Templates and Lessons

Templates are files created to help enhance student learning. For example, a teacher may create a file that has a chart for students to input information from what they learned in class. This teacher designed scaffold frees the student to focus on content rather than the the program.
 

Using Pre-Made Kid Pix Templates

Kid Pix Deluxe 3 has several pre-made templates. 
Inside the background libraries you'll find what looks like coloring book pages. Change the category and explore the backgrounds in each by dragging and dropping them on the "Paint Zone". See the Idea Machine in the Toolbox menu for more templates. Also, see the Teacher's Guide for a look at materials available on the Teacher Sample CD that comes with the Teacher's Manual. (This is so much easier than opening each document from the CD to see if you might use it!)

Make Your Own Templates

Finally, there is another way that you can create a template of your own.

Teacher Directions:

  1. Build the document and save it to a shared area on the server that students have access to with their logins. Tip: leave a place on the page for students to enter their names.
  2. Exit Kid Pix.
  3. Navigate to the file you just created and right- click on it.
  4. In the pop-up menu, select Properties. In the General tab of the Properties window, click the attribute box for "Read-only" (see screen shot at right). This allows students to open your document and work on it without affecting the original. Note: If you save your template to an area of the server that students have read-only rights to (can't write to) then you don't have to do step 4.
  5. Login as a student and try completing the page as if you were the student. Note: This is an important step that will save you frustration and time when you have a class of students trying to complete the task. 
  6. If there are any errors, fix them and repeat all the steps above.

Note: Some may want to save it first, open it again and try it out, fix any errors, then make it read-only to save that step. It's up to you which strategy you prefer.

Student Directions:

  1. Start Kid Pix 3
  2. Move the cursor to the top of the screen (or click the Alt key) to show the menus.
  3. Choose File > Open and navigate to the template on the server.

More Lesson Ideas

For fun try changing the ABC painter tool to sentences, spelling words, etc. To do this students need to:
bulletMove the cursor to the top of the screen (or click the Alt key) to show the menus.
bulletChoose Toolbox >  Edit ABC Text.
bulletAfter entering in the correct spelling students may paint the words or sentences onto their page.
bulletChoose the Paintbrush tool and select the  option.
bulletTips: Be careful not to paint over words. Also, the ABC painter will restart at the beginning of your list each time you click.
 

More Tips for Kid Pix Lessons

bulletKid Pix lessons should be as curriculum-related as possible.
bulletTeachers should provide rubrics for assessment and parameters for lessons.
bulletContent is the most important aspect of lessons, not pizzazz.
bulletStudents should not be allowed to use every tool for every project. Student-created original art is much more expressive and interesting than those done with stamps, stickers and backgrounds. Don't be afraid to limit the choices to get to the learning you desire.

Kid Pix Web Resources

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Kid Pix Integration Ideas

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Some Kid Pix Links that Might be Useful

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Kid Pix on the Web

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Getting Started        Basic Features     Helpful Hints    Technical Issues
Templates and Lesson Ideas        Slide Shows