Grade2_2007

__September 4-September 10__ Students were introduced to the computer lab. They participated in the creation of rules for working with the computers and when going online. Students also completed a KWL chart, which assessed their prior knowledge of computers and created goals for their learning during the coming year.



__September 11-September 17__ Students are shown the AlphaSmarts and given a brief introduction to typing correctly. They are given class time to practice using the AlphaSmarts and begin to understand the Home Row keys.

__September 18-September 21__ In their regular classroom, students are working on the unit My Classroom. Students were given a brief introduction to MS Paint and then used that program to create a map of their ideal classroom. Students had to include certain elements in their maps; these elements were provided by their classroom teachers in English, French, and Spanish.

__September 24-September 28__ Students began the unit on Weather in their regular classrooms. In the computer lab, students were given an introduction to MS Word; they learned how to bold and underline words, use clipart, and make use of tables. Using these skills, they wrote a short paragraph about something that is important to them. Later in the Weather unit, they will use these skills to share their research with the rest of the class.

__October 1-October 12__ Students were given an introduction to researching using Encyclopedia Britannica. They then used Encyclopedia Britannica Online to research their chosen Weather topic. Students also used learning activities in the encyclopedia to practice identifying weather tools and their uses.

__October 15-November 9__ Students were given a lesson in keyboarding skills and worked on these skills with the program TuxType, as well as several online typing games.

__November 12-November 20__ Students will finish their unit on Weather by playing the [|Wild Weather Adventure] game, which challenges them to recall important facts about weather and the environment.

__November 26-December 14__ Students received an introduction to the program Microsoft Publisher. Students then used their skills in formatting and design to create friendship cards, which they gave to someone that really meant a lot to them. This tied in very nicely with the current unit of inquiry, Let's Be Friends.

__January 7-January 25__ Students were introduced to the program [|TuxPaint], which is a free and open source image program designed for young students. After the introduction, students used the program to create a map of their bedroom, which tied in to their Me on the Map unit.

__January 28 - February 8__ Students were introduced to the program Audacity. They used the program to record themselves discussing the artwork they created in Art class about celebrations, including discussing their ideas about color choice as well as what that celebration meant to them. Some students recorded themselves speaking in French, Spanish, or Dutch as well as English.

__February 11-February 29__ Students will using Microsoft Word to create title pages for stories they have written in their English classes. Students will be practicing how to change the font style, size, color and layout, as well as adding and manipulating images.

__March 3-March 7__ Students reflected on what they have done in IT during the year, including their strengths and weaknesses with the technology as well as what they would like to continue working on.

__March 10-March 21__ Students worked on their typing skills; they chose typing activities to work on their typing accuracy and speed.

__April 1-May 2__ Students were given an introduction to PowerPoint by creating presentations about themselves. Some students then used this knowledge to create PowerPoint presentations about their Life Cycles topics to share with the class and their parents.

__May 5-May 16__ Students worked on their typing skills; they chose typing activities to work on their typing accuracy and speed.

__May 19-June 10__ Students will explore story-telling websites to interact with material that supports their Playing with Language unit. If time permits, students will create and illustrate their own story.