Friday 6 January 2012

My new iPad! A list of classroom friendly apps

The purpose with this blog is to share with others my struggles, successes, frustrations and discoveries using the iPad with my grade one French immersion class.

I wrote a proposal in October to my school district around exploring the use of iPads in a primary French immersion classroom. In November I received my first iPad. It has taken me a long time researching applications to finally choose some to be uploaded to my iPad to use with my grade one French immersion students.

I came upon my first hurdle trying to find relevant and 'good' applications to use with my French class. Now I am a complete beginner using this technology so please forgive me if I make simple mistakes. I began by searching the apple store but quickly realized that this was not a very efficient way to go. Then I used the web to find other blogs and youtube videos with lists created by educators for educators. I found many great applications but not many in French. Then I stumbled upon these different search engines that allow you to view the most popular applications by country and therefore in the language of preference. I used one called "Countries top Apps!" Between this new search tool, blogs, and youtube, I quickly became overwhelmed by applications. After some trial and error with my own four year old, I chose a list of applications and began to upload them to my iPad.

Below is a 'working' list of the applications I am using with my students. I am sure I will add and substract applications from this list as I learn and explore.



General
App
Cost
Description
google search
Free
An internet search engine
chaîne météo
Free
Weather in France
You can change the city but then it seems to default to English
google translate
Free
Simple and very basic French to English or English to French translation tool
It has an audio function to say the word out loud as well
audiomemos
Free
To record audio (record child reading the story, or adult etc)
You can send audio files as an email
Radio Canada
Free
French radio
Talking Tom
Free
Fun way to have a character repeat back what is said (audio recording)
Make dice lite
Free
You can make a number of dice i.e. write topics for writing, questions such as who, what, where and when, or add numbers
google earth
Free
Bird’s eye view of earth that you can zoom in and out of
Petit Quotidien
free
French newspaper for kids ages 6 and up
I have not figured out how to get the full version because you have to put in a phone number from France or something??
Time Timer
$6.99
Custom settings
La coccinelle
By Gallimard Jeunesse
$3.99
An amazing interactive app with beautiful ladybugs that move as the narrator shares information
It is a very unique app (one of my personal favourites)
 
Books
App
Cost
Description
3 Petits cochons
By Gallimard Jeunesse
$3.99
A beautiful and interactive story
When students touch the characters they speak (a personal favourite)
Cendrillon by Gallimard Jeunesse
$5.99
A beautiful and interactive story
When students touch the characters they speak (a personal favourite)
Le petit chaperon rouge (My first interactive Freanch book)
$1.99
The words are highlighted as the story is read
Boucle d’or et les trois ours (iPhone app) les contes classiques
$0.99
The book can be read with or without text
Les copains de la forêt
free
The story has a few interactive features such as breaking words into syllables, showing the vowels and the silent letters in French
It is otherwise a basic French story


Printing and letter names
App
Cost
Description
abcTrace
$0.99
Practice at tracing and writing the letters in French
For the most part the directions are good but it does not follow the “Writing without tears” approach to letter formation
ABC tracing

An excellent app for practicing writing but it is in English so turn off the volume
iAlphabet

It has 3 functions: letter names, printing practice (just ok), and choose the right letter
Ok for very early primary letter recognition

Puppets show and story creation                                                                       
App
Cost
Description
PuppetPals HD
Free
You can purchase the app to be able to import your own pictures
Create puppet shows and record your own audio in French
You can export to youtube or email the video
Sock Puppets
Free
Record audio in French to create your own sock puppet shows
You can export to youtube
Our Story
Free
Upload photos and add text to create a meaningful story
Comic Lite
Free
Create a comic strip with thought and speech bubbles
Import pictures to create your story
You can email completed comics
There is a full version that allows you to do more
You can create slideshows with the images to make a story or presentation


Games
App
Cost
Description
Famille Lite
Free
Fun quiz game for more intermediate students
MotsMélés
Free
Crosswords have already been created and they are ok
More for grade 3 and up
TicTacToe Plus
Free
Simple tic tac toe game (English)

Math
App
Cost
Description
KIDpedia
Free
The free version only includes the shapes
Students can create a shape picture and the shape audio is French
Purchase the full version to learn more vocabulary
Numberland
$4.99
For early primary only because numbers are only to 10
Very interactive and fun
Feed Me!
Free
Find the solution to very simple (early primary) math problems and feed them to the monster
Calculator
Free
Simple calculator

Photos
App
Cost
Description
fotopedia
Free
Beautiful photos of Paris
Animoto
Free
Very easy to create a video with music and photos that you take
Full version allows more functions

Art
App
Cost
Description
Louvre
Free
a beautiful app create by the Louvre in Paris that includes works of art and descriptions but they are in English
Cluny (iPhone app)
Free
Musée National du Moyen Age guided visits in French
CultureClic (iPhone app)
Free
Images and art examples with French descriptions

Drawing (all English)
App
Cost
Description
HelloCrayons
Free
Drawing with crayons
HelloPencilCrayons
Free
Drawing with pencil crayons
Doodle Buddy
Free
Drawing application
Whiteboard

Whiteboard drawing application that can be using with another iPad cooperatively
Doodle Kids

A neat drawing on a black background with rainbow colours and shpaes
TypeDrawing
Free
You type in words and then use the words to draw pictures
Face iMake
Free
A very creative app where students can use different found objects to create funny faces