Category Archives for "Computer Lesson Plans"

How’s the Weather

Appropriate for Grades: 4 up

Overview:

Collect and collate information about the weather in different parts of the world. Present it in a table format.

Activity:

  • Open a word processor .
  • Title the page “World Weather”.
  • Make a table with 5 columns and 7 rows.
  • Select the middle column and remove the top and bottom
  • borders so that you appear to have 2 side by side tables that
  • are aligned.
  • Merge the 1st,2nd and the 4th,5th columns of the first row.
  • Put the name of the cities you are watching.
  • In the 1st and 4th columns, type the following heading below
  • each other. One to each row – min temp. max temp, humidity,
  • wind speed, wind direction.
  • Go to the Internet and login to weather.com.
  • Choose 2 different cities in different hemispheres and read the
  • temperature – min /max, humidity, wind – speed / direction.
  • Insert this data into the tables.
  • Save this file.
  • Repeat this process daily until there is a week of data collected.
  • Compare the results and discuss as a class.
  • Write a paragraph that explains the conclusions the class came
  • to about the weather.
  • Save and print a copy.

 

Resources/Materials Needed:

Software: word processor
Internet: weather.com
Printer, paper

Further ideas, example or comments

New York
Temp Min
1c
Temp Max
10c
Sydney
Temp Min
36c
Temp Max
21c

Poetry to Sit Still For

Appropriate for Grades: 4 up

Overview:

Build a collection of different types of poems. Compile a booklet with an explanation of a type of poetry and an example on each page.

Activity:

  • Start a word processor .
  • Make a title page headed “Poetry Anthology”.
  • Begin a new page
  • Head the page with a type of poetry.
  • Leave a line space.
  • Add a definition / description of the poetry.
  • Leave a line space.
  • Add a poem of choice to illustrate the poetry type.
    •  limerick
    •  alliteration
    •  cinquain
    •  onomatopoeia o couplet
    •  metaphor
    •  haiku
    •  hyperbole
    •  imagery
    •  alliteration
    •  nursery rhyme
  • Repeat the process to complete the anthology.
  • Poems can be collected from books or the Internet. Ensure that
  • they are correctly referenced.

 

Resources/Materials Needed:

Software: word processor
Printer, paper
Poetry websites and books
Collection of poetry styles and definitions

 

Further ideas and comments

Fairytale Doodling

Appropriate for Grades: 1 up

Overview:

Using a graphics program like KidPix, have the student complete a freehand drawing of a fairytale that they are studying. Encourage them to use a range of drawing tools such as the pencil, paintbrush and spray can to illustrate the story characters. This activity not only promotes artistic ability but improves fine motor skills, mouse control and menu / tools recognition.

Activity:

  • Start a graphics program like KidPix.
  • Choose an appropriate color and tool e.g. the pencil set to
  • brown to draw a bear.
  • Draw each of the story characters switching colors where
  • necessary.
  • Add in background and other finer details.
  • Allow the students time to use the drawing tools and complete
  • their pictures.
  • Save and print a copy.

 

Resources/Materials Needed:

  • Software: KidPix, drawing program
  • Printer, paper

 

Further ideas and comments

M&M Heaven

Appropriate for Grades: 3 up

Overview:

This is a popular classroom activity that can be easily adapted to make learning about graphing using a spreadsheet more fun. Give a packet of M&Ms to each group and get them to count the colors and graph them.

Activity:

  • Divide the class into small groups.
  • Give each group a packet of M&Ms.
  • Get the students to divide the M&Ms into color groups.
  • Work out how many in each group.
  • Open a spreadsheet.
  • Title the page.
  • Add columns for colors and number of M&Ms.
  • Enter the results from counting the M&Ms.
  • Select the results and click on the graphing tool.
  • Make a new graph and enlarge it so that the results are
  • clear .
  • Save and print a copy of the M&Ms graph.
  • Eat the M&Ms!

 

Resources/Materials Needed:

  • Software: Spreadsheet / Excel M&Ms
  • Pen, paper
  • Printer, paper

 

Further ideas and comments

Haiku

Appropriate for Grades: 4 up

Overview:

A haiku poem is a poem laid out in the following format: 1st line = 5 syllables, 2nd line = 7 syllables, 3rd line = 5 syllables. This is a good composing exercise if done straight into the computer. You will need an example to show the class.

Activity:

  • Start a word processor .
  • Type the title “Haiku Poem”.
  • Press the Enter key twice to leave a line space.
  • Start the first line of the poem then press Enter to move to the
  • next line.
  • Repeat until all lines are complete.
  • Do a spell check for typing mistakes.
  • Save and print a copy.

 

Resources/Materials Needed:

  • Software: word processor
  • Printer
  • paper

 

Further ideas and comments

All the News worth Printing

Appropriate for Grades: 4 up

Overview:

The students will work in small groups or individually to produce a local community newsletter. They will need to collect relevant articles from local newspapers to rewrite in their own journalistic style.

Activity:

  • Open a Word Processor or desktop publishing program.
  • Using the text tool, make a box for the title/heading
  • Choose the image tool and insert a photograph of a local event.
  • Repeat this process for each photo.
  • Resize the photographs so that they fit into the page properly.
  • Move the photographs so that they sit on the page in a newsletter style of layout.
  • Choose the text tool and drag out a text box in which to type your first story.
  • Repeat this process until the stories are complete.
  • Make a text box under each photograph for a caption explaining what it is showing.
  • Insert another page and repeat the layout by adding more text, photos, images, etc
  • Save and print a copy.

Resources/Materials Needed:

Software: Word Processor or desktop publishing
Printer , paper
Photos, images, stories
Example papers

Further ideas and comments

You could divide up the newsletter into group sections for small group work e.g. one group could do sport, one group could do world news.

Synonym Names

Appropriate for Grades: 3 up

Overview:

In this lesson the students will produce a 1 page poster that contains their name, an acrostic poem and a collection of synonyms.

Activity:

  • Open a word processor .
  • Type the heading ME.
  • Leave a couple of lines space then type the first letter of a name.
  • Press enter to go down to the next line and type the second letter .
  • Repeat this process until all letters of the name have been typed.
  • Using the arrow keys, move back up to next to the first letter
  • and turn the name into an acrostic poem.
  • Move back to the first letter / word again and press the spacebar then a dash then leave a space.
  • Type 3 synonyms for each word in the acrostic.
  • Save and print a copy.

Resources/Materials Needed:

  • Software: word processor
  • Printer, paper • clipart

Further ideas and comments

Students might like to change the colors of the writing and add clipart to their work.
Brave – strong, courageous, hardy Radical – wild, fun, unusual
Attentive – awake, aware, conscientious Deadly – harmful, homicidal, injurious

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