Clam-I-Am!
Kids explore marine ecology on a fun, fact-filled jaunt to the sea
Clam-I-Am! would work well as an introduction to a science unit about oceans or marine ecology. You can read the story to the class and write key words on a master glossary list, or kids can take turns reading in small groups. Since a lot of the vocabulary is advanced, you can adjust your glossary list according to kids' learning levels. Ask more advanced students to give examples of different arthropods, mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans. Extend the explanation of salty ocean water given in the story by teaching kids about the entire water cycle.
Continue readingEditor's Note: Clam-I-Am! is no longer listed on the developer's website. It appears to have been removed from all of the app stores where it was once available.
Clam-I-Am! is a fact-filled ebook that teaches kids about marine ecology. The ebook has two reading options: Read to Me and Read it Myself. In the Read to Me option, words are highlighted as they're spoken, which helps kids learn and practice reading skills. In both reading options, kids can tap bolded words to learn their definitions and tap pictures to hear and see the pictures with labels. Kids can record their own voices while reading the story, which gives them an opportunity to practice speech and language development.
Continue readingClam-I-Am! provides kids with lots of information about marine ecology and related science topics. Kids learn about groups of animals like mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms by tapping bolded words within the story. Pictures and basic animations teach kids about tides, the color of the ocean, why the ocean is salty, and what causes waves. Kids can tap pictures throughout the story to hear and see the pictures with labels. Many of the words and definitions are a bit advanced for early readers, however, and some might become overwhelmed by the amount of information.
Unfortunately, the ebook doesn't include opportunities for kids to practice or review what they've learned. Adding some interactive activities and a glossary of terms would enhance the overall learning experience.
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Teacher Reviews
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This ebook would be a great addition to any teacher's classroom library. There are several options for differentiation depending on the reading level of your students. Even though a student can choose "read it myself," the ebook still allows the user to tap any word if he or she struggles with any part of it. This ebook also allows the user to tap anywhere on the screen to identifies any object, which is a good feature for ELL students or early readers. One of my favorite features of this ebook is the option to record a new voice (other than the already existing narrator) for the book, giving students the ability to practice their fluency over and over again. Students can record on each page, then tap the arrow to advance to the next page. They can play back the recording at any stage, self-assess, and re-record if necessary. Easy and engaging! When the student is finished, that recording can then be emailed to parents or serve as documentation of growth.
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