Angry Birds are Taking Over

If you haven't heard about Angry Birds yet, here is your chance.  Angry Birds is a game that has gotten a huge following through marketing itself as an app on the iPhone and iPad.  Well, now it is available to play free online here.  You will need the most recent version of Firefox or Chrome in order to play it.  If you use Internet Explorer, then you will need to install a Chrome add-on, which it prompts you to do when you visit the site.  Although Angry Birds isn't exactly the most educational game in the world - it does prompt students to analyze their moves based on which bird they are using to attack, and the angle and sequence of how they will launch.  Did I mention that kids love this game?  Adults love it too.  Try playing it for 5 minutes, and 30 minutes later you will be telling yourself, "just one more level."  I think anything this high-interest with students has the opportunity to be used in the classroom.  Using a screenshot of a level is a great way to get a discussion going of the best way to attack it - with there not always being one best answer.  It gives students the opportunity to dissect a situation and discuss as a group their best chance at getting the best score possible.  Allowing them to work in teams and competing against each other would be a fun way to let them build their small group communication as well.  I think this would lend itself well to a beginning or end of the year team building activity.

Say Something with Blabberize

Blabberize is a quick fun site that allows you to easily take any picture and make it talk.  That's about it.  It is a fun, easy website to use and it allows you to bring a picture to life for your students.  Once you sign up for a free account, you 1) upload a picture 2) draw a mouth on the picture and 3) record your voice.  You can then use a link to view your creation or download it as a video file.  Check it out.  It's a fun way to add a little pop to a lesson.