Tag: vr

Jan 11 2018 January 11, 2018 March 28, 2018 NoComment by David

3rd Grade Plant & Animal Measurements

Posted in 3rd Grade, Math, Science

Third graders at Varina Elementary have been learning about plants and animals in Science (SOL3.6) and about measurement in Math (SOL3.9). Today students in Ms. Hummel’s class created a 3-D scene where the visitor can estimate the measurement of a plant or animal, and check their answer. First, we created the 3-D scene using CoSpaces. I showed them how to choose a background with the Environment button and add objects with the Library button. Since there is a limited number of plants and animals in the Library, the students had to choose one of those to measure. Next, they opened a new tab and searched the Internet for the plant’s or animal’s actual measurements. Back in CoSpaces, they added two panels from the Library and typed the correct measurement on one panel, and a different measurement on the other (maybe with a different unit or amount). I showed them how to right click on the objects in the scene and activate them to be used in Blockly (the coding language). Finally, we clicked the code button and programmed the objects so that when the visitor clicks a panel, something lets them know that they are right or wrong (maybe a person says something or an object turns a color). The student’s posted the links to their scenes on Schoology for their classmates to explore, but you can see them all here.


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Jan 11 2018 January 11, 2018 March 29, 2018 NoComment by David

5th Grade 3-D Cell Models

Posted in 5th Grade, Language Arts, Science

Fifth graders at Varina Elementary have been learning about cells and their different parts in Science (SOL5.5a), and they have been learning how to use adjectives and adverbs in English (SOL5.8b). Today, students in Mr. Williams’ class created 3-D models of cells and wrote descriptive sentences of some of the parts using adjectives and adverbs. We used a great site called CoSpaces to create the 3-D models. First, we logged in using our Google accounts, and I showed them how to pick a background from the Environment tab. Next, we clicked the Library and built a model of a plant or animal cell using the cubes, spheres, and other shapes from the Library. We right clicked on each shape to change its color and activate it for use in Blockly (the coding language). Finally, we used blocks of code to program the cell parts to identify themselves when clicked. The students typed sentences with adverbs and adjectives describing each part’s function. You can see them all here. (UPDATE: I taught this lesson in a couple of other classes as well, so I’ve included some student samples from those lessons on the document. In one class we made the cell parts actually speak by recording ourselves in Vocaroo and uploading the MP3 audio files to CoSpaces).


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Dec 11 2017 December 11, 2017 March 13, 2018 NoComment by David

5th Grade Coding Character Traits

Posted in 5th Grade, Language Arts

Fifth graders at Trevvett Elementary have been learning about character traits and making inferences (SOL 5.5b,i). Today students in Ms. Brown’s class created 3-D scenes where the viewer has to make inferences about the character traits based on what the character does and says. First, we discussed how to show (but not tell) character traits in a story. How can we show that a character is compassionate? short-tempered? clumsy? brave? deceitful? I explained that they would use code to animate a 3-D model, revealing one character trait. We brainstormed a list of traits, and they chose one they wanted to show. Next, we signed into CoSpaces with our Google accounts and created a new scene. I showed them how to click the Environment button at the bottom and select one of the built-in backgrounds. Then we clicked on the Library button and added people and objects to the scene. I demonstrated how to use the buttons that appear above each object to resize, raise/lower, and rotate it. Right clicking on an object reveals a menu for customizing its color and activating it for use in the Blockly code. Finally, we clicked the Code button at the top and added bits of code to make it move and speak and interact with other objects. We published our projects with the Share button and pasted the links to Schoology with a question about the character traits for our classmates to answer. You can see all their projects and questions here.


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Nov 29 2017 November 29, 2017 February 20, 2018 NoComment by David

4th Grade 3-D Planet Models

Posted in 4th Grade, Science

Fourth graders at Laburnum Elementary have been learning about the planets in the solar system (SOL4.7), so today students in Ms. Mayer’s class used CoSpaces to create 3-D models of the planets. A cool idea would be to use this tool to create a 3-D model of all the planets, comparing their sizes like this example, but we didn’t have time for that. The students each chose one planet to research, then they logged into CoSpaces with their Google accounts, and created a new space. First, we clicked the Environment tab at the bottom and selected Night, making the background dark like outer space. Next, we went to the Library tab and clicked Building Blocks. The students selected a sphere and I showed them how to resize it and raise it with the pop-up tools. Double clicking the sphere brings up more tools, and the students used the paint brush tool to change the color of the sphere to match the planet. They also added a speech bubble and typed some facts about the planet. When they finished, they went back to the library and selected additional objects like rings for Saturn or a space ship. Finally, they clicked the Share button at the top, copied the link, and posted it in Schoology for their classmates to see. You can visit all their planets here.


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Jun 06 2017 June 6, 2017 August 1, 2017 NoComment by David

5th Grade Virtual Tours of U.S. Regions

Posted in 5th Grade, Social Studies

Fifth graders at Holladay Elementary have been learning about the different regions of the United States, so today students in Ms. Sharpe’s class created virtual tours of the U.S. regions using CoSpaces. First, the students selected a region from the five possible choices: northeast, southeast, midwest, southwest, and west. Next, they used their notes and the Internet to research important facts about their region. I also instructed them to find and download a 360 degree photo of an interesting place in their region (search place name + 360 – NOTE: a 360 degree photo will appear somewhat curved). Then we were ready to start creating our virtual tour. We signed into CoSpaces with our Google accounts and created a new project. We clicked the Environment button at the bottom to upload our 360 degree background photo. I showed them how to add 3-D people and objects using the Library. In order to customize the objects’ positions, poses, sizes, and colors, we right clicked on them and selected the appropriate buttons from the pop-up menu. The students added speech bubbles to explain important facts about their regions. We tested our VR scene by clicking the play button (you can move around the scene by clicking and dragging or using the arrow keys). If students weren’t satisfied with where the camera view started out, I showed them how to adjust that with the “Special” button in the Library. Finally we clicked the “Share” button at the top and copied our links into Google classroom so we could view each other’s tours. You can see them all here.


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May 04 2017 May 4, 2017 June 1, 2017 NoComment by David

3rd Grade Shapes in Virtual Reality

Posted in 3rd Grade

Third graders at Trevvett Elementary have been learning about plane and solid geometric figures (SOL3.14). Today, students in Ms. Hufnell’s class used our new resource, CoSpaces, to create a virtual reality world of 3-D shapes to explore. First, we logged into CoSpaces with our Google accounts, then we created a new space. I showed them how to click the Environment button in the bottom left corner to choose a background image (you can also upload 360 degreee photos). Next, we went to the image library and added a person. The students could customize the people by right clicking on them and changing their colors and poses. We added a speech bubble, and typed an introduction. Then we went back to the library and added a variety of solid figures. Using the right click, we changed the colors of the shapes and typed sentences describing them in speech bubbles. You can even use coding to program the shapes to be interactive. We didn’t have time to do that today, but here’s an example. Finally, we clicked the share button, copied the link, and pasted it into Schoology so we could explore each others’ virtual worlds. You can explore them yourself here.


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May 03 2017 May 3, 2017 May 18, 2017 NoComment by David

4th Grade VR Review Worlds

Posted in 4th Grade, Science, Social Studies

Fourth graders at Laburnum Elementary have been reviewing for their upcoming SOL Tests, so today students in Ms. Mauck’s class created virtual-reality review worlds about a topic using CoSpaces. First, we reviewed different topics to get them thinking. They’ve learned about motion (SOL4.2), electricity (SOL4.3), plants (SOL4.4), animals (SOL4.5) weather (SOL4.6), space (SOL4.7), Virginia history (Virginia Studies), and more. There were plenty of topics to choose from! Next, we signed into CoSpaces with our Google accounts. I showed the students how to choose a background image (you can also upload your own 360 photo as a background image). Next we went to the Library (at the bottom) and added a person. The older objects are currently more customizable than the newer (low-poly) models. I showed them how to click on an object to resize or raise it using the buttons that appear above it (you have to click and drag the actual button). You can also rotate objects with the rotate button. To customize the object, we right clicked on it and changed the colors or typed something for it to say. We also made walls using the “Building blocks” in the library. Students added photos of their topic to the walls by clicking “Web image search,” then right clicking the image to make it a “Panel,” and attaching it to the wall with the “Attach” button. CoSpaces even has a coding feature, but the students didn’t have time to use that (look at my example to see some coding features). Finally, we published our projects and pasted the links to Google classroom so everyone could explore our virtual worlds for review. You can take a look at them here.


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