In first grade this week we worked hard to finish up our farm pictures...but not before adding a final detail to them--an attention box! Since by the time we had computer class together again the children had already been on their field trip to the Southern Belle Farm, we took the opportunity to add a section to our pictures where we could document our favorite part of the trip. We talked about the techniques that authors, illustrators, and web designers use to get their audience's attention (using bold colors, adding shapes around the information, using large font, etc.), and we tried out those strategies in our farm pictures. Here are a couple of examples of some finished work:
Notice how Alex used a bright blue box to draw attention to her favorite part of the trip--the hayride!
Laura decided to use spiky callout boxes to draw the reader's eye to what she enjoyed best--taking home a pumpkin!
We celebrated "pattern day" (a Mrs. Bullock-coined term) in two of the second grade classes this week. Did you notice that Thursday was October 11, 2012...otherwise known as 10/11/12? We thought that was such a cool numerical pattern that we traveled around the Lower School in search of additional patterns. We used our four Tuff Cams (like the one pictured here) and snapped photos in groups of four or five students. During our next class, we'll work to edit and annotate our photos using the application, Preview.
In third grade this week, we began using our Writers! A "Writer" is a portable keyboarding device that is checked out to our third grade students each year. The children use them to practice their typing skills in preparation for the fourth and fifth grade laptop program. Every third grader is expected to complete level one on the device, which requires them to pass 116 keyboarding lessons. Getting acquainted with the Writer and building good keyboarding habits such as proper posture and finger placement are tough skills, but our third graders always experience great success! Writer lessons are completed at school at the discretion of the classroom teacher.
Should your child be interested in practicing his or her keyboarding skills at home, I recommend the following online resources:
Level One of Dance Mat Typing
Keyman Game (like PacMan)
Keyboard Revolution (use the arrows to select a lesson)
Typing Learning Games for Kids (numerous activities)
Keyman Game (like PacMan)
Keyboard Revolution (use the arrows to select a lesson)
Typing Learning Games for Kids (numerous activities)