April Computer Bytes from the Elementary Computer Lab

This last month we have been enjoying the following activities in computer lab:

Kindergarten

In addition to typing in Microsoft Documents and learning to SAVE work, Kindergartners began a “sticker project” in Paint where they used familiar tools to create a drawing or design and then we used the “capture tool” to shrink the size down to about 1 inch or less and then use the Edit functions of COPY and Paste to create rows and rows of our wonderful creations. Later in the quarter a note will go home to request a CD to save these for home for printing in color to a sheet of Label paper for use at home. We continue to become familiar with the keyboard and use academic websites to practice technology and academic skills in fun formats.

First Grade

Now that students know how to save documents, they have moved into Paint again to create a “sticker sheet” of our creative drawings, copy, and paste and create rows of designs and pictures. Later, a CD will be requested to save these onto and they will learn how to download to a storage device for printing at home. These can be printed to a solid sheet of label paper and cut out for use anywhere. In addition, some of students are trying their hand at Power Points and typing up great facts about Habitats and the animals being researched in regular classroom for science.

Second Grade

Student love doing Power Points ,so much so that, they are trying their hand a researching a Rainforest Animal and creating slide shows to share soon. Typing Instructor lessons are going well and the Virtual Adventures test new skills. They have worked in Paint to create designs and how to shrink them to sticker size, duplicate and create Sticker Art pages for an end of the year project.

Third Grade

To follow up their study of the Solar System, students are completing a partner project to research on Kidsastronomy.com and make another Power Point using some saved images from the internet and having a great time creating a slide show. It is also a great way to apply their budding keyboarding skills. Students are trying a keyboard mask for part of their lessons to see how it should begin to feel as they apply keyboard keystroke knowledge.

Fourth Grade

This month students are busy doing a choice power point project to independently research in the area of Arctic Animals. Some are partnering and learning how to save images of their animal and use in different ways to add great effects and interest to their slide shows. We also are using keyboard masks to hide the keys so we type faster and have to keep looking at the screen to type.

Fifth Grade

Antarctica topics were the focus this month and students are busy doing a choice Power Point project after independently researching a topic of interest. After learning how to save images from the internet of their subject, they will use them in different ways to add great effects and interest to their slide shows. We also are using keyboard masks to hide the keys so we type faster and have to keep looking at the screen to type. They are really applying their skills which will be handy as we begin heading into Excel in the next month and more word processing.

Sixth Grade

Very interesting and creative projects have emerged and been presented by groups and partners to show what scientific knowledge about Plate Tectonics students have acquired. The last week students have had a guided review and use of Microsoft Excel and created various charts with Chart Wizard to become “Wizards” themselves!

Using keyboard masks daily and applying correct technique and form to type “blind” has been challenging but most are seeing the benefits to their focus and speed in typing. They will test towards the end with these covers on to truly gauge progress and skill at keyboarding.

For the next few weeks, students will again integrate technology and science by using an interactive website that offers a Movie Maker to create a story about Coral Reef inhabitants while learning great information in both subjects. We will have a “movie-a-thon” soon and view some fun and informative short movies. They will have a great experience with this that will add to a last introduction to Movie Maker in Microsoft XP.