Jean Alston Reese
Subjects:  Computer technology and a student recall of their Math, Spelling, Social Studies and Reading lessons for the week.
Bogue Sound Elementary
May, 2001

Brief Description:  This lesson is designed to get each student to create his/her own ìClass Newsletterî that will reflect on the previous week.  A short paragraph and a picture about what the student has been studying in Math, Spelling, Social Studies, and Reading should be included.

Approximate Time Required:  Two sessions.........each session lasting about one hour each.

NC Standard Course of Study Goals and Objectives:
Math:
4.01  Collect, sort, organize, and display information in charts, graphs, and tables and do correct labeling.
Reading/Language Arts:
2.2  Represents with appropriate letters all the sounds of a word when writing.
2.4  Plans and makes judgments about what to include in written products.
2.6  Given help with organization, writes structured, informative presentations and narratives.
Computer Technology:
1.4  Identify print and electronic databases as ways to collect, organize, and display data.
 2.3  Use correct finger placement for home row keys.
 2.4  Use word processing to enter, save, print and retrieve text.
 2.7  Identify and use electronic drawing tools to combine graphics and text.

Teacher's Lesson Goals/Objectives:
The student will learn to create his/her own newsletter on the computer and include illustrations.  The student will also show evidence of using word processing by entering, saving, printing and retrieving text.

Materials/Resources Needed:

• ClarisWorks for Kids on the computer
• Smartboard and projection system

Pre activities:
1.  Student will need to know what Math skills, Spelling skills, Social Studies skills and Reading skills have been stressed for the week.
2.  Student will need some knowledge of ClarisWorks for Kids computer program.
3.  Student will have already practiced Kid Keys to help with writing paragraphs.

Activities:

First Lesson
1.  Teacher will begin lesson by brainstorming with students about what to write about.
2.  Teacher will use the Smartboard in computer lab to show students how to find ClarisWorks for Kids, then click on Activity Folder. Under Activity Folder  the student will go to Desktop Publishing and then Newsletter 1.  Teacher will also demonstrate on Smartboard how to illustrate the newsletter. The teacher should model a complete newsletter for students to see.
3.  The students will then begin to create his/her own newsletter. The teacher will remind students what main topics should be included.  Paragraphs should be written before the illustrations are drawn.
4.  The teacher will show students on the Smartboard how to save their work so that the newsletter may be completed during the next lesson.

 NOTE:  IF A SMARTBOARD IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE TEACHER 
 SHOULD INSTRUCT THE STUDENTS IN THE MANNER THAT IS
 NORMALLY USED TO PRESENT COMPUTER SKILLS.

Second Lesson:
1.  The teacher shows/tells students how to retrieve their newsletter.
2.  The teacher will do a brief review of the last lesson.
3.  Students continue with newsletter by completing any unfinished paragraphs and doing their illustrations.
4.  Students will print newsletter when completed.
5.  Teacher gets students to summarize orally the steps taken in creating the newsletter.

Assessment:
Informal observation by the teacher will help the teacher see which students are having trouble.  The student's printed paragraphs and drawings will be used to assess each student. The printed paragraphs will show evidence of word processing knowledge and use of saving and retrieving text.

Teacher note:
I have used this activity twice during the school year.  It works great as a newsletter activity that is primarily seasonal based and also as a regular newsletter that just correlates to the weekly units of study.

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