Pelham Technology News – January 2009

 

It’s been a busy first half of the year in the computer lab.  Students of all grades have been using the computers to enhance their classroom work and develop their technology skills.  Starting in kindergarten, students begin learning basic computer skills, developing good keyboarding habits, and safely using the Internet.  Each year students build on these technology skills through lessons integrated with their classroom curriculum.  Below are some of the skills and projects we are working on:

 

Kindergarten

• Begin working on fine motor skills with the keyboard and mouse
• Use Internet sites (like www.starfall.com) for alphabet and phonics practice
• Reinforce counting and shape identification with the software Millie’s Math House

 

First Grade:

• Introduce keyboarding with Dance Mat Typing (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/)
• Use the software Investigation Math for geometry and puzzle solving
• Support classroom work with language arts and math sites

 

Second Grade:

• Continue developing basic keyboarding skills
• Learn to independently access the Internet to practice telling time, using money, math factors, and language arts
• Develop organizational skills using Kidspiration, a graphics-based writing program

 

Third Grade:

• Introduce Type to Learn, a keyboarding program
• Use Microsoft Word to create covers for writing portfolios
• Use Microsoft Excel to create spread sheets and to graph colored cubes
• Develop Internet skills through “webquests” on pumpkins, math factors, and grammar

 

Fourth Grade:

• Continue to develop keyboarding skills with Type to Learn
• Use Microsoft Word for acrostic poems and classroom reports
• Develop oral presentation skills with Microsoft PowerPoint
• Practice Internet research skills by researching animals
• Sharpen math skills, grammar, and spelling on grade-appropriate websites

 

Fifth Grade:

• Further develop keyboarding skills with Type to Learn and online websites
• Review PowerPoint and oral presentation skills through “All about Me” reports
• Refine research skills with web project on the Founding Fathers
• Learn to properly gather web information using Microsoft Word
• Integrate video into PowerPoint through biography project on President Obama

 

Sixth Grade:

• Continue keyboard practice with Type to Learn
• Use a virtual scavenger hunt to practice proper Web research skills
• Graph data for the CIA.gov website in Microsoft Excel
• Practice bibliography skills online at Citation Machine (http://citationmachine.net/)

 

                              -- Sarah Adolph, Pelham Technology Resource Teacher