Computer Class Update:  Week 29

Another busy week in computer class.  I think we have finally turned the corner and entered into Spring.  It was nice to see and meet some of you at the Share the Specials on last Tuesday night.

Now for your update:  Here is what we have been up to and what we have been doing the week of
May 20...

First Grade
Project #9:  Staying Safe Online/Project #10:  Tumblebooks via the Portage District library
The first graders reviewed our website traffic light:  Green means good.  It is a great site for kids your age to visit.  Yellow means caution.  A site you are not sure is right for you.  Red means stop.  A site that is not right for you.  I played the game Red Light Green Light with the students asking them questions about is this a green, yellow, or red site.  They love it!  We also had a chance to revisit the Portage District Library site and look at Tumblebooks.  Below is the website that goes directly to the Tumblebooks. http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp.  The students seem to love finding different stories to listen too.  Next week, we will  begin our last project called Presentation of the Seasons.  Students will learn how to use PowerPoint to create a presentation about the four seasons.

Online practice:  http://www.scootpad.com/
When students finish their assignments, I continue to have them work on scootpad.com to practice their reading and math skills.  This is a great website, you are welcome to work on it at home.

Second Grade
Project #8:  Google Earth
The second graders continued working on their Google Earth Moon Journal on Google Docs.  We were able to comment on each other's journal entries and stories.  Next week, we will celebrate that our stories are done with playing a trip to the moon.  Also, we will start a new project called Pet Survey.  Students will use Google Spreadsheets to collect data from their classmates.

Third Grade
Project #7:  Fractured Faiy Tales
The third graders began reading and fracturing fairy tales using this tool:
http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/games-tools/fractured-fairy-tales-a-30186.html
Students listened online to The True Story of the Three Little Pigs told by the Wolf.  Then, we  did a Venn Diagram and compared similarities and differences between The Three Little Pigs and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.  Finally, we also discussed how changing one element like character, conflict, resolution or setting can change or fracture the story.  Next week, we will work on creating their stories in Google Docs.

Fourth Grade
Project # 6:  Taking Care of God's World-Pollution:  Cause and Effect
The fourth graders continued researching cause and effect of various types of pollution and write a research document explaining their findings.  The students were able to choose between 5 different topics:  Water Pollution, Air Pollution, Trash, Land Pollution, and Chemical Dumping.  The website below are the ones we started to use:

http://www.epa.gov/students/homework.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/KidsInfoBits?vrsn=127&locID=lom_accessmich&ste=1

Next week, students will finish researching their report and start writing it in Google Docs.

Fifth Grade
Project #7:  Our United States
The fifth graders reviewed MS Excel Formula and Function Review Sheet together.  Next week, we will be working on sorting in MS Excel.

Typing:  Second-Fifth
We are also working on our typing skills.  I am stressing to the students the importance of using the correct fingers while typing.  This has been a bit of a challenge for several students.  If they have a chance, they may practice at home.
Please check out the Typing Practice Tab online resources that you can use to practice their typing at home as well.

If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Have a wonderful weekend!