Summer Session Week 6

B1-2 Technology:
Keyboarding practice, then more bugs-this time, computer bugs! And even though the very first computer "bug" was an actual moth (now on display in the Smithsonian Museum of American History) found in the electrical circuits of a 1947 Mark II computer, I don't mean real bugs like this:



We talked instead about computer viruses and how to try and prevent them-don't open emails and attachments from people you don't know, don't click on pop up ads, don't download things without your parents permission, and always have antivirus software installed. We watched the Netsmartz clip "Don't Open That File!" and played the computer virus game and the Cyberchase game, Bugs in the System before going to the clubhouse to color our own computer bugs.

3-4 Technology:
More Type to Learn-students are really moving through the lessons. Some even skip the optional games so they can advance more quickly and reach level 10 when they can join the "Underwear Club" and have their keyboard covered with a pair of boxer shorts! After keyboarding, students had fun using my smartphone to decode our "Who Am I?" Qr code people in the hallway.



While waiting for their group's turn with the phone, students made an avatar to save in their folder, and completed the Professor Garfield Online Safety lessons where they learned what things are appropriate to post on the internet  and what things are not. They played Red remover to get rid of the bad things (red) and keep the good ones (green).
                                                                   Here is my avatar:

Computer Challenge #2

Bad Guy Patrol

Click on ages 8-10 and complete all the missions to collect your flags.

Print out your certificate, or have a parent write a note that you completed the activity, and bring it to me to get your name entered in the "I can" can!

Summer Session Week 5

B1-2 Technology:
We started class this week with our usual keyboarding practice, and then watched the Tumblebook Bugs, Bugs, Bugs.  Insects can come in so many sizes and colors-a good lead in to formatting with Microsoft word! We went to our tech folders and opened the file "A Bug's Life." Students learned how to highlight words, center the title, change font size and color, and even how to add a clipart picture. These are big skills and they did great with them! Of course, this is something we will continue to practice.

3-4 Technology:
Do you know what Qr codes are? Now the third and fourth graders do! After keyboarding, we discussed these quick response codes and how they can be used. We watched the following video clip:


Students next used Qurify to make a code of their name which they then copied onto a "Who Am I?" word document of clues. They colored around the code to turn it into a person. We will hang these in the hall and have fun next week using a smart phone to decode them.

Summer Session Week 4

B1-2 Technology:



This week was all about insects! We started the class with our keyboarding practice-youngers do keyseeker, olders do keyboard climber, and everyone uses two hands on the keyboard. After our keyboarding, we reviewed some insect facts the students had learned in their classroom and tested our knowledge, and mouse skills, with Insect World and Insect Hunt. We took a quick break to relieve our ears from the headphones and to watch Insect Rally, the video clip shown above, and then continued with more insect activities such as Archibald's Adventure, Monster Bugs, and Shoo Bug.

3-4 Technology:

After our Type to Learn keyboarding, we talked about carefully evaluating information that is found online. We used Professor Garfield: Fact or Opinion to practice, and then did some research to find out some new things about a topic about which they are the experts-themselves! Students used the internet to find out the origen or meaning of their first names, how many people in the United States have the same name, exactly how many days old they are, and something that happened on their birthday in history. It was a fun and exciting class!

Summer Session Week 3

B1-2 Technology:
We started this week with our youngers in the "clubhouse" exploring keyboards. While we talked about using two hands, shift keys, and the enter key, the olders practiced their two handed keyboarding with a favorite site from last year-Keyboard Climber. After a short review of hardware/software and how to find my bookmarks, students listened to the Tumblebook Ace Lacewing: Bad Bug's Are My Business. We played Catch the Letterbugs for a good phonics and mouse skill practice and then used Paint to make self portraits to save in our system tech folders.

3-4 Technology:

  http://maximumglogg.blogspot.com/2010/07/friday-font-fun_23.html

This week was all about fun with fonts. After our keyboarding Type to Learn practice, we reviewed the concept of fonts and how to format them in Microsoft Word. We created a "Favorite Font" sheet and then had fun making our fonts "dance" with the cool site, Font de Music. Here is my example. Next, we learned about Word Art and opened up our avatar documents from last week. This time, instead of adding clip art pictures, we added three word art words that could represent us, such as artistic, friendly, or soccer player.