Computer Lab Spotlight January - May and Special Awards

Computer Lab January - May Spotlight and Special Awards

 

Special Awards for 2012-13

NETS Achievement Award recognizes classes that continuously work to show or seek to show implementation of the student and teacher ISTE National Education Technology Standards.

2012-13 NETS Achievement Award - Ms. Durham's K and Ms. Thacker's 1st Grade

The Research Adventure Award recognizes the class or classes that have made great efforts to utilize their computer lab time for research on class topics.

2012-13 Research Adventure Award - Ms. Williamson's 2nd Grade and 4th Grade (Ms. Allen, Ms. Fletcher, Ms. Freeman, and Ms. Spradlin)

 

The Friends of the Lab Award recognizes the class or classes that have continuously had the Best Behavior and Computer Lab Procedures (voice level, tidiness, shutting down computers (as applicable), etc.) to help ensure a productive environment for all lab participants.

Friends of the Lab Award - Ms. Mitchell's K, Mrs. Williamson's 2nd Grade, and Ms. Byrd

January - May Superior Status Spotlight 

Kindergarten 

Durham - Math Talk is an activity included with computer time; students are asked to login by themselves 

1st Grade 

Thacker - The class ambassadors help students that are having trouble logging in and getting to websites; differentiation and self-selection continuously utilized 

Sutton - helpers assist students needing assistance Fleming- students asked to login 

2nd Grade

Williamson – utilized a plan B when their  1st computer activity did not go as planned

3rd Grade

Cagle – high productivity on self-directed activity (Careers Research for Counselor)

4th Grade

Allen – participating in collaborative 4th Grade research

Fletcher  – participating in collaborative 4th Grade research

Spradlin – participating in collaborative 4th Grade research

Vanpatter/Freeman  – participating in collaborative 4th Grade research

5th Grade
Thomas - graduation committee members attended most often and stayed committed to completing Graduation Slide Show 

Mapping in the Classroom May 2013

What Is ArcGIS and Google Earth?

Esri's ArcGIS is a geographic information system (GIS) for working with maps and geographic information. It is used for: creating and using maps . . . (-Wikipedia)

                                                                                                                       
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program . . . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery . . . (-Wikipedia)

Mapping  Steps (Arcgis.com Example)

____ Go to arcgis.com > login: keypworkshop > password: kingeast

____ Mark a point (add descriptions (example: name, date, location, details)

____ Type your location in the search bar (example: Little Rock, Arkansas or 905 Dr. M. L. King Jr. Dr., Little Rock, AR)

____ Add a basemap (add layers)

____ Create an edible layer to draw features on the map (display descriptive text, images, and charts for map features)

____ Save and share your map

____ Visit www.eastatking.blogspot.com for website links, additional tutorials and ideas about mapping.

What to map:

___Your house                       

 ___Historical Location                      

___A State Capitol

___Your school                      

 ___Other _____________                

Additional Resources:

(Check Back Soon)

Google Sketchup in the Classroom May 2013

 

What Is Google Sketchup?

SketchUp (also known as Trimble SketchUp) is a 3D modeling program for a broad range of applications such as architectural, civil, mechanical,  . . . (-Wikipedia)

Google SketchUp Steps

1.       ____ Locate or Download Google Sketchup (free version not Pro) at http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/download/gsu.html

2.       ____ Once downloaded >Choose a template (if asked) and click start using Google Sketchup

Things to do in Sketchup:

1.       ____See the quick reference card and locate and try the Sketchup tools: http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=116693  and/or use the self-paced tutorial: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=901231215767ef7a545172f70efed474 .

2.       ____ Locate 3D Models

a.       Click File

b.      Click 3D Warehouse

c.       Click Get Models

d.      Type keywords into the search bar (example: names of geometric shapes, animals, habitats, famous people/buildings/characters, or common names: doctor, house, etc.)

e.      Select the model and click download

f.        Use the SketchUp tools to position, size, and/or make other changes to the model.

g.       Select and download other models (as time allows)

3.       ____ Search the 3D Warehouse for the self-paced tutorials on how to draw your own 3D model ___ (example: a flower, a house, a car, etc.) in Google SketchUp.

4.      ____ Visit www.eastatking.blogspot.com for website links, additional tutorials and ideas about Sketchup.

 

Additional Resources:

 Check Back Soon

The 4th Grade Research Paper Adventure (or Your Grade)

I've had the pleasure of seeing quite a few classes attempt research and reporting recently.  We attempt research quite often in EAST, but we complete tasks in very small steps, over quite a few class periods, and in small rotating groups.  The steps include: 

(1) selecting and recording a website/page on your topic (hopefully with some recommendations/suggestions from me).

(2) reading at least one paragraph, selecting and recording one important or attention getting fact (I ask them should they quote or paraphrase the fact; at this point, they get to choose, and we use notecards with name on one line, topic on one line, the fact follows, and the website is listed on the back of the notecard).

(3) typing this fact into a report template.  They also select a photograph previously saved to include in the report template (later students may be asked again about quoting or paraphrasing their fact on their final draft).

A few years ago, during a Summer Institute with the Little Rock Writing Project, I remember wanting to search for a way to help students with research.  Well, I am still searching, but I did modify the KWL Strategy to KWPSL with P for telling the purpose/why for the research and S for listing the Source.  This has helped some in directing students, but we still have a long way to go. Another point that was made during the institute is that teachers don't have to always grade for everything on each writing assignment.  Of course, students write the full assignment but you can tell them that you will be grade for ____ this time and ___ the next time (examples: main idea, format, etc.)  With this in mind, I thought I would see what resources I could find that may help in research/writing efforts (student and teacher effort) and here is what I found:

Informative Edutopia Article
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/elementary-research-mary-beth-hertz

Ten Ideas to Get Kids Writing
http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/nwp/ten-ideas.html

Lessons/Activities
Report Writing Made Easy Grades 2 - 5

Unit of Study Informational Writing


Other
2nd Grade http://www.mybookezz.com/lookup.php?q=2nd+grade+research+paper+format
3rd Grade http://www.mybookezz.com/lookup.php?q=3rd+grade+research+paper+format
4th Grade http://www.mybookezz.com/4th-grade-research-paper-format/
5th Grade http://www.mybookezz.com/lookup.php?q=5th+grade+research+paper+format