Brief Description

Students will learn some computer basics use by creating a title page for a story or report.  While creating the title page using Student Writing Center, the students will learn proper posture, various parts of a computer, and how to use educational software to create a finished product.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

1T-F1. Communicate about internal technology operations using developmentally
appropriate and accurate terminology
1T-F2. Demonstrate functional operation of technology components
1T-F3. Use developmentally appropriate technology resources to access information
and communicate electronically

VP-F3. Access, view and respond to visual forms such as computer programs, videos, artifacts, drawings, pictures and collages
LS-F2. Give and follow multiple-step directions

Academic

• Students will be able to create a title page for their story/report by following multi-step directions
• Students will compare the different border designs and choose a design that will enhance their topic

• Students will apply basic vocabulary related to the internal operations of the computer (Disks, CDRom, etc.)
• Students will demonstrate correct ergonomic use of technology (e.g., correct posture, position of hands and feet)
• Students will use multimedia resources (educational software) to create their title page
• Students will operate keyboard and other common input and output devices
This includes using a device in response to software (e.g., point and click, arrow and enter/return keys) Students will use the keyboard effectively (e.g., knows locations and function of keys, will begin touch-typing strategies)
• Students will  retrieve and save information to the hard drive and to a disk
• Students will print their title page

 

None – this is a beginning level activity

Materials

Computer
Topic used to create a title page

Accommodations for Special Needs

Work in pairs

Procedures

1. Have Student Writing Center program loaded on your computers
2. Talk about proper posture – sitting straight in chair, keyboard position, hand position, etc.
3. Name the various parts of the computer.  Have children point to these parts and compare with their neighbor to check for accurateness.
4. Using an AverKey, Proxima or other projecting device, demonstrate the different functions of the keyboard and where they are located.
5. Students should be using these functions as you demonstrate.  Students can share with neighbors and check for accurateness and understanding.
6. Have students access the program
a. Go to start
b. Point and click on Programs
c. Point and click on The Learning Company
d. Point and click on Student Writing Center
7. Student can choose from several options
8. To Create a Title Page:
a. Point and click on “Sign”
b. Choose a border – Think of the topic your story is about.  Choose a border that will “go with” your story.  Talk about the importance of the first impression – what the reader sees first when reading a story. (e.g. if you are creating a certificate, you wouldn’t want a swirl design border)
c. If you change your mind, point and click on “Layout” and you will have the option to change your border.
9. Begin Typing – Title
a. Type in the title of your story.  Student Writing Center is set up to center your title automatically for you.
b. Changing the font –
i. Highlight the part that you want to change (click and drag)
ii. Click on Font and you can change the size, style and color of your title
10. Add a Picture
a. Click on PICTURE icon in the Menu Bar
b. Choose the topic from the directory
c. Point and Double Click on the directory of your choice
d. Point and click one time on the picture you want and the preview picture will come up in the box on the right.
e. Point and click on OK and your picture will be placed on your Title Page
f. Your picture will have a black box around it.  You may move the picture by pointing your cursor in the middle of the picture.  Click and drag the picture where you want it.
g. You may change the size of your picture by pointing and clicking in the corner of the picture and dragging the corner up to the size you want.
11.   Printing your Title Page
a. Look carefully at your page. You may want to Zoom out or in to get a better look.  Point and click on the View icon in the menu bar.  Choose what you would like to see and click.   If it is what you want, point and click on the icon that says Print in the menu bar.
12. Saving your Title Page
a. Place a floppy disk in the a drive.  Show and talk about the different drives and how to access them.
b. Lead students through the saving process
i. Point and click on the SAVE icon in the menu
ii. Change the drive to “a” drive
iii. Type in the title of your work
iv. Point and click OK
v. Watch and be sure the light has gone off
vi. Remove the disk

Students can be assessed in several ways:

• Observation of posture and computer use during activity
• Rubric to assess the finished product
• Anecdotal records to record responses during discussion