Home

Pixie 3

Posted in
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionSend to friendSend to friend

 pixie logo
 

Description

Pixie 3 by Tech 4 Learning allows students the ability to create their own original art and writing projects on their computer.  Easy to use drawing tools make graphic design a snap for students in all grades.  Teachers will find the pre-made lessons and activities easy to find and use with students, or can let their class start with a blank canvas where the only limit is a child's imagination.

New in Pixie 3

  • Save all Pictures as ONE file! - At last students can save all over their artwork in ONE file instead of saving each picture separately.  This makes it much easier to create stories, comic books, and movies.
  • Collaborate on Pixie Projects - Students now have the ability to work together on one Pixie project
  • MORE Pre Made Activities – Teachers now have even more options to get started right out of the box.
  • Get Published - Students can publish their work online in the password protected k12share.com site from Tech4Learning.
  • New Drawing Tools - Some of the new tools include crayon and marker.  The drawing tools have been moved to the right side of the screen for more convenience.
  • Interactive Full Screen Mode - Pixie 3 has a feature that optimizes the buttons and tools for use on interactive whiteboard users.  There is even a "clone" feature which allows you to drag and drop copies of objects on the page.  This is great for activities such as money, maps and globes, and counting.

Curriculum Connections

Pixie 3 provides opportunities for teachers in Elementary and Middle Schools to support their instruction across the curriculum.  Pre-made lessons and activities are available within the program and categorized by subject areas:

Pixie Activities Menu

My Activities - where students can store their work
All About Me - activities to tell your story
Language Arts - Alphabet, Parts of Speech, Reading, and Writing
Math - Fractions, Meaurement, Money, Number Facts, Patterns, and more!
Science - Earth & Space, Health, Biology, Matter, Seasons, and Weather
Social Studies - Community, Culture, Geography, History, Maps
Holidays - Activities sortable by months
Foreign Languages - French, German, and Spanish Activities
Templates - Dozens of ready made sheets


Search for lessons and content standards correlations for Pixie Activities at the Tech 4 Learning Integration site.  Maryland Standards are available from the drop down menu.

Examples

Click on any picture below to see a full size image of projects made in Pixie.

Equipment Needed

  • Networked computer for student access.  Pixie 3 has been virtualized in all FCPS Elementary and Middle Schools and is accessible via the Application Menu in the Multimedia Folder.
  • A trial verion of Pixie 3 can be downloaded at http://www.tech4learning.com/pixie.  FCPS Teachers can also acquire a work at home release form and software from their school's technology coordinator.
  • If you would like students to record narration on their pictures, you will need microphone headsets or desktop microphones.

Tutorials and Resources

Quick Tips ****

Language Arts

  • Create an ABC book. Give each student a different letter to stamp out with stickers or draw with the tools.
  • Create a noun sort by person, place and thing.
  • Sort words by consonant sound or vowel sound
  • Complete a Making Words activity using the letter stickers.
  • Create writing prompts for kids: Seasons, My Favorite Animal, My Hero, etc.
  • Graphic Organizers: Venn Diagrams, Story Maps, KWL, etc.
  • Sort words by syllables
  • Type and illustrate a poem
  • Create trading cards of literary figures
  • Sort between real and fictional characters

Math

  • Import real pictures. Draw and label angles that you find.
  • Use the coins to show different ways to make the same amount of money.
  • Stamp out number sentences to illustrate them.
  • Symmetry with the mirror tool.
  • Expanded form
  • Illustrate word problems

Science

  • Illustrate Life Cycles
  • Sort by Living and Non-Living
  • Illustrate the Water Cycle or the Rock Cycle
  • Illustrate weather for the week
  • Sort objects by sink or float
  • Label parts of an insect, parts of a flower, layers of the earth, planets in the solar system, layers of the rainforest, etc.
  • Food Chains and Food Webs
  • Food Pyramids
  • Differences between whales and fish
  • Differences between the different types of rock
  • Create trading cards of different rocks, minerals, or elements

Social Studies

  • "If I were president" writing prompt
  • Label a map of the US by the initials of each state
  • Compare presidents or any 2 historical figures
  • Add a state stamp and fill it with stamps that represent resources available from that state
  • Color the regions of MD
  • Sort by community helpers
  • Sort by human, natural, and capital resources
  • Create trading cards of historical figures or current political figures
  • Create a postcard from a historical landmark or location

Art

  • Design a kite
  • Design a Christmas ornament
  • Paint a self-portrait
  • Label a color wheel
  • Create an original painting for MICCA's graphic arts contest