Here is a brief overview of the skills students have learned or improved upon during computer class so far this year.
Kindergarten
Students began their first year of school learning basic mouse skills. They learned the parts of the mouse, how to hold and move the mouse, and the correct button to press to select something. We then moved on to click and drag to move objects from one place to another and to paint. We discussed what the word independent means and learned the skills and procedures they need to become independent on the computer. They learned how to double click on an icon to open a program and basic navigation skills to get to the things we use. Now, they should be able to tell you the steps to open Paint and the steps to get to the computer lab website to choose an online activity. During the 3rd quarter we continued to improve mouse skills while incorporating language arts standards by drawing digital pictures that tell a story in Microsoft Paint. We also began to learn the keyboard and then added text to those pictures. A great activity to practice the basic keys needed to type a complete sentence is Keyboard Zoo 2 on ABCya! Kindergarten students should continue to practice finding the letters on the keyboard and create some digital art with text. Visit the Kindergarten page for some suggested activities.
1st Grade
Students began the year reviewing Microsoft Paint. They learned some new tools to take their digital art to the next level. They created pictures that tell a story and used the text tool to add sentences to their pictures. They also learned how to sign in to the computer, and some students were able to save their pictures to One Drive (Office 365). During the second quarter they learned about tally charts and picture graphs. They surveyed their classmates to collect data in a tally chart and then created digital graphs of the results using Graph Club. Next, we learned how to access Office 365 and open a Word document. Students began learning basic formatting skills to change the font style, size, and color of text. Then they learned how to insert an online picture and rename the file so that they can find it easier the next time they open Office 365. At the time of school closure, students were working on writing about an animal. A great activity for them to continue practicing these skills would be to go to Cobb Digital Library to get to PebbleGo and learn more about their animal. Then add some more sentences to the Word document they already started. It will be saved in their Office 365 accounts. First graders are also continuing to practice keyboard skills throughout the year. Visit the First Grade page for some keyboard practice activities.
2nd Grade
During the first quarter, 2nd graders created digital pictures to go with their narrative writing. They learned how to save their artwork to One Drive (Office 365). We reviewed how to access Office 365 and open a Word document. They practiced typing and changing the font style, size, and color. Then students worked on publishing their narrative writing by typing their stories in Word. They also learned how to insert their own digital pictures from One Drive into the Word document to go with their writing. They began learning how to use spell check by right clicking on a word underlined in red. We are continuing to work on keyboard skills throughout the year. Visit the Second Grade page for some keyboard practice activities. During the second quarter, students learned how to use Brain Pop Jr's Make-A-Map activity to organize ideas and information. They chose a second grade academic topic to learn and gather information about, and then created a digital graphic organizer to show what they learned. During the third quarter, we reviewed graph skills and how to use Graph Club. Students created graphs digitally on various topics. However, instead of only focusing on surveys that ask opinions (like favorite pets), we researched to gather factual data related to the historical figures they were learning about. Students used this data to create a graph and type sentences about the data interpretation. It is important for students to continue to practice using Office 365 to create documents/projects, research topics and organize ideas, and practice keyboard skills.
3rd Grade
This is the big year for research skills! Most of our activities in third grade center around research and typing. They learned how to use Brain Pop's Make-A-Map activity to organize information. They did a MackinVia Scavenger Hunt to get to know the resources available in Cobb Digital Library. They learned how to use appropriate keywords and search strategies to locate information online, and they have practiced researching a variety of 3rd grade topics using digital tools. 3rd Graders know how to access Office 365 and create a Word document. They have practiced typing in Word. Some have used PowerPoint. We are also using Typing.com to practice keyboarding skills. All 3rd graders have Typing.com logins. The goal for 3rd grade is to type at 15 wpm with at least 85% accuracy. At this stage it is more important to develop correct form and accuracy than it is to type fast. Speed will come with practice over time. Visit the Third Grade page for Typing.com login information.
4th Grade
At the beginning of the year, we reviewed signing in to the computer and navigating Office 365. Students learned how to create a PowerPoint with multiple slides and title, text, and image on each slide. They learned how to change the design theme, how to add/delete slides, and how to add transitions. During the second quarter we focused on some coding skills to design a project in Scratch. Students practiced with tutorials and went through a lot of trial and error to get the code right to make animations do what they wanted. We also participated in a build challenge in Minecraft Education Edition. Students continue to practice typing throughout the year using Typing.com. All 4th graders have Typing.com logins. The goal for 4th grade is to type at 20 wpm with at least 85% accuracy (as measured on a typing test). At this stage it is more important to develop correct form and accuracy than it is to type fast. Speed will come with practice over time. Visit the Fourth Grade page for Typing.com login information and coding activities.
5th Grade
At the beginning of the year, we reviewed PowerPoint and learned some new features. Students learned how to share a PowerPoint with a classmate so that they can collaborate and both work on the same PowerPoint together from different computers at the same time. They also learned how to add slide transitions and object animations. Then students participated in a research project on Animal Classification. They used their research to create a PowerPoint showing what they learned. During the 3rd quarter we began a Minecraft group project. We haven't had a chance to finish that yet, but students are very creative in Minecraft and come up with some great ideas. It's a good STEM activity. Students also continue to practice typing throughout the year using Typing.com. All 5th graders have Typing.com logins. The goal for 5th grade is to type at 25 wpm or higher with at least 90% accuracy (as measured on a typing test). It is important for students to continue to practice typing, both in a typing program and also on their own (real-world practice). Visit the Fifth Grade page for Typing.com login information and coding activities.
Kindergarten
Students began their first year of school learning basic mouse skills. They learned the parts of the mouse, how to hold and move the mouse, and the correct button to press to select something. We then moved on to click and drag to move objects from one place to another and to paint. We discussed what the word independent means and learned the skills and procedures they need to become independent on the computer. They learned how to double click on an icon to open a program and basic navigation skills to get to the things we use. Now, they should be able to tell you the steps to open Paint and the steps to get to the computer lab website to choose an online activity. During the 3rd quarter we continued to improve mouse skills while incorporating language arts standards by drawing digital pictures that tell a story in Microsoft Paint. We also began to learn the keyboard and then added text to those pictures. A great activity to practice the basic keys needed to type a complete sentence is Keyboard Zoo 2 on ABCya! Kindergarten students should continue to practice finding the letters on the keyboard and create some digital art with text. Visit the Kindergarten page for some suggested activities.
1st Grade
Students began the year reviewing Microsoft Paint. They learned some new tools to take their digital art to the next level. They created pictures that tell a story and used the text tool to add sentences to their pictures. They also learned how to sign in to the computer, and some students were able to save their pictures to One Drive (Office 365). During the second quarter they learned about tally charts and picture graphs. They surveyed their classmates to collect data in a tally chart and then created digital graphs of the results using Graph Club. Next, we learned how to access Office 365 and open a Word document. Students began learning basic formatting skills to change the font style, size, and color of text. Then they learned how to insert an online picture and rename the file so that they can find it easier the next time they open Office 365. At the time of school closure, students were working on writing about an animal. A great activity for them to continue practicing these skills would be to go to Cobb Digital Library to get to PebbleGo and learn more about their animal. Then add some more sentences to the Word document they already started. It will be saved in their Office 365 accounts. First graders are also continuing to practice keyboard skills throughout the year. Visit the First Grade page for some keyboard practice activities.
2nd Grade
During the first quarter, 2nd graders created digital pictures to go with their narrative writing. They learned how to save their artwork to One Drive (Office 365). We reviewed how to access Office 365 and open a Word document. They practiced typing and changing the font style, size, and color. Then students worked on publishing their narrative writing by typing their stories in Word. They also learned how to insert their own digital pictures from One Drive into the Word document to go with their writing. They began learning how to use spell check by right clicking on a word underlined in red. We are continuing to work on keyboard skills throughout the year. Visit the Second Grade page for some keyboard practice activities. During the second quarter, students learned how to use Brain Pop Jr's Make-A-Map activity to organize ideas and information. They chose a second grade academic topic to learn and gather information about, and then created a digital graphic organizer to show what they learned. During the third quarter, we reviewed graph skills and how to use Graph Club. Students created graphs digitally on various topics. However, instead of only focusing on surveys that ask opinions (like favorite pets), we researched to gather factual data related to the historical figures they were learning about. Students used this data to create a graph and type sentences about the data interpretation. It is important for students to continue to practice using Office 365 to create documents/projects, research topics and organize ideas, and practice keyboard skills.
3rd Grade
This is the big year for research skills! Most of our activities in third grade center around research and typing. They learned how to use Brain Pop's Make-A-Map activity to organize information. They did a MackinVia Scavenger Hunt to get to know the resources available in Cobb Digital Library. They learned how to use appropriate keywords and search strategies to locate information online, and they have practiced researching a variety of 3rd grade topics using digital tools. 3rd Graders know how to access Office 365 and create a Word document. They have practiced typing in Word. Some have used PowerPoint. We are also using Typing.com to practice keyboarding skills. All 3rd graders have Typing.com logins. The goal for 3rd grade is to type at 15 wpm with at least 85% accuracy. At this stage it is more important to develop correct form and accuracy than it is to type fast. Speed will come with practice over time. Visit the Third Grade page for Typing.com login information.
4th Grade
At the beginning of the year, we reviewed signing in to the computer and navigating Office 365. Students learned how to create a PowerPoint with multiple slides and title, text, and image on each slide. They learned how to change the design theme, how to add/delete slides, and how to add transitions. During the second quarter we focused on some coding skills to design a project in Scratch. Students practiced with tutorials and went through a lot of trial and error to get the code right to make animations do what they wanted. We also participated in a build challenge in Minecraft Education Edition. Students continue to practice typing throughout the year using Typing.com. All 4th graders have Typing.com logins. The goal for 4th grade is to type at 20 wpm with at least 85% accuracy (as measured on a typing test). At this stage it is more important to develop correct form and accuracy than it is to type fast. Speed will come with practice over time. Visit the Fourth Grade page for Typing.com login information and coding activities.
5th Grade
At the beginning of the year, we reviewed PowerPoint and learned some new features. Students learned how to share a PowerPoint with a classmate so that they can collaborate and both work on the same PowerPoint together from different computers at the same time. They also learned how to add slide transitions and object animations. Then students participated in a research project on Animal Classification. They used their research to create a PowerPoint showing what they learned. During the 3rd quarter we began a Minecraft group project. We haven't had a chance to finish that yet, but students are very creative in Minecraft and come up with some great ideas. It's a good STEM activity. Students also continue to practice typing throughout the year using Typing.com. All 5th graders have Typing.com logins. The goal for 5th grade is to type at 25 wpm or higher with at least 90% accuracy (as measured on a typing test). It is important for students to continue to practice typing, both in a typing program and also on their own (real-world practice). Visit the Fifth Grade page for Typing.com login information and coding activities.