Coding Basics and Virtual Environments

For the last nine weeks we will be exploring the basics of how technology and the internet works as well as how we interact with it. We will start with lessons on coding; what it is, how it works, general rules about computer languages, who uses them, why they are important along with a host of other questions that pop up along the way. Following our introduction, we will learning how to do some basic coding and then moving into the virtual environments we can use to learn, explore, and create.

4th and 5th grade will be looking at simple Javascript and/or HTML. Questions and links for them are below.
2nd and 3rd grade will be looking at basic elements of code and how it works. They will then be interacting and creating with a variety of digital environments and formats.
Kinder and 1st grade will be learning about basic design and rules for computer languages and instructions and focusing on using virtual tools and applications to create and share work with others.

Important Links we will need:
HTML beginner lesson. HTML Lesson
Javascript beginner coding. Codemonster
Virtual Lego builder. LEGO

Questions by grade levels.
4th-5th
1. What does HTML stand for and what is it used for?
2. HTML uses tags and words to work. What are tags and how do they operate?
3. Syntax is the order in which words and code are written. Why is this important when writing any type of computer code?
4. Why do HTML tags come in pairs?
5. what general rules have you learned about coding?

Glogster 4-5

Fourth and Fifth grade will be using Glogster in the near future to create online presentations. Below is the student sign-up link along with the teacher code needed for each grade. Be sure to use the proper code to sign up or you will end up in the wrong class. Follow the directions from class when creating your username and password.

Sign up for Glogster
5th grade code-5FD45D
4th grade code-COMING SOON

Social Media and your Digital Footprint 4-5

In this lesson, students will be exploring social media to learn what it is, how it is used, the benefits, the disadvantages, and finally good social media behavior.

Copy and paste the following questions into your journal. Be sure to answer the questions after watching the information videos and completing the online quiz.

1. What is social media?
2. Who uses social media?
3. What are some of the benefits of social media?
4. What are some of the disadvantages of social media?
5. What can you do to help protect yourself when using social media?

TEST

2-3 Cyberbullying

The younger grades will be learning about cyberbullying in class. We will be watching some videos as well as discussing important things in class. Students will also be taking an online test about the material when we have completed the lesson and finally they will be writing about things they learned in using a Word Processing program to practice their typing, formatting, and saving documents on the computer. All groups will start with this video about CyberBullying.
Video 1
We will be adding other videos as each class requires.
Students will be doing the Cyber-Bullying test they find here.
Test

After completing the activities, students will copy and paste the following questions into a word processing document;

1. What is cyberbullying?

2. What can you do if a friend is being cyberbullied?

3. What can you do if you are being cyberbullied?

4. Why should we learn about cyberbullying?

Searching for Information Online- Multi-Grade

In this lesson, we will be exploring internet searches. Watch this video Online Searching

Use a web search to define these terms:
Search Engine, search terms, query, result.

Look at the following suggested searches and create a proper query for each one.:

Beginner:

Where does an orangutan live?
How do you play dodge-ball?
How do you make a pizza?
What movies are playing at the movie theater?
Where can I go camping?
How many dangerous snakes live in my state?
Where can I buy a game for my game system?
How do I take care of my pet?
How much does it cost to go to Disney World?
Intermediate:

What things can I do at Walt Disney World?
What can I do for my science fair project?
Where are the best colleges to learn to be a vet?
Where would you find the largest number of elephants in the world?
Who signed the US constitution?
How does an airplane fly?
What is the fastest animal on the planet?

2nd-3rd Grade Internet Safety Videos

After finishing your assignment today, I would like you to watch 2 videos about internet safety for me.
Video 1
Video 2

Click on this link to take the test about what you just watched.

Be sure to enter your first and last name in the box and use the classroom code your teacher gives you.

After finishing the previous activities you will be practicing using a word processing document again. You will copy and paste the questions below into your document and answer them. Follow the directions given in class about formatting and saving your document.

1. Why do you need to be careful about what you click online?

2. What are strong passwords?

3. What is personal information?

4. Where can we find appropriate websites for school?

Cyber Bullying 3-5

3rd through 5th Graders will be doing a watch and respond to the topic of Cyber Bullying.

After watching the two videos listed below and answering the questions in a document saved to their computer, students will be participating in a class discussion. Students should be able to answer these questions:
1. What is Cyberbullying?
2. How does CyberBullying happen?
3. What should you do if someone is bullying you?
4. Give some examples of what CyberBullying looks like.

Videos to watch:
CyberBullying 1
CyberBullying 2

5th GRADE ONLY,
The next link is an article published in USA Today about a recent cyberbullying incident that had terrible consequences. You may use this article to help you answer your questions or just to read for information. The article contains some information that you might find disturbing so you may choose not to read it if you prefer. Cyberbullying Article

After watching, open a Word document and copy/paste the following questions to answer.

1. What is CyberBullying?
2. What things can you do if someone is CyberBullying you?
3. How could someone use a cell phone to CyberBully you?
4. How could someone use a computer to CyberBully you?

After finishing your document, click on the test link below and take the cyberbullying test for grades 2-3. Use the code on the board to log in to the test. Be sure to type your first and last name.

Test

Common Sense Media Videos

I will be adding links to this as we preview new movies.
3rd Grade watch and respond video.
Pause and Think Online

Fifth Grade watch and respond:
Digital Footprint
Online Image

Copyright

Searching Online 5th grade watch and respond.

Watch the short video you find at this link;

Searching Online

After watching the video, think about the following questions and create a response in a Word document. Save the document to your grade level and personal folder.

What lessons can we learn from watching this video?
Why would he not trust the information he learned from Wikipedia?
How do keywords affect your searches?

You may copy and paste the questions into your word document if you like. The next video you will watch is about what can happen when you post things online about others. Click this link to watch the video;
Digital Drama

Answer the following questions about the video.
Who creates more drama, boys or girls? Why?
What should you do if someone begins online rumors about you?
What would you do if someone you know is being gossiped about?
What lesson can we learn from this video?

Copyrights and Online Sources

Open the document you have been using to record your responses. You will be watching two short Brainpop videos and responding about the problems with searching online and respecting the copyrights of other people.

Watch the Brainpop videos titled Copyright and Online Sources.

Think and Respond question- 1. Why is the internet the best and the worst place to do research?

Design and create your own poster for an imaginary event you will be having. You will be using Poster My Wall to create your project. Use the Student login and the class code open_design to get started. It can be a party, concert, yard sale, wanted poster, lost pet, babysitting, car washing, pet sitting, or any other subject that you would like. Plan what you want the poster to say and save a copy of the finished product to your folder.

You can find clipart and images for free HERE

Compare and Contrast Fillable Charts

Third, fourth and fifth grade will be doing compare and contrast charts for the next few classes.

Image Editor Chart

Draw and Paint Applications Chart

Click the correct link to download the chart to your computer. Change the file name when you save it by putting your name at the beginning of the file name.

Computer Lab Pictures

This is the link to the computer lab pictures folder for our upcoming graphics project.

4th Grade Expository Writing

For the next 6-7 weeks, we will be working on planning and writing different types of compositions for the upcoming Starr writing test. We will be using the brainstorming tool at bubbl.us to create and save a writing plan and then use Word to type the document. For the first topic, Fish Adaptations, students will need to download the Fish Adaptations image first. They will then follow the directions they learn in class to create and expand their own organizer.

4th grade Animated Name Tag

Fourth graders are doing basic animation this week to create an animated name tag. The direction sheet is in the download below. Animated Name Tag directions

3rd Grade Narrative Writing

Grade 3 Word Practice- What I did during my Christmas Break. Students will be practicing with Microsoft Word as they plan and type a personal narrative about their Winter Break. Students will have varying levels of ability when it comes to writing, so it will be necessary to work on planning and drafting the narrative before beginning. A simple online too that can be used is http://www.bubbl.us Work with students to show them how to find the site and use the software. Students should try to create at least 3 “child” subtopics and fill in at least 2 fact based details. Once they have created their plan, students will open Word and begin to transfer their ideas. Talk about spacing, fonts, sizing, as well as saving their document properly.

2nd Grade Things I Like

The second graders will be continuing their work with Microsoft Word to practice their typing skills and learn how to work with the menus and ribbons in Office products. The following sheet that asks about things you like will need to be downloaded to your computer. After downloading it, fill in the blanks and save it to your grade level folder. Things I Like Sheet Party Invitations and Thank You notes Students will be creating their own party invitations using a Word Template and then creating thank you notes for the people who come with a second template. Download the templates below. Party Invitation Thank You Notes Teacher notes for the lesson are below Notes Animal Facts sheet- Animal Facts Sheet

5th Grade Excel Lesson

For the next couple weeks, fifth grade will be learning about using Excel. They will need the following files below to complete the lessons. Excel Spreadsheet Excel Data Download each file to your computer to begin. After you have finished filling in the data and saving your worksheets, download the file below to use the function tools on your sheet. Excel Functions Your next step is to begin formatting your spreadsheets. Download the Excel Formatting document and follow the directions to change the look of your sheets

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.