App Smashing with Pic Collage and Pieces Basic

Numeracy is in full swing in my grade 2 class and with so much to learn about, what better way to do it than to integrate different learning areas under one topic. 

Using our Challenge Based Learning (CBL) big idea of 'Community' we decided we would explore how our school community has changed in size since it first opened in 2011. Students will be learning about collecting and analysing data, creating tables and graphs and place value together.

Today we gathered our data by looking at all the school pictures in the main admin building (which listed the school's population) and by asking our great office staff for help. We used this data to create a basic table in our Numeracy books. From there, we looked at
how each of these numbers can be represented in place value format by using both physical MAB (Base ten blocks) and on our iPads using the app, 'Pieces Basic'. Students demonstrated their understandings of ones, tens and hundreds and took screenshots of each number they created. They then placed these screenshots in 'Pic Collage' to create an infographic on the school's population change. 

This is a process called 'App Smashing', whereby the finished product has been created using more than one app on their iPads. 

Our learning on this will continue throughout the term and students will be given a chance to create graphs and will be challenged to notice different things about the data that they can write about and explain. It's also an opportunity for them to look at addition and subtraction skills with two and three digit numbers when analysing the data. 

It was wonderful to see the students take control of their own learning and become engaged in the process of creating a product that showcases their new knowledge and skills. 

A completed infographic on the school's population change since 2011