Computer Skills Curriculum

Paper Writing by Word Processor

Title: Hurricanes

Other Curriculum Objectives that can be addressed by this lesson plan
English Language Arts: 1.1, 2.1, 2.3; Computer Skills: (Gr. 7) 2.1; Information Skills 1.4, 1.5; Science (Gr. 7) 2.4, 5.2

Grade: 7

Competency 2.1: Identify terms related to computer-generated productions (e.g., desktop publishing, WYSIWYG, clip art, hypertext, multimedia, laserdisc, CD-ROM, VCR, scanners, camcorders).

Measure 2.1.2: Given a report topic, use a word processing program to write a paper describing ways a computer could be used to create and present the report.

Materials Needed: Computers with word processing software and printer.

Time: Two, 45 minute sessions in class; two to three sessions in the computer lab; additional time for research for reports.

Terms: desktop publishing, clip art, hypertext, multimedia, laserdisc, CD-ROM, VCR, camcorders

Glossary

Activities

Pre-Activities:

    With the Media Professional:

  • Identify and locate appropriate resources for the reports.
  • Assign various roles to the media professional and the classroom teacher to work with the students.
  • Develop a mutually convenient timeline to carry out the activities.

    With the Students:

  1. Teach the lesson, Production Time, before beginning the activities in this lesson.
  2. Provide an overview of the lesson activities.
  3. Divide the students into cooperative groups of 3-5 students.

Activity 1:

  1. As a class, discuss different ways that reports can be created and presented to others. This should include formats that students have used in the past as well as ones that they only know about (but haven't used).
  2. Assign cooperative teams a specified piece of equipment (i.e., laserdisc, CD-ROM, scanner, etc.). The team should discuss ways that this equipment could be used to help create or present a report.
  3. Each cooperative team should present the piece of equipment to the class.

Activity 2:

  1. Tell students that they will now have the opportunity to create their "dream report."
  2. Assign students the topic "Hurricanes."
  3. Have students think about this topic and ways that they could create and present the information.
  4. Provide time for students to begin an outline or draft of a paper describing the ways they could create and present a report on hurricanes using computers.

Follow-up/Extension:

Do a report on hurricanes or some other weather phenomenon, using some of the computer-generated production techniques available.

Measure

Students are given the topic "Hurricanes." Students use a word processing program to write a paper describing how they could create and present a report about hurricanes using a computer.