C U R R I C U L U M
In 7th and 8th grades, middle school students attend
computer class twice in a ten-day block cycle for one
semester. Students learn skills to use and value the
computer as a learning tool through various
interdisciplinary projects in conjunction with their
academic coursework. They use computers to become seekers,
navigators, evaluators, critical thinkers, analyzers, and
selectors of information. In addition, they work toward
being effective communicators, publishers of knowledge, and
responsible citizens in a technological age.
In the process, they learn basic keyboarding
techniques, some computer terminology, and the general care
and usage of the computer. Using the computer as a tool for
accessing information, they conduct research using the
information resources available, including CD’s and the
Internet. They learn how to use various peripheral devices,
including a digital camera, scanner, and recorder to create
multi-medial productions. To create and publish their work,
they use a variety of programs, including Word,
Publisher, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, FrontPage,
PhotoEditor, Print Shop Deluxe, and
KidPix.
Elective courses in computer include Computer Creations
and Photography. |
S T U D E N T P R O J E
C T S !
 | Louisiana
Storybooks: Students select a
storybook character, gather information on Louisiana,
and let their creative juices flow to write an original
story as a class. |
|
Castle
Pages: Students drew a large
castle, then took close-up pictures and wrote about the
stories and characters from The Sword and the
Circle. |
| Maycomb
Maps:
Students mapped out Maycomb County, the setting of To
Kill a Mockingbird, then took digital pictures of
sections of the map and inserted quotes from the book
to go with their picture. |
| Vocabulaire/Vocabulario: Students
bring their French/Spanish vocabulary to life using PowerPoint so they
can see and hear their new words. A comprehensive class set for
each language is burned to CD for yearlong study. |
| Tessellations:
The students created tessellations using the program, TesselMania!
(They used these tessellations for their vocabulary CD cover.) |
| Oreo
Project: Students
test the hypothesis that "A kid'll eat the middle
of the Oreo® first and save the chocolate
cookie outside for last." |
| Anti-Drug
Ads: Students
produce anti-drug ads, complete with sound and
animation, from information learned in drug education. |
| Dauphin
Island Poetry: Students
reflect on their 8th grade trip to Dauphin Island, then
write poems and add images they've edited with artistic
effects. |
| Renaissance
Projects: Students
present information from their research projects. |
| Graduation Slide Show:
Students scan in
"baby" and current pictures, and add music to
create a slide show of memories of their class. |
|
