Rolling Study Halls, etc.

Whether you are forced to endure long school bus rides or not (don't forget those long bus rides to athletic events!), here's an idea to think about. Read this article and think about whether EK should try something like this. For a better idea of how this whole things works, here's another article about rolling study halls. After you read both articles, come back here and leave comments about whether rolling study halls are something we should consider at our school. Also, what other places or situations come to mind that might benefit from WiFi?  What would be positive aspects and what would be negative outcomes of having Internet access in these places?

 

Photo by: Twix

8th Grade: Could you survive 24 hours unplugged?

                                                                                                photo from FeaturePics

What would it be like for you to go 24 hours without any type of media?  That means you would give up your:
cell phone
iPod
television
car radio
magazines
newspapers
computer
Xbox360
No texting, no music, no IMing, no Facebook, no video games. 

Could you do it?  Would it be possible?  What do you think would happen?  What would you miss the most? What would you do instead?  What are your thoughts about this? How successful would our class be if I gave you the assignment to go 24 hours without media?

5th & 6th grade: Internet Vocabulary

Below are some key words and phrases that will help us speak the language of the Internet. Even though you think you know them all, be sure that you can really define them.

Directions for assignment

1. Open a new Word document and type in the header as you have been taught.

2. Do a Save As and title the document "Internet Words." 

3. Type the Internet vocabulary words in bold type just the way you see them below. Don't forget to number them and be careful to spell each word or phrase correctly.  All words should be justified to the left margin.  

4. Under each vocabulary word, correctly type the definition of the word or term. 

5. Print out the completed list.

1. Address/URL  

The place where a Web site lives on the Internet.

2. Address bar/Location bar
The space on the top of your Internet screen where you type in a Web address.

3. Browser

The software program that lets you view what's on the Internet.

Examples: Internet Explorer and Firefox

4. Home page
The first page of a Web site OR
The page that appears when you open your browser.

 5. Password

The top secret word that let's you into your computer, OR your e-mail, OR sites for members only.

6. Refresh
The button you click on to reload the Web page you have been using. This updates the information on the page.
7. Search engine
An online program designed to search for information on the World Wide Web.

8. Bookmark/Favorites 

The way you save the address to a Web site so you can get back to it quickly without typing in the address again.

9. Link
Text or image you can click on to open a new page.
10. Back button
The button you click on to return to the Web page you just left.
11. Cyberspace
  The invisible space that connects all the computer networks in the world. 

12. Surfing the Internet
Exploring the Internet by going from place to place without having a specific destination in mind.
13. Internet
The huge computer network that allows computers all over the world to communicate with each other.
14. Cookie

A short line of text that a web site puts in your computer when you access that site.

After you finish typing the vocabulary words and definitions, explore the web sites below and complete the form that you will be given for this part of the assignment.  Refer to the defintions you just completed if you need help answering some of the questions.

Kids Know It Network  

Educational Web sites- be sure you scroll all the way down the page to see all the topics you can explore.

KidsClick! 

Web search for students

Fact Monster 

Another search site for students

5th & 6th Grade Web Site Review

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Here are three Web sites I want you to visit.   
Just click on each title below to get to the site by that name.
Spend 15 minutes on each site and find out what's on each site.
Play the games and watch the videos that you will find there.  
In a gmail message to me, type the title of each site, give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down rating, and give two reasons why you rated that site that way.

OBAMA'S DOG

PHOTOGRAPHY FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC


APLUSMATH

8th Grade: Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Photo by ronnie44052

 

When you use a photo that someone else took, you must give credit to the photographer.  You must also be sure that you take the photo from a site that gives you permission to use that photo.  

I took the photo above from Flickr, a Web site with millions of photos that are licensed under Creative Commons for reuse.  Please note that the photographer's name is a link back to the Flickr page where the photo is available.  I will show you how to do that in class.

5th & 6th Grade Typing Games

Hello to all of you who have finished the Typing Pal Online exercises!  If you have finished all the typing lessons, taken the final test, and turned your final log into Mrs. Mac, then you can check out the links below to find more typing games and exercises.  There's quite a variety to choose from, so have fun trying out several of them.  Be sure to read the directions before you start!

• TypeDown
• Only Typing Games
• Free Typing Games  
• Funschools - Super Hyper Spider Typer 
• Free Typing Test 
• Typing practice

Current Tech News: Texting Can Hurt

While we have been discussing wonderful new developments in technology, we should be aware that our favorite "gadgets" can bring us problems as well as fun and enjoyment .  It's no secret that teens love to use their cell phones to send lots of text messages to their friends and family.  Click here to watch a current news item about a potential text messaging hazard and read the accompanying article Teen Gets Carpal Tunnel from Texting to learn more about the problem.


Return here to find out what exactly is "carpal tunnel syndrome?"  Watch this video for a clear explanation of this painful condition.



How many text messages do you send a day? week?  month?  Do you know someone (no names, please) who sends as many text messages a week as Annie Levitz does?  

Leave your comments regarding your reaction to this current tech issue.

8th Grade: Blogs for you to explore

Below are links to six very different blogs that I want you to explore and then answer the questions about them. 

You should spend at least 10 minutes on each blog  and then answer the following questions.  I expect complete answers to the questions so don't rush through this exercise! 

Type your answers in a gmail message to me, and use the subject line exploring blogs.
  

1. What is the title of each blog?
2. What is the date of the most recent post (entry)?
3. What is the blogger's name if you can locate it? (hint: look for blogger's profile)
4. What is the date of the blog's first post? (hint: check the blog's archives)
5. What is the overall purpose of the blog?

The blogs:

Winfield City Schools Pirate Blog 

The It's My Life Blog

Today I Saw

One Hungry Chef

Faces In Places

Traumador The Tyrannosaur

Video: Online Scam

"Operation Pfish Pfry"

The CNN video below showed up in my news reader last fall ago. It's a timely example of a downside of the Internet, one we should all be able to recognize and guard against. Watching and discussing the video with your students will help to reinforce the constant need for online vigilance.

5th & 6th grades: Cybersafety

We have been discussing many ideas for keeping yourself safe while using the Internet.  By now you should be able to pass the test for your Internet Driver's license. Please go to the Web site below and become a licensed Internet cruiser.  When you get there you will need to type in your FIRST NAME only and click on "drive."

Follow the red road until you have stopped at every stop along the way.

PBS Internet License

After you have your license, help me check out the games on the next page. I'm going to be asking your honest opinion of them, so be sure to check them out thoroughly!

We Are the World 25 - YOU can help Haiti

You have all heard Mrs. Eggerton's plea for help for the people of Haiti who are still in desperate need of help following the devastating earthquake on January 12th.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie's wonderful song, "We Are the World".  In a tribute to that song and in an effort to help the earthquake victims, many well-known recording artists came together to record a new version of that song as a reminder that we ARE all one world and that Haiti still needs our help.  

 WE ARE THE WORLD 25 
Watch this new recording, listen to the words, 
and remember that there is still time to help.

Items that are needed:

1. First aid kits
2. Bandages
3. Gauze
4. Towels and washcloths
5. Cereal
6. Peanut Butter
7. Blankets
8. Snack foods like granola bars, etc. (Nothing that will melt in heat - like chocolate)
9. Personal hygiene products - soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.

The deadline for bringing in items is Monday, March 1, 2010.  

You CAN make a difference!