Software & Hardware

One of the questions I'm always asked by teachers and parents is what program I recommend for elementary age students. One program stands out for me when thinking of Kindergarten through 3rd grade students. That program is KidPix. KidPix is available for MacIntosh (Apple) and your PC.  I've provided a link to Amazon for the PC version and to MacKiev for the Mac version. There are a lot of great programs out there, but KidPix ranks highest for me for several reasons. First, would be ease of use and second, would be its versatility. It is not difficult or overly time consuming to design a lesson in KidPix.  Also, I have always found many sites where other teachers have posted their ideas for using KidPix.  There are also teacher created templates that you can download and tweak to work best for your students and purpose. I have used many other programs with my students and I will discuss them in a later post and give examples of projects for them, but this post will be all about KidPix.

KidPix does get updated every couple of years, but the older versions are still excellent as long as they jive with your computer's operating system. Very often when a newer version comes out the old version becomes VERY inexpensive. Be sure to check the System Requirements before you purchase. I have not had good luck using the cross platform versions of this program on a Mac, so I do recommend the MacKiev version for use on your Apple computer. MacKiev has a new 3D version available that I have not had the opportunity to use yet.

The third reason I like KidPix, is that it encourages the child's creativity and allows students to freely explore many different venues for creativity within one program. The interface is also well designed for the young child with some versions even sporting a Young Child Format that can be selected that make the tools a little easier to use.

I will show you how to set up templates for your student's to access, modify (only the parts you want them to modify), print, and/or save. I use a Mac and I am still using KidPix Deluxe 3X from MacKiev so sometimes the commands or menu items may be slightly different if you are using a different version, but the basic concepts will still be the same.  I will be giving ideas and examples for several lessons at each grade level and I will relate them to educational objectives for  Common Core Curriculum. If your state has not adopted CCC you should still be able to relate the lessons to your own objectives.

August Activities -
Kindergarten:
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade

Other Resources:
http://www.wacona.com/kidpix/kidpix.html
http://alliance.pes.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=53564&SID
http://www.vickiblackwell.com/kidpix.html
http://literacychanges.wikispaces.com/kidpix
http://www.ehow.com/way_5397888_kid-pix-school-activities.html