Developing Sentence Strips vs Whispers in the Wind

As you work with learners to broaden their reading/sight word volcabulary, helping them see the words used in context is an important tool. Buying commercial sentence strips or preparing them in advance can certainly be helpful, but we wanted a way to tap into the context of the moment as we worked with learners. Writing out a sentence and then cutting out each word is time consuming and cumbersome while working one-on-one or in small groups with learners. Our goal for this app was to provide a tool to quickly enter a sentence given by a learner, break that sentence into individual words, and scatter them on the "table" for them to reconstruct their sentence. We also included a way to easily add/remove punctuation and add/delete words one at a time.

Whispers in the Wind is an engaging interactive game that merges educational content with a captivating narrative. Set in a near-future Puerto Rico, siblings Gabby and Raul must restore their town's communication systems after a hurricane, diving into the world of radio science. Players will interact with townsfolk, learn through games, and explore technologies like radio-controlled holograms, AI tutors, and drones. The app combines real-world technology with a rich cultural backdrop, making it ideal for learners eager to understand complex scientific concepts in a fun, interactive adventure. Whispers in the Wind was developed by the Making Waves with Radio project led by BSCS Science Learning. Funded by the National Science Foundation, Making Waves with Radio is a design partnership of science centers, museums, educators, designers, evaluators, and engineers working together with community organizations, young people, and the general public. All project resources including additional hands-on activities and apps can be found at: https://www.radioeverywhere.org/