Topic:
Using internet in the classroom
Grade level:
6-8
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
• Select a website of their preference to practice their reading skills and improve their vocabulary.
• Identify the most important vocabulary connected with internet.
• Put into practice safe “cyberspace surfing” skills.
• Identify good and bad habits for working with computers.
• Participate in discussion threads in Ms. Arraras’ school website, using good writing.
• Open an e-mail account and use it to submit their assignments and check their teacher’s corrections.
• Understand the basics of online word processors.
Part 1: Vocabulary
Online Tool:
Online Dictionaries
URL:
Longman
http://www.ldoceonline.com/
Oxford
http://www.oup.com/elt/catalogue/teachersites/oald7/lookup?cc=global
Merriam Webster
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Task or Activity:
Students will find terminology connected to the internet in the following text:
Concise guide to the internet– http://www.safekids.com/primer.htm
Then, they will use the online dictionaries to find out exactly what those words mean, and they will create their own mini-glossaries. These glossaries can be created with Microsoft Word, or if the students do not know how to use Word, they can handwrite them. The product has to be turned in to the teacher.
Part 2: Reading
Online Tool:
Posting to a forum; taking an online quiz
URL:
Reading materials:
1. Concise guide to the internet– http://www.safekids.com/primer.htm
2. Safe Cyberspace Surfing - http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/internet_safety.html
3. Computers can be a real pain - http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/k_ergonomics.html
Pamela Arraras’ forum: (will update when the forum’s created) http://schoolcenter.gcsnc.com/education/components/forum/default.php?sectiondetailid=129324
Web author to create the quiz: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/larrc/webauthor.html
Task or Activity:
Students will read the first of the reading materials and will have to post to the teacher’s forum. The questions they will have to discuss will be: What is the internet? Why is it useful (or not) for students to know how to use it?
Then, they will read the other two texts and will take a small yes/no quiz (done with WebAuthor), which they will have to e-mail to the teacher
Part 3: Writing
Online Tool:
Online word processor, e-mail account (optional)
URL:
Word processor:
http://www.Thinkfree.com
Task or Activity:
Students will read the Scholastic writing guide at http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/communicator.htm, and then use their online word processor accounts to write the answer to the following question: How can this website help you improve your writing skills? Mention at least 3 things, and support your opinion with examples from the website or from your experience. Remember to use good spelling, capitalization and punctuation. The file will have to be be printed or e-mailed to the teacher.
Part 4: Assessing
Online Tool:
Crossword puzzle creator; Book report maker, Online readers.
URL:
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/crossword/
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/sandwich.asp
Observable outcomes
Students will have to pick something to read from one of the following sites:
1. www.eslreading.org – Stories:
The Marble Finger http://www.eslreading.org/ghost/marblefinger.pdf
The Body Snatchers http://eslreading.org/bodysnatcher.pdf
The Signalman http://www.eslreading.org/Signalman.pdf
Monkey flies economy class http://www.eslreading.org/strange/strange/monkeyflies.html
Raining cows http://www.eslreading.org/strange/strange/rainingcows.html
Perfect Pet? http://www.eslreading.org/strange/strange/perfectpets.html
2. www.funbrain.com
Diary of a Wimpy Kid http://www.funbrain.com/journal/Journal.html?ThisJournalDay=1&ThisPage=1
Comic “On the Rocks” http://www.funbrain.com/comics/comic_ontherocks.html
After that, they will have to use the book report maker to write about the story they have read.
Finally, they will have to use the vocabulary from their glossaries to create a crossword using the crossword puzzle creator.
