Get Your Head in the Cloud
Use this Activity Kit to introduce students to basic cloud concepts using interactive games and activities.
Activity Duration
1 – 3 Hours
Preparation Time
1 Hour
Estimated Cost of Materials
$50 USD
Audience Age
6 – 10
Topic
IBM Cloud
Languages
English
Details
In this Activity Kit, volunteers present cloud concepts and terminology to students and use interactive games and activities to reinforce their learning. Students will learn real-life examples of how the cloud is used today. They will partake in a virtual scavenger hunt that uses cloud-based maps, compete against their classmates using an online game and put their creativity and team working skills to the test by participating in a "Hackathon" to develop a new cloud-based mobile app.
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This activity kit will require the following resources:
- The room must have PowerPoint presentation capabilities
- For Kahoot: Students must have a mobile device or a computer with internet access; 1 device shared between 2-3 students works well
- For the Terraclues online scavenger hunt activity: Students must have computers with internet access; 1 computer shared between 2-3 students works well
- For the Hackathon Activity: Teacher must provide poster paper, markers, pens, scissors, glue and magazines
Instructions
Learn more about cloud
Learn more about how IBM is using cloud
This Activity Kit is comprised of three ways of engaging students and helping them learn the various ways cloud is used in our daily lives: 1) Kahoot, an interactive game that allows students to answer questions posed by the teacher to ensure learning comprehension 2) Terraclues Scavenger Hunt, an online game where students search for locations using cloud-based maps and 3) IBM STEM Cloud Hackathon, where students will work in teams to create a vision board for a new app.
Review the PowerPoint and gather the materials needed for each activity; you may also customize the presentation to use only one or two of the activities. Review the "notes" section of the powerpoint slides for talking points and tips.
Explore the Terraclues site and ensure you are comfortable explaining the activity and how it is related to cloud learning by using the "notes" section in the PowerPoint slides.
Review instructions and gather materials for the IBM STEM Cloud Hackathon activity. You will need: 5 Poster Boards (one for each role); Post-It notes; Permanent Markers (5 sets – different colors); Scissors (5 pairs); Magazines; Index cards; 5 Glue Sticks; Paper and pens
Review the presentation and talking points and refer to the guidance in the "notes" sections of the PowerPoints.
- Access the Kahoot! activity and ensure you are comfortable instructing students on how to play. Kahoot! will be used to test comprehension after each of the 3 videos in the PowerPoint presentation.
- Log in to Kahoot! with the following account information at www.kahoot.com:
- Username: cloud.together
- Password: activitykit
- On the top of the page, click "Kahoots" and then on the left side, click "Shared with Me"
- Log in to Kahoot! with the following account information at www.kahoot.com:
Access Terraclues and explore the site. Ensure you are comfortable instructing students on how to play and which Hunts you will use. Remember to use the "notes" in the PowerPoint to tie this activity back to learning about the cloud. We recommend using the Countries and Continents hunt or the American Landmarks hunt, but feel free to explore the site and research others your students might be interested in completing.
Review the Hackathon slides and ensure you are comfortable explaining the activity and the different team roles.
- When you arrive at the classroom, set up your PowerPoint and projector. Ensure you have internet connection and load the Kahoot! page. Be sure to use Kahoot! after each of the videos to keep students engaged!
- Log in to Kahoot! with the following account information at www.kahoot.com:
- Username: cloud.together
- Password: activitykit
- On the top of the page, click "Kahoots" and then on the left side, click "Shared with Me"
- Once logged in, on the top of the page, click "Kahoots." Then on the left side, click "Shared with Me." Then click "Player vs. Player" if each student has his/her own device or "Team vs. Team" if you need to divide your students into teams to share a device.
- A screen will appear that displays the code for players to enter on kahoot.it or on the Kahoot! app. Players should enter the code on their device and click “Enter.”
- Students should enter a “Nickname.” They can enter their first name or initials. No other personal data of the students is collected from Kahoot! Students should then click “Ok, go!” When all students see their names on the screen, click "Start." The first question will appear on the screen and students will select the answer on their devices. Click "Next" until all the questions are finished.
- Log in to Kahoot! with the following account information at www.kahoot.com:
- When you get to the Terraclues activity in the PowerPoint, allow students to access their computers or mobile phones, and break them into groups if needed. Ask them about how Terraclues uses the cloud.
- Instruct students to access Terraclues.com
- Click "Start a Hunt"
- Click "Hunts" at the top right corner
- Search "Countries and Continents" or "American Landmarks", then click "Play"
- When you get to the IBM STEM Cloud Hackathon activity in the PowerPoint, explain the activity and the different roles. Assign each student to 1 of the 5 roles based on the PowerPoint instructions and assign one student to be the Project Manager. Each role will receive a poster board and set of writing materials. Students will be asked to present back to the class at the end of the exercise. Encourage students to work together and to use what they have learned about cloud in their app design. Remember to use the "notes" section in the PowerPoint to help guide your presentation. If there are more than 10 students, create two project teams of 10-15 students each. Here is the suggested activity timeline:
- Introduction & Presentation: 30 minutes
- Students create an app vision board using the poster and magazines: 45 minutes
- Students present their apps: 30 minutes
- Wrap up: 5 minutes
