Internet browsers in the classroom

When someone says internet browser in a school classroom, the usual response is internet explorer and the blue "e" icon gets clicked. The trouble with this is that kids become accustomed to only that browser and never really learn that there are other browsers out there. I have a few personal favorites that I want to share along with reasons why they may be a better choice. The biggest problem with browsers is that they are resource hogs on your computer and can really slow things down, but a couple of browsers come to mind that solve that problem. Google Chrome and Opera are two web based browsers that are fast loading and easy to use for students. They can be modified to show only a few buttons and icons instead of the cluttered explorer look and tend to handle pages with video content more easily than other browsers. If you are sick of the constant requests for plugins and programs on explorer, both of these are great alternatives.

IconArt Cursor

This week we are adding a new "extra" project for the students; create an animated cursor for your computer. We will be using a program called IconArt and an Icon Template that I made especially for the task. Make sure you have the IconArt program and the template blank downloaded before you begin the instruction video. Follow along with the video to show you step by step how to create the icon and then use what you learned to create your own. You are free to use your new cursors at home, but please leave the lab cursors the way they are.

Where In The World project.

The 5th graders will be working on a new project for the next three weeks that I am tentatively calling the Where In The World project. The purpose of this learning project will be to allow the students to create an informational powerpoint about famous world landmarks. Students will be starting by using Google Earth to find and choose 3-5 famous locations they would like to focus on from the list of places below. Then, they will be learning how to find pictures and video for their first slide and will use Fact Monster to create a fact list with the help of a program called Quotepad to save what they find. Finally, the students will have a chance to share their work in class.

Here is the famous location list.
Mount Rushmore
Easter Island
Cape Horn
Eiffel Tower
Statue of Liberty
Mount Everest
The Grand Canyon
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Vatican
Hiroshima
The Great Sphinx of Giza
The Bay of Fundy
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Disneyland
Buckingham Palace
The Taj Mahal
The White House
Stonehenge
Niagara Falls
Banff nationalPark
The Alamo
Alcatraz

Folder Download Test

I am testing out a new way to access files here.