Wall wisher

On my 101 favourite tools blog I talked about the power of Wallwisher as a collaborative tool. I found this tool really powerful from the perspective that the children can add sticky notes from home, thus increasing those home school partnerships. Wall wisher also allows children the opportunity to add in that anywhere any time spectrum rather than from an individual computer like other good mind mapping software. I'm not decrying software like Inspiration or Kidspiration. It's horses for courses and the most appropiate tool for the job at hand and the purpose.
I discussed this tool with Liz a colleague of mine. She went away and has used it very successfully with her class of 6yr olds....... and of course they loved it.Example shown. Liz has now moved her walls to an analytical level and asking the children to really think about their contributions, and make connections with prior learning. Great stuff Liz and we look forward to see those walls too when the children have completed them.

Traveling at the speed of light

I left Christchurch on a very cold morning at 6:00 am flying west to Australia. Part way over I could see the most spectacular sunrise out the window of the plane, looking back east to New Zealand. Looking forward we were flying in darkness. Therefore by my deduction the plane was traveling at that point around the speed of light. For well over an hour the plane kept constant, darkness up ahead, rising dawn straight ahead and sun rise behind.

The art work of Salvador Dali

I had a long weekend in Melbourne, at the time when the Salvador Dali art exhibition opened in the Melbourne Art Gallery. Dali is very much a surrealist painter. I did recognise some of his works, and some were totally off the wall. Well on the wall actually but not something I would hang on my wall. For me the best parts of the exhibition was the entry in to the gallery. A very simple Dali, written in red lights between the two panes of glass with running water, cascading down each side. In the foyer of the gallery were many books on Dali's art, on tables, available to read or peruse. I'm not a fan of surreal art, the Impressionists in my book were better. Just call me old fashioned.

Moving toothpicks