Call Me Crazy, but I Taught My Kindergarteners to Use Kahoot
I often get comments about how “brave” I am when I teach my kindergarten students to use different apps / tech tools. I’ll admit that in the middle of a tech lesson on something new, it often feels a bit crazy, but the outcome is SO worth the chaos.
I recently taught my kindergarten students to use the online / app based game Kahoot. I don’t usually use that game in kindergarten but I’m looking for different whole group games that are socially distanced. My favorite whole group games for kindergarten don’t work so well with our current covid restrictions.
So! I found myself introducing this fun new game to my group of very excited kinder friends. I’ll talk through my step by step process but first let me address the issue of target language. Straight up honest, I used mostly English to help students navigate getting logged into the game. In other years I would have used more Spanish; however, with my 90% TL goal significantly lowered in this pandemic year and with this specific group of learners in mind, I chose to stick with English.
My Process
Señora: “Amios, today we’re going to learn how to play a fun game called Kahoot! It will help us practice our weather words in Spanish.”
Students: “YAY!”
Step 1:
I put my iPad up on the board using AirServer to model steps for students. (I like to model new things before the iPads are in my students’ hands.)
First we needed to find the link I shared to students’ Seesaw journal. I linked to the login page for Kahoot so it would take students directly there.
If you don’t have an online platform at your school, I would make sure the Kahoot app is already installed on student iPads. Then they can open the app and enter the game code that way.
Step 2:
After I reminded students how to find their Spanish Seesaw class and click on the link, it was time to show them the process for logging into our Kahoot game.
Step 2a:
Students have to tap on the white box that says “game pin” in order to start typing in the numbers. They find the game pin numbers on our SMART board. After typing the numbers they have to tap the black box that says “enter.”
This was a bit tricky for students this age. Several were able to type in the numbers on their own but most needed more encouragement / support.
Step 2b:
Next, students need to tap on the white box that says “nickname.” After writing their name they need to tap the black box that says “OK, go!”
Step 2c:
I find students aren’t sure what to do after they get to the green “You’re in!” screen. I like to remind them verde / green = get ready to go.
Step 3:
Students are ready to try this whole process on their iPads. Even though we just went through the process, they will definitely need step by step directions at this point.
We’ve been working on staying in our seats and raising hands when we have questions. Whew–anyone else know the feeling of being a mama/papa duck with 4 or 5 kinder ducklings following you around asking questions? I like to remind students I can help them faster if they stay in their seat–then I can zip around the class to answer questions.
Step 4:
I know it’s hard to wait as students slowly try to type in numbers and their name. Remind yourself that learning these skills is part of the goal for this lesson.
There are always a few students who ultimately need me to physically get them logged in; but, I find if I’m patient, most are able to succeed on their own with my sideline support.
Step 5:
It’s almost time to play the game! Before pressing start, I explain to students that they will see the question on the board and they will choose the answer on their ipads.
Step 6:
Press start. For all my grade levels, I provide auditory input during this game by reading all questions and answers.
For kindergarten students, I tell them which color is which answer. *I suggest you only have 2 answer options for Kindergarten students! For example, for this game I repeated several times– “hace sol is red” and “hace viento is blue.”
A Few More Thoughts
I often pause the game part way through to help students calm down. I love how excited they get and their engagement is so high–however, I find students often need to dial down their energy to help them re-focus. I also do this after we’re done with the game. I’m sure you have a favorite way of helping young learners calm down; that said, lately I’ve been enjoying raising our arms up and then down as we breathe in and out.
I found playing this game was a good time to point out here that I love mistakes. I never want students to feel badly for getting an answer wrong so we talk about how we’re all learning and mistakes mean we’re trying.
Don’t feel badly if your tech lesson completely flops. I feel this most often with younger learners. Remember, there is always a positive take away, even if it takes a minute to see it. You are learning as the teacher and students are exposed to new tech skills. This is so great! Even if you found yourself surrounded by 10 students holding iPads all asking questions at the same time…I’ve definitely been there a time or two.
Wrapping It Up...
My students loved playing Kahoot and asked to play again in our very next lesson. I’ll definitely make a new Kahoot game for us to play in our next unit. That way we can practice our new tech skills!
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Teaching from a Cart: Tales from an Elementary Spanish Teacher
I often get comments about how “brave” I am when I teach my kindergarten students to use different apps / tech tools. I’ll admit that in the middle of a tech lesson on something new, it often feels a bit crazy, but the outcome is SO worth the chaos.
I recently taught my kindergarten students to use the online / app based game Kahoot. I don’t usually use that game in kindergarten but I’m looking for different whole group games that are socially distanced. My favorite whole group games for kindergarten don’t work so well with our current covid restrictions.
So! I found myself introducing this fun new game to my group of very excited kinder friends. I’ll talk through my step by step process but first let me address the issue of target language. Straight up honest, I used mostly English to help students navigate getting logged into the game. In other years I would have used more Spanish; however, with my 90% TL goal significantly lowered in this pandemic year and with this specific group of learners in mind, I chose to stick with English.
My Process
Señora: “Amios, today we’re going to learn how to play a fun game called Kahoot! It will help us practice our weather words in Spanish.”
Students: “YAY!”
Step 1:
I put my iPad up on the board using AirServer to model steps for students. (I like to model new things before the iPads are in my students’ hands.)
First we needed to find the link I shared to students’ Seesaw journal. I linked to the login page for Kahoot so it would take students directly there.
If you don’t have an online platform at your school, I would make sure the Kahoot app is already installed on student iPads. Then they can open the app and enter the game code that way.
Step 2:
After I reminded students how to find their Spanish Seesaw class and click on the link, it was time to show them the process for logging into our Kahoot game.
Step 2a:
Students have to tap on the white box that says “game pin” in order to start typing in the numbers. They find the game pin numbers on our SMART board. After typing the numbers they have to tap the black box that says “enter.”
This was a bit tricky for students this age. Several were able to type in the numbers on their own but most needed more encouragement / support.
Step 2b:
Next, students need to tap on the white box that says “nickname.” After writing their name they need to tap the black box that says “OK, go!”
Step 2c:
I find students aren’t sure what to do after they get to the green “You’re in!” screen. I like to remind them verde / green = get ready to go.
Step 3:
Students are ready to try this whole process on their iPads. Even though we just went through the process, they will definitely need step by step directions at this point.
We’ve been working on staying in our seats and raising hands when we have questions. Whew–anyone else know the feeling of being a mama/papa duck with 4 or 5 kinder ducklings following you around asking questions? I like to remind students I can help them faster if they stay in their seat–then I can zip around the class to answer questions.
Step 4:
I know it’s hard to wait as students slowly try to type in numbers and their name. Remind yourself that learning these skills is part of the goal for this lesson.
There are always a few students who ultimately need me to physically get them logged in; but, I find if I’m patient, most are able to succeed on their own with my sideline support.
Step 5:
It’s almost time to play the game! Before pressing start, I explain to students that they will see the question on the board and they will choose the answer on their ipads.
Step 6:
Press start. For all my grade levels, I provide auditory input during this game by reading all questions and answers.
For kindergarten students, I tell them which color is which answer. *I suggest you only have 2 answer options for Kindergarten students! For example, for this game I repeated several times– “hace sol is red” and “hace viento is blue.”
A Few More Thoughts
I often pause the game part way through to help students calm down. I love how excited they get and their engagement is so high–however, I find students often need to dial down their energy to help them re-focus. I also do this after we’re done with the game. I’m sure you have a favorite way of helping young learners calm down; that said, lately I’ve been enjoying raising our arms up and then down as we breathe in and out.
I found playing this game was a good time to point out here that I love mistakes. I never want students to feel badly for getting an answer wrong so we talk about how we’re all learning and mistakes mean we’re trying.
Don’t feel badly if your tech lesson completely flops. I feel this most often with younger learners. Remember, there is always a positive take away, even if it takes a minute to see it. You are learning as the teacher and students are exposed to new tech skills. This is so great! Even if you found yourself surrounded by 10 students holding iPads all asking questions at the same time…I’ve definitely been there a time or two.
Wrapping It Up...
My students loved playing Kahoot and asked to play again in our very next lesson. I’ll definitely make a new Kahoot game for us to play in our next unit. That way we can practice our new tech skills!
You’ve Been Baamboozled!
I often get comments about how “brave” I am when I teach my kindergarten students to use different apps / tech tools. I’ll admit that in the middle of a tech lesson on something new, it often feels a bit crazy, but the outcome is SO worth the chaos.
I recently taught my kindergarten students to use the online / app based game Kahoot. I don’t usually use that game in kindergarten but I’m looking for different whole group games that are socially distanced. My favorite whole group games for kindergarten don’t work so well with our current covid restrictions.
So! I found myself introducing this fun new game to my group of very excited kinder friends. I’ll talk through my step by step process but first let me address the issue of target language. Straight up honest, I used mostly English to help students navigate getting logged into the game. In other years I would have used more Spanish; however, with my 90% TL goal significantly lowered in this pandemic year and with this specific group of learners in mind, I chose to stick with English.
My Process
Señora: “Amios, today we’re going to learn how to play a fun game called Kahoot! It will help us practice our weather words in Spanish.”
Students: “YAY!”
Step 1:
I put my iPad up on the board using AirServer to model steps for students. (I like to model new things before the iPads are in my students’ hands.)
First we needed to find the link I shared to students’ Seesaw journal. I linked to the login page for Kahoot so it would take students directly there.
If you don’t have an online platform at your school, I would make sure the Kahoot app is already installed on student iPads. Then they can open the app and enter the game code that way.
Step 2:
After I reminded students how to find their Spanish Seesaw class and click on the link, it was time to show them the process for logging into our Kahoot game.
Step 2a:
Students have to tap on the white box that says “game pin” in order to start typing in the numbers. They find the game pin numbers on our SMART board. After typing the numbers they have to tap the black box that says “enter.”
This was a bit tricky for students this age. Several were able to type in the numbers on their own but most needed more encouragement / support.
Step 2b:
Next, students need to tap on the white box that says “nickname.” After writing their name they need to tap the black box that says “OK, go!”
Step 2c:
I find students aren’t sure what to do after they get to the green “You’re in!” screen. I like to remind them verde / green = get ready to go.
Step 3:
Students are ready to try this whole process on their iPads. Even though we just went through the process, they will definitely need step by step directions at this point.
We’ve been working on staying in our seats and raising hands when we have questions. Whew–anyone else know the feeling of being a mama/papa duck with 4 or 5 kinder ducklings following you around asking questions? I like to remind students I can help them faster if they stay in their seat–then I can zip around the class to answer questions.
Step 4:
I know it’s hard to wait as students slowly try to type in numbers and their name. Remind yourself that learning these skills is part of the goal for this lesson.
There are always a few students who ultimately need me to physically get them logged in; but, I find if I’m patient, most are able to succeed on their own with my sideline support.
Step 5:
It’s almost time to play the game! Before pressing start, I explain to students that they will see the question on the board and they will choose the answer on their ipads.
Step 6:
Press start. For all my grade levels, I provide auditory input during this game by reading all questions and answers.
For kindergarten students, I tell them which color is which answer. *I suggest you only have 2 answer options for Kindergarten students! For example, for this game I repeated several times– “hace sol is red” and “hace viento is blue.”
A Few More Thoughts
I often pause the game part way through to help students calm down. I love how excited they get and their engagement is so high–however, I find students often need to dial down their energy to help them re-focus. I also do this after we’re done with the game. I’m sure you have a favorite way of helping young learners calm down; that said, lately I’ve been enjoying raising our arms up and then down as we breathe in and out.
I found playing this game was a good time to point out here that I love mistakes. I never want students to feel badly for getting an answer wrong so we talk about how we’re all learning and mistakes mean we’re trying.
Don’t feel badly if your tech lesson completely flops. I feel this most often with younger learners. Remember, there is always a positive take away, even if it takes a minute to see it. You are learning as the teacher and students are exposed to new tech skills. This is so great! Even if you found yourself surrounded by 10 students holding iPads all asking questions at the same time…I’ve definitely been there a time or two.
Wrapping It Up...
My students loved playing Kahoot and asked to play again in our very next lesson. I’ll definitely make a new Kahoot game for us to play in our next unit. That way we can practice our new tech skills!