Update from the Lab...

We continue to learn about technology and are exploring many new things in the lab!

Kindergarten: Students continue to learn about the computer through various activities. The students recently visited Starfall.com to reinforce classroom literacy skills and UptoTen.com to practice mouse control and dexterity. They also explored Microsoft Paint and the many tools available as they wrote about and illustrated their favorite thing in Kindergarten. We will continue to work in Microsoft Paint as students write about and illustrate what they are thankful for in anticipation of Thanksgiving.

1st Grade: Students recently completed an illustration of the Water Cycle using Microsoft Paint. They are currently working in Kid Works Deluxe to create an ABC book and focusing on using the Shift key, Space bar, period key and enter properly.

2nd Grade: Students completed a project about the Plant/Flower Life Cycle using Microsoft Paint and PowerPoint. Their slide shows include timed transitions of each step in the process to simulate plant growth. In addition to the slide show, students also created a Venn Diagram comparing Fiction and Nonfiction.

3rd Grade: Students are in the process of completing their Spelling Sentences in Microsoft Word. Using spelling words, students wrote sentences to demonstrate their understanding of the word meanings. In addition to practicing literacy skills, students used various formatting tools in Word including the alignment, font, text color and line spacing.

4th Grade: Students have been working in Microsoft Word to practice keyboarding and story writing. They had the opportunity to play musical chairs and collectively write a creative story. By rotating seats, students contributed to seven different stories in the lab. They will continue the writing process by editing and revising the stories.

5th Grade: Students recently finished using Microsoft Publisher to create Posters advertising the upcoming 5th grade music production of Santa's Stuck in the 50's. Currently, students are working in pairs to learn about Lewis and Clark with a Scholastic online activity. Students have read a variety of material and will create a News Report or Journal entry from the perspective of a person in the early 1800's.

Beginning the new school year...

The year is off to a great start! It is wonderful to see all of the students back from summer break and ready to continue learning and growing at Pioneer Ridge Elementary.

Here are just a few of the activities we are beginning or working on in the lab:

Kindergarten: Students are learning about the computer lab and how to properly use the mouse by using the Up to Ten and Starfall web-based programs.

1st Grade: Students are creating self-portraits using Kid Pix Deluxe 3. They will begin reading stories in Starfall soon!

2nd Grade: Students reviewed the parts of the computer and are creating an illustration of their computer station using Microsoft Paint. They will also begin using Turbo Math Facts soon and we will be starting a big project mid-September.

3rd Grade: Students reviewed parts of the computer and played Turbo Math Facts. The students will begin learning about proper keyboarding techniques and will begin using Type to Learn 3 to practice their keyboarding skills.

4th and 5th Grade: Students have been setting up their personal computer stations! The fourth and fifth graders have been practicing logging on and off with their student usernames. In addition, the students selected personal desktop backgrounds and learned about file organization by creating files and folders followed by moving files in and out of folders. The students will begin practicing their keyboarding skills using Type to Learn 3 and play Turbo Math Facts in the coming weeks.

Looking forward to a new school year...

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer break and spending time outdoors with family and friends as well as reading some great books!

I am looking forward to starting a new year in the lab in August and working with the students on creating exciting projects on the computer and to learn more about technology.

Current Class Activities and Projects:

Each class and grade level is working on an exciting activity in the lab. We encourage you to come check us out while we are working with technology!

Kindergarten: Students have been working on Starfall and the Bailey's Book House program where they have been participating in a variety of language arts related activities such as rhyming, position words, reading, and writing.

1st Grade: Students just completed their creation of class slideshow and a page for a planets and space book. They will continue working on Trudy's Time and Place which is a program to practice time and measurement.

2nd Grade: Students recently created bookmarks in Word with information about the book, "How to Get a Gorilla Out of Your Bathtub," by John Hall. Students are now conducting research about presidents and the coins they appear on to write their very own research report!

3rd Grade: Students are working on the end of year research project. With a partner, they researched a person in history using resources in the library and computer lab. Now that the research is complete, each student is creating a Newsletter in publisher about their person.

4th Grade: Students are working on the end of year research project. They researched a state. The research process took place in both the library and computer lab to ensure students were exposed to a variety of sources. Now that the research is complete, each student is creating a PowerPoint Slideshow about their state.

5th Grade: Students are working on the end of year research project. They researched a country. The research process took place in both the library and computer lab to ensure students were exposed to a variety of sources. Now that the research is complete, each student is creating a PowerPoint Slideshow about their country.