A Slice of Apple-Repost

Originally posted last year on The Rudder-wanted to repost this on the iDevice Family

Our busy summer is flying by, mainly because it's been chocked full of activities!  The latest activity, which began today, Apple iMovie Camp-is for Kam...and secretly for me too.  A few months back I reflected on how one of the things I learned this year is you never know unless you ask... Consequently, here is another example. 

I was searching for a fun "camp-like" experience for Kameron to attend that was reasonably priced.  At first, we looked into Lego camp (not near by and a little pricey).  Then I thought, I'll google "Apple Camp"-you'll never know unless you ask.  Low and behold, check out what they offer -Apple Camp for Youths!  And, it's "FREE"!  Imagine!  So I registered Kam for the camp because he's really interested in learning how to make movies etc.  He wants to design video games "when he grows up".  So today was "our" first day of camp.

What I observed:

• Camp counselors that were very down to Earth, and professional yet kid-friendly
• A clean environment loaded with technology options-a retail store taking the risk to share the devices with kids
• A generous spirit of giving-each kid got a free camp t-shirt and cute name tags
• Lots of smiles on counselors' and kids' faces
• freedom to choose how they wanted to design their movies
• a risk-taking air that made the kids feel like it was going to be ok to make mistakes and ask questions (ideally how a classroom should be-thanks for the model!)

What Kam experienced:

• hearing and learning that it's ok to try something new
• it's ok to ask questions
• being patient with others who aren't there yet
• learning in such a way that he could and would teach it to someone else (me  :))
• using a  6 block storyboard as the basis for creating the movie
• learning how to make the music to go with the movie

What I learned:

• Kam taught me how to layer the instruments in "Garage Band"
• Learning together is fun!
• I am excited to go back to the Apple Store and see what we learn next...

I want to thank Apple and the staff at the store for making us feel so welcome (no they aren't paying me to write this) on the first day of camp!  It's been a great experience so far and I hope it continues.  I am looking forward to movie day on Saturday, when the children who attended the camp get to show their movies...what a great slice of Apple!

Update-Day 2-
Day 2 was just as fabulous as Day 1-now we're excited to attend "Family Film Fest" on Saturday when all of the movies will be premiered!

Update-Day 3-
The Family Movie Fest Day-the only thing missing was the popcorn!  Kam learned a lot and after seeing the other kids' movies, he said as much and that he wanted to try and get better at making his movies and sound effects to go with them...we'll see what happens!

Beauty of Nature

Tuesday's Slice of Life-Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers for Hosting the forum for the writing community!

During the past week on Wonderopolis, the Camp What a Wonder theme was all about nature in the backyard-bugs, plants, and things that happen with nature...I was inspired by this and took video of the flowers that are blooming all around the yard now with my iphone...

I then used iMovie Trailer to create a short feature of some of these wonders we captured throughout the yard.  As we walked around the yard together, we noticed lots of pretty flowers blooming.  We even saw an egg that had fallen out of a nest-we looked but couldn't find the nest.  We also saw a blue jay feather.

All of this has lead to noticing.  I believe by the example I'm modeling, I am developing the noticing habit with my children too.  I found evidence to support this claim as I went on a walk with Nattie tonight.  Movements of nature caught her eye before I even noticed-3 rabbits-which she saw before I did, countless birds and many squirrels.  She wanted to get out of the stroller and touch all of them-unfortunately, I just told her to say hello or goodbye-as they would run or fly before she could touch them.

So, here is my debut as an "ifilm" producer, inspired by my son, Kam-who made his own iMovie trailer last weekend-that still needs finished-but I plan to publish it next...

Now grab some popcorn...

...enjoy~

Lights!

Camera!

Action!
(thanks to fodey.com) for the image...

 

Books are Fun to Read

Tuesday's Slice...

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers for hosting this weekly writing community!

As everyone gears up for summer reading activity, I realized that the kids at school have fallen in love with singing the "What Makes You Beautiful" song by One Direction.  So to appeal to them, I have written a parody of the song for inspiring reading pleasure...

As an iDevice holder, I am trying to become more proficient at using the tools...and one of the tools on my iPhone is Garage Band.  I used Garage Band to record the karaoke version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" and recorded a short parody of the song to the words I wrote calling it "Books are Fun to Read".  As I learn more about Garage Band, I'll try to add more layers to the song, so for now it's kind of raw-but I uploaded it using Sound Cloud and clicked share via Blogger.
Books are Fun to Read  You can click this link to hear the song...
Books are for sure
You know what for
they fill our heads with great ideas and more

They pick us up
or cover up
being the way that they are is enough

Everyone pick up a book and read it
Everyone have one in view

Books they can light up our world like nothing else
The way they inspire you gets you overwhelmed
And when you smile as you read
it's not hard to tell
You all know, you know
You know books are fun to read!


Sorry if I am out of tune or sound goofy!

Happy slicing and reading this week...