Computer Skills Curriculum


Cutting and Pasting

Title: NC and the American Revolution, Lesson 2

Other Curriculum Objectives that can be addressed by this lesson plan
English Language Arts: 1.1, 2.1, 2.3; Computer Skills: (Gr. 8) 2.1; Information Skills 1.4, 1.5; Social Studies (Gr. 8) 4.5

Grade: 8

Competency 2.1: Revise word processed text to be a simple desktop published document.

Measure 2.1.2: Given a word processed file and a collection of clip art, rearrange the text to 'paste' the clip art selections, either by computer or by paper and tape/glue.

Materials Needed: Research materials on the American Revolution; maps; computers with word processing software and printer; graphics package (i.e., MacPaint, MacDraw, ClarisWorks, Microsoft Works); clip art (on computer disk or print); student reports from NC and the American Revolution, Lesson 1.

Time: One, 45 minute session in class; two sessions in the computer lab; one session in the media center.

Terms: desktop publishing, fonts, styles, graphics, clip art

Glossary

Activities

Pre-Activities:

    Teacher Preparation:

  • Obtain clip art and a graphics package (if available) for student use.
  • Become familiar with the graphics package that students will use.
  • Become familiar with the process of "pasting" clip art into a word processing document.

    With the Media Professional:

  • Review lesson plans.
  • Identify appropriate resources for students to obtain maps for locating battles in NC.
  • Provide a time for students to review, copy, and/or check out resources.

    With the Students:

  1. Provide an overview of the activities.
  2. Teach lesson entitled NC and the American Revolution, Lesson 1.
  3. Demonstrate/review the use of a graphics package.
  4. Demonstrate and review how to "paste" a graphic into a word processing document (or how to format a document to make space for a printed picture that will be taped/glued into the document).
  5. Provide students an opportunity to use a graphics package and to "paste" clip art into a word processing document.

Activity:

  • Tell students that they will be desktop publishing their American Revolution papers.
  • Each group is to draw (by hand or using a graphics package) an appropriate map showing the location of the battle that they researched.
  • Students should also identify appropriate clip art for their reports or make a drawing.

Measure

Students should load their research projects into the word processor. Students should add a map and appropriate clip art using their word processing package or rearrange text so that they can "paste" printed copies of the map and clip art by hand. Students should be given the opportunity to print a final copy of their reports or photocopy reports that were cut and pasted by hand.