opens the door to many other creative possibilities.
- Accessing ClipArt
from the Internet and adding
it to KidPix is a skill that is becoming very useful.
- ClipArt
Resources on the Internet.
There seems to be an almost limitless amount of clipart on the
Internet. Much of this is free and can be used in student
projects. This list of clipart is a somewhat limited list
containing a select group of clipart sources. This
list is more extensive,
including many sites that may be copyrighted. (Please read the
small print on these sties to determine your rights of use.)
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KidPix
on the Web
The Internet has provided a
great opportunity for students to publish their work to a wide
audience, beyond their peers. KidPix pictures can be easily added as
images on a web page. With a little more effort, KidPix slideshows
can also be added to the Internet. See the Classroom Examples for
ideas. Visit these sites for more information:
- Converting KidPix
pictures to Gif files for
use on the Internet.
- Putting
KidPix SlideShows on the Web
- This is an extensive step-by-step instruction sheet for
converting your slideshow into an Internet-ready format. It
describes all the steps, as well as the applications needed.
(Requires several shareware programs.)
- A
review of additional options
for publishing KidPix SlideShows on the Internet.
- Creating a Quicktime
movie with your slideshow to
publish on the Internet.
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Adding
Memory to KidPix
If, while you are working on
KidPix, you get a message that you have run out of memory, it doesn't
necessarily mean your computer needs more memory. You have gotten the
message because KidPix has not been assigned enough memory. Once you
begin working more extensively with KidPix, you may want to increase
the memory allocated to the program. Click
here to learn how to
increase the memory allocated to KidPix Studio (or any other
program).
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to KidPix Studio
Updated May 2001