3rd Quarter
Third Grade
During Third Quarter in computer, we will introduce digital storytelling. Working with a partner, they will chose a story and complete a storyboard. Each student will use KidPix art program to design pictures illustrating the story. Then we will combine the pictures in a slideshow, still using KidPix. Along the way, we’ll review the process of saving and identifying files. The KidPix slideshow prepares the way for our work with MS PowerPoint later this year. We will introduce keyboarding, with emphasis on the “home keys.”
Fourth Grade
During Third Quarter in computer, we will continue our work in word-processing with Microsoft Word. We will review Internet safety, practice Internet searching skills, write a short report, find and paste artwork in the report. We will introduce skills such as indenting, spell-check, using AutoShapes and Word Art. We will continue to practice keyboarding, with emphasis on the “home keys.”
Fifth Grade
During Third Quarter in computer, we will review Internet safety, practice Internet searching skills and write a short report. We will practice keyboarding using UltraKey. Students will have keyboarding homework. I will make the assignment in class, but it will also be available on my Homework page. We’ll use MS Word to create a cartoon with dingbat fonts.
Sixth Grade
During Third Quarter in computer, we will concentrate on Microsoft Word skills for class writing. We’ll begin building research skills, preparing outlines, text, and a bibliography for their research paper. Students will need a valid library card number, either from St. Louis County Library or Kirkwood Public Library. We will continue to practice keyboarding, and take some skill tests. Students will have keyboarding homework. I will make the assignment in class, but it will also be available on my “Homework” page. As time is available, we’ll investigate an animation website, creating a short movie.
Seventh Grade
During Third Quarter in computer, we will work with Spanish class to complete a PowerPoint presentation on a Spanish-speaking country. We will learn how to use speaker notes and “blank layout” to get the maximum impact from our slides. We’ll investigate Google Earth, learning how to save and annotate locations with “map pins.” Working with the social studies curriculum and Mr. Babbitt, we’ll design interactive timelines to display on the TeacherWeb pages. We will continue to practice keyboarding, and take some skill tests. Students will have keyboarding homework. I will make the assignment in class, but it will also be available on my “Homework” page.
Eighth Grade
During Third Quarter in computer, we will concentrate on building research skills, and preparing outline, text, and bibliography for their research paper. I have posted some helpful links on my Links page as well as lots of instruction on Homework Help. Each student has created his or her own links web page on Diigo, a free bookmarking website. Our Diigo pages are part of a Diigo education account, which allows the class to annotate and share links within their own private group. This Diigo page will be available on any computer with Internet access, so it should prove helpful with the research paper project in English. We will save links to Google Books, save notes, and create notecards for the research paper with the Diigo account.
Eighth-graders will continue to participate in our morning video announcements, both in front of and behind the camera. Through their membership in the class wiki (see my page, “It’s All About the Wiki,” we’ll write a script for a third assigned day of the KSGM broadcast. We will practice keyboarding, and take some skill tests. Students will have keyboarding homework. I will make the assignment in class, but it will also be available as an active link on my Homework page.