Mimio: Add A New Activity

Mimio has a great, EASY way to add an interactive activity to your lesson in minutes. This is created from the "new activity" option. These activities include matching or sorting items in a variety of subjects.

For example:

Animal Classification:

Or syllable sorting:

Here's how to create an activity:

1. In Mimio Studio click on the "New Activity" icon or go to Insert--> New Activity

2. Choose the subject, grade level, and type of activity. I chose to make a math activity for K-2.

3. Choose your Topic and the categories for your activity. I chose shape classification, sorting circles, rectangles, and triangles.

4. Next, you are given a screen with the "library" and "choice pool". The library is the catalogue of options for your topic. In my case, the shapes I have to choose from. In my activity I can choose which colors and types of shapes I want. I am going to include a variety of colors and a few different looking triangles. To choose to add more, I simply right click in the choice pool and add. I can make sure certain shapes are included by right clicking in the library and choosing "include".

(You can only "include" as many items as there are choices. So if you get a warning box, go back and add more choices.)

5. When you are sure you have all the choices you want, click "next" and preview your activity. If you need to change anything you can choose "back" and make your changes. Then choose "finish" and your activity will appear on your page.

When students are ready they can drag the items to the correct column. A green check will appear if they are right and a red x will appear if they are wrong. 

Take a look at the options they have in each subject when trying to come up with an activity for students to do. This really takes less than 5 minutes and gets students involved in the lesson. That was easy!

Mimio Interactive Activity: Bubble Pop

Gallery Collections and Resource Packs

When creating your own flipcharts or notebooks, whether in Promethean, Smart, or Mimio, it's important to understand the role that gallery collections or resource packs can play. This post will apply to all three programs.

Why would I want to use the gallery? Well, it saves time and gives you items you can put into your charts that come directly in your software instead of searching everywhere else for them. Let's say I want to make a Halloween themed math notebook; I can download a Halloween gallery pack from the Smart Exchange and use the images in my lesson.

Or maybe I want to have base 10 blocks for students to use as counters in my flipchart to correspond with the blocks they use at their desk. Promethean has some in their resource browser. I can add them and put it on drag a copy. 

There are also games and activities that already exist, like these dice you can change the letters on for students to create words.

Or this shape sorter on Promethean:

When you open your software there is an option on the side for either the "Gallery" or "Resource Browser".

Promethean:

Mimio:

Start at Insert--> Gallery and the menu will appear.

Smart:

In the galleries are resources that are either preloaded when you received the software or that you can download and add to yourself. Gallery items include pictures, icons, question slides, backgrounds, charts, and even interactive items. As you browse through the items, all you need to do is double click or click and drag the item to put it on your page. 

It's a great idea to go into the gallery or software website and take a look at the resources available. You may find pre-made items that would be useful for future lessons or that will help you generate new ideas.