Kidspiration 3 Directions

Starting a new project

  1. Start Kidspiration or

To return to the Kidspiration Starter from an open project, click the Go to Starter button:

  1. Do one of the following:
  2. To start with a new diagram, click the Picture, Writing, or Math View button.

Opening an existing project

-Click the following button from the starter menu

-Click file – open

-Choose the location the file is in and click open

Adding a student name to a project

You can add a student name to a project. The name is displayed in the following locations:

  • In the title bar of the document.
  • As the suggested file name when the project is saved the first time. (You can change the suggested name if you want.)
  • At the top of every page when you print.

To add a student name to a project:

  1. Click the Student Name button.
    Type the name in the box where indicated.
  1. To choose where you want the name to appear on the page, select Left, Center or Right.
  2. A preview of how the name will appear on the page is displayed in the box on the right side of the dialog box.
  3. Click OK.

Adding symbols to a diagram

There are several ways to add symbols to a diagram:

  • You can add a symbol using the Symbol palette. Find a symbol by browsing the Symbol Libraries or by performing a symbol search, then drag a symbol from the palette to add it to your diagram.
  • You can add linked symbols using the Add Symbol tool. Click the Add Symbol button on the Picture toolbar. If no symbol is selected, clicking theAdd Symbol button adds an unlinked symbol to your diagram.


Otherwise, a new symbol appears that is linked to the currently selected symbol. Click the Add Symbol button again, and another symbol appears connected to the selected symbol. Continue clicking to add as many symbols as you need.

  • You can click anywhere and type. A symbol with your idea appears automatically

To choose a symbol from the Symbol palette:

  1. Click the Pick Library button(down arrow), and then click the symbol library you want in the list.
  2. Point to a library in the list to see a preview of the library on the Symbol palette.
  3. Click the PreviousLibrary or Next Library buttons (two arrows) to browse through the symbol libraries

To perform a symbol search:

  1. In the box at the top of the Symbol palette, type a word or words that describe the symbol you are looking for, for example "dog."
  2. Click the Find button. Kidspiration automatically searches the built-in libraries for all symbols containing a dog, and returns up to 18 images, displaying them in the Symbol palette.

Adding text to a symbol

Some symbols are shapes, such as a circle or oval, which let you type an idea inside the symbol. Other symbols are captioned, with space for text below the symbol. When you select a symbol, a dotted line surrounds the symbol's text area.

Tip:

Clicking the Hide/Show Captions button on the Formatting toolbar two times automatically labels all captioned symbols.

  • To add text to a symbol, select the symbol, and then type.

To edit the text in a symbol, select the symbol and click inside the text area to make your changes.

To align symbols or SuperGrouper shapes:

  1. Select the symbols or SuperGrouper shapes you want to align.

You need to select at least two symbols or SuperGrouper shapes to make the Align command available.

  1. On the Teacher menu, click Align, and then click the arrangement you want.

Each choice on the Align submenu shows how the selected objects will align.

The objects rearrange themselves to reflect your choice.

To space symbols or SuperGrouper shapes evenly:

  1. Select the symbols or SuperGrouper shapes you want to arrange.

You need to select at least three symbols or SuperGrouper shapes to make the Evenly Space command available.

  1. On the Teacher menu, click Evenly Space, and then do one of the following:
  • Click Vertical to make the vertical distance between the selected items equal.

or

  • Click Horizontal to make the horizontal distance between the selected items equal.

To connect symbols using links:

  1. Click the Link Symbols button.
  2. Click the symbol where you want the link to start, and then click the symbol where you want the link to end.

To move a link:

  1. Click the link.
  2. Drag the end of the link to the new location.

To reverse a link:

  1. Select the link or links that you want to reverse.
  2. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Arrow button until the arrowheads on the links are reversed.

Adding text to a link

You can add text to a link to expand your ideas or explain a relationship between two ideas. When you select a link, a dotted line surrounds the link's text area.

  • To add text to a link, select the link, and then type.

To edit the text on a link, select the link and click inside the text area to make your changes.

Adding SuperGrouper shapes to a diagram

There are several ways to add SuperGrouper shapes to a diagram:

  • You can add a SuperGrouper shape using the SuperGrouper menu. On the Picture toolbar, click the SuperGrouper button, and then click a shape on the palette to add it to your diagram.
  • The Venn diagram SuperGrouper shape can be used in lessons where students identify and categorize differences and similarities between objects and ideas. On the Picture toolbar, click the SuperGrouper button, and then click Venn.
  • You can transform any symbol into a SuperGrouper shape. Select the symbol. On the Picture toolbar, click the SuperGrouper button, and then click Create SuperGrouper.

Magnifying or reducing the view of a diagram

  • To magnify or reduce the view of a diagram, click the Magnify button in the lower left corner of the Kidspiration window.
  • Click once to fit the entire diagram in the window.
  • Click twice to show the entire page.
  • Click three times to view the diagram at actual size.

Writing View

To use the ideas in a diagram to begin writing:

  1. Add symbols and words that represent ideas to your diagram.

If you use symbols, they must be pictorial, for example a symbol of a dog or a sun, to take advantage of picture-to-topic. Basic symbols such as ovals and rectangles are not labeled.

  1. To switch to Writing View, click the Go to Writing View button on the Picture toolbar.

Adding an idea in Writing View

  1. On the Writing toolbar, click the Add Idea button, and then type the new idea.
  2. If necessary, adjust the location of the idea by doing one of the following:
  3. Drag the new idea to the location where you want it. or
  • To move the idea up or down a level in the hierarchy, click the Move Left button or Move Right button.

Adding details to an idea

You can expand your ideas by adding detailsalso called notes. A line separates an idea from its notes. The notes area is always available. As you add more notes text, the notes area automatically expands.

To add details to an idea:

  • Click in the area below the idea, and then type.

Moving an idea up or down

  • To move an idea up or down, point to the top or left edge of the idea. When the appears, drag the idea to the new location.

To move an idea left or right:

  1. Select the idea.
  2. On the Writing toolbar, do one of the following:
  3. To move the idea up one level in the hierarchy, click the Move Leftor Move Rightbutton.

Looking up words in the Kidspiration Word Guide

To look up a word in your document:

  1. Select the word.
  2. Click the Word Guide button

The Word Guide dialog opens and the results are displayed.

  1. Click on the arrows to scroll through multiple definition results.

To hear the computer pronounce the word or read text in the Word Guide dialog:

  • Click the Listen button next to the text you want to hear.

To look up a word that does not appear in your document:

  • Click the Word Guide button on the Picture or Writing toolbar. Enter the word in the box in the upper-right corner, then click Look Up.

Using expanded Word Guide functionality:

Expanded functionality is available by clicking the More Detail button. This allows you to:

  • View phonetic spelling of words and access a pronunciation key.
  • View syllabication of words, denoted in the word itself by dots separating the syllables.
  • View antonyms, in addition to synonyms, if available for the definition.
  • Click on a synonym or antonym displayed to look it up in the Word Guide.
  • View word inflections if available for the definition, in purple parenthetical text in the definition field.
  • Scroll through recent Word Guide history by clicking on the arrows in the top right corner of the More Detail dialog box. You will only see the words which you have looked up since last opening the Word Guide. If you close the Word Guide dialog, the history from this session will no longer be available.

Reading the text in the Kidspiration interface

The computer reads all text in the Kidspiration interface, including menus, buttons and dialog boxes, when the talking interface is turned on in Application Options (click Application Options on the Teacher menu).

To read the text in the Kidspiration interface:

  • Point to a menu or button.

The computer reads the text in the menu or button after a short delay.

To listen to the text in a project, click the listen button (ear) then click the object you want to be read

Recording a sound or words

You can record a sound or words in Picture View and Writing View and attach them to a symbol or idea to expand and reinforce learning. The Record command is only available when Record Sounds is turned on in Application Options (click Application Options on the Teacher menu). Your computer needs a microphone to record sounds.

To record a sound or words in Picture View or Writing View:

  1. Select the symbol or idea.
  2. On the Sound menu, click Record.
  3. In the recording controls box, click the Record button to begin recording.

  1. Generate the sound you want to record.

The maximum length of a recorded sound is sixty seconds. You can click Stop at any time to end recording.

  1. When you finish recording, click Save to save the recording and attach it to the selected symbol or idea.

In Picture View, a speaker symbol appears in the upper right corner of a symbol when a recorded sound is attached. In Writing View, a speaker symbol appears to the left of an idea when a recorded sound is attached.

  1. Click the speaker to listen to the recording
  2. To erase it, select the symbol or idea it is attached to, then click the sound menu at the top and choose erase

Math View

Moving items onto the workspace

There are two ways to move items in the Math palette onto the workspace:

  • Click an item in the Math palette and drag it onto the workspace to the location of your choosing.

or

  • Click an item and it will appear on the workspace at the location of your cursor.

Click an item multiple successive times to create multiple instances of it on the workspace.

Changing the color of math manipulatives

The Bottom toolbar in Math View offers 11 basic colors and 50+ additional colors, inspiring students to use color to represent math concepts and demonstrate their grasp of math fundamentals.

To change the color of math manipulatives on the workspace:

  1. Select one or more manipulatives (e.g., color tiles, pattern blocks, base ten blocks or fraction tiles) whose color you want to change.
  2. Click one of the Color buttons on the Bottom toolbar or

Click the More Colors button on the Bottom toolbar to choose from the expanded color palette.

The Kidspiration Color Tiles Math palette

The Kidspiration Color Tiles Math palette to the left of the workspace contains a Math Text Box, a line, four starter color tiles and two Math SuperGroupers: a rectangle and a circle.

Choose the elements you want to work with by clicking them or by dragging them onto the workspace.

To create multiple identical items on the workspace, click that item on the Math palette multiple successive times.

The Kidspiration Color Tiles Bottom toolbar contains two different sets of options.

  1. When working with Math Text Boxes in the Kidspiration Color Tiles workspace, the full Bottom toolbar looks like this:

Note:

When working with Math Text Boxes, you will need to click the arrow to the right of the Open Math Frame button in order to see all of the Bottom toolbar.

  1. When working with color tiles, lines or Math SuperGroupers in the Kidspiration Color Tiles workspace, the Bottom toolbar looks like this:

Using the Cross-Out Stamp

The Cross-Out Stamp appears in Math View, on the Bottom toolbar of the Kidspiration Color Tiles, Kidspiration Pattern Blocks, Kidspiration Base Ten Blocks and Kidspiration Fraction Tiles Math Tools. Use the Cross-Out Stamp to mark objects or to represent subtraction

To use the Cross-Out Stamp:

  1. Select the item on the workspace you want to mark.
  2. Click the Cross-Out Stamp button on the Bottom toolbar.

The item is now marked with an "X" through it.

Using a background grid with Kidspiration Color Tiles

You can use a background grid in the Kidspiration Color Tiles Math Tool to help visually organize your workspace. Tiles will snap into place if dragged into an empty cell on the grid, making it easy to create bar charts and towers, build models, and explore area and perimeter.

To add a background grid to a Kidspiration Color Tiles project:

  • Click the Show Background Grid button on the Bottom toolbar.

Tip:

To add color tiles to a background grid:

  • Click and drag a color tile into an empty cell of your choosing.

You should notice that the tile will "snap" into position.

The Kidspiration Pattern Blocks Math palette

The Kidspiration Pattern Blocks Math palette to the left of the workspace contains a Math Text Box, a line, six geometric shapes and two Math SuperGroupers: a rectangle and a circle.

To create a line of symmetry:

  1. Click and drag a line from the Math palette onto the workspace.
  2. Resize and change the direction of the line so that it will perfectly bisect your pattern on the workspace.

Drag it into position over your pattern so that it separates the pattern into two equal halves.

Tip:

To move the direction of a line in 45 degree increments, hold the Shift key down as you drag the line sideways to the desired angle.

To rotate a shape on the workspace:

  1. Select the shape you want to rotate.

Note:

You can only rotate one shape at a time.

  1. Click either the Rotate Block Clockwise or the Rotate Block Counter-clockwise button on the Bottom toolbar.

Continue to rotate until the shape is as you want it to be.

The Kidspiration Base Ten Blocks Math palette

The Kidspiration Base Ten Blocks Math palette to the left of the workspace contains a Math Text Box, a line, units representing one, ten, one hundred and one thousand, and two Math SuperGroupers: a rectangle and a circle.

When working with units, rods, flats, blocks, lines or Math SuperGroupers in the Kidspiration Base Ten Blocks workspace, the Bottom toolbar looks like this:

Grouping base ten blocks

Students can group, or aggregate, base ten blocks on the workspace in multiples of ten. For instance, 10 units can be grouped to make one rod, 10 rods can be grouped to make one flat and so on.

To group base ten blocks:

  1. Select the like-value number of blocks for the group you want to create.

For instance, to create a rod, you must select 10 units on the workspace. If you do not have the correct number of blocks selected, the grouping function will be disabled.

  1. Click the Group button on the Bottom toolbar and the blocks will be grouped for you.

Breaking base ten blocks apart

Students can break apart, or disaggregate, base ten blocks on the workspace into multiples of ten. For instance, a rod can be broken apart to make ten units, a flat can be broken apart to make ten rods and so on.

To break base ten blocks apart: