Internet-Enriched Lesson
In First Grade, there are many skills that are needed to improve writing skills. In this digital age, not only do the students need to improve writing, but also typing and other skills needed to publish their work. The following activities will provide practice to improve typing skills. They will also provide access to a thesaurus to improve vocabulary. Finally, an activity that will provide a great way to publish their work. For this particular activity, we will publish a book as a class.
Activity #1: TypingWeb
Objectives:
Students will be able to practice typing skills in both game and tutorial format.
Lesson Plan:
Each student would require their own device for this activity. The teacher will first show the TypingWeb tool to the whole class. The teacher will then direct the students to start with a typing lesson. Since all students are at the same level, each student will start with one of the the beginner lessons. After five typing lessons are completed, the students will then have some time to play a typing game at the beginner level from the TypingWeb tool.
The Goal:
This activity would be used throughout the year to help students improve their typing skills. The students can all spend time practicing their typing skills using TypingWeb. This will provide a good base for typing skills using a tool that the kids will enjoy. TypingWeb is set up so that it can be used daily or at the teacher's discretion. At the beginning of every writing time, the students will spend 5 minutes or so on TypingWeb. This should be continued throughout the year or as needed individually by each student. The teacher can set up a login for each student prior to the start of the activity. This will allow the teacher to track student progress. There are even typing tests that can be taken to see how well each student is doing.
Activity #2: Big Huge Thesaurus
Objectives:
Students will be able to find synonyms using an online thesaurus to improve vocabulary and enhance their writing skills.
Students will have access to the Big Huge Thesaurus tool where they will look up words to find synonyms.
Lesson Plan:
To start this activity, the teacher will open Big Huge Thesaurus on a SmartBoard or something similar. As a whole class, the teacher will show the students how the tool works until they feel the students are comfortable using it. Each student will need some sort of a device either individually or in pairs for this activity. Once the students are comfortable, they can either work in pairs or individually to fill out the Synonym Worksheet.
The Goal:
Students will become comfortable enough to use Big Huge Thesaurus. Students can use this tool in their daily writing in order to find and use words to enhance their writing. After this activity is over, the students should have access to Big Huge Thesaurus anytime they need it.
Activity #3: Story Jumper
Objectives:
With help from the teacher, students will be able to brainstorm ideas and fill out the StoryStarter Worksheet.
While working in a group, the students will be able to take their ideas and write a rough draft, edit/revise and publish a piece of writing.
With help from the teacher, students will be able to publish work to create a class book using Story Jumper.
Lesson Plan:
The students will work as a whole class to brainstorm and fill out the StoryStarter Worksheet that is provided by Story Jumper. Once the StoryStarter Worksheet is filled out, the students will be broken into groups of three or four. Since the StoryStarter Worksheet has 7 parts, each small group will be assigned one of the parts. Each group will focus on writing a page or two depending on their part. Each group will go through the process of a rough draft, editing/revising both independently and with the teacher, and then publishing. For this activity, the class book will be made from the Story Jumper tool. This will require typing skills from the students. Each group will be in charge of typing their own page. As a class, we will decide if we want to illustrate our own pages or use the illustrations provided by Story Jumper. Story Jumper does allow you to import your own pictures so this is an option.
The Goal:
By the end of this activity the students will be able to publish an entire book as a class. They will be able to see their work on both the screen as well as in their hand. In order to have a printed copy the book will need to be purchased. Seeing the book online will be rewarding, but to hold a printed copy of their book will be a huge feeling of accomplishment for the students, and for me as well.
Activity #1: TypingWeb
Objectives:
Students will be able to practice typing skills in both game and tutorial format.
Lesson Plan:
Each student would require their own device for this activity. The teacher will first show the TypingWeb tool to the whole class. The teacher will then direct the students to start with a typing lesson. Since all students are at the same level, each student will start with one of the the beginner lessons. After five typing lessons are completed, the students will then have some time to play a typing game at the beginner level from the TypingWeb tool.
The Goal:
This activity would be used throughout the year to help students improve their typing skills. The students can all spend time practicing their typing skills using TypingWeb. This will provide a good base for typing skills using a tool that the kids will enjoy. TypingWeb is set up so that it can be used daily or at the teacher's discretion. At the beginning of every writing time, the students will spend 5 minutes or so on TypingWeb. This should be continued throughout the year or as needed individually by each student. The teacher can set up a login for each student prior to the start of the activity. This will allow the teacher to track student progress. There are even typing tests that can be taken to see how well each student is doing.
Activity #2: Big Huge Thesaurus
Objectives:
Students will be able to find synonyms using an online thesaurus to improve vocabulary and enhance their writing skills.
Students will have access to the Big Huge Thesaurus tool where they will look up words to find synonyms.
Lesson Plan:
To start this activity, the teacher will open Big Huge Thesaurus on a SmartBoard or something similar. As a whole class, the teacher will show the students how the tool works until they feel the students are comfortable using it. Each student will need some sort of a device either individually or in pairs for this activity. Once the students are comfortable, they can either work in pairs or individually to fill out the Synonym Worksheet.
The Goal:
Students will become comfortable enough to use Big Huge Thesaurus. Students can use this tool in their daily writing in order to find and use words to enhance their writing. After this activity is over, the students should have access to Big Huge Thesaurus anytime they need it.
Activity #3: Story Jumper
Objectives:
With help from the teacher, students will be able to brainstorm ideas and fill out the StoryStarter Worksheet.
While working in a group, the students will be able to take their ideas and write a rough draft, edit/revise and publish a piece of writing.
With help from the teacher, students will be able to publish work to create a class book using Story Jumper.
Lesson Plan:
The students will work as a whole class to brainstorm and fill out the StoryStarter Worksheet that is provided by Story Jumper. Once the StoryStarter Worksheet is filled out, the students will be broken into groups of three or four. Since the StoryStarter Worksheet has 7 parts, each small group will be assigned one of the parts. Each group will focus on writing a page or two depending on their part. Each group will go through the process of a rough draft, editing/revising both independently and with the teacher, and then publishing. For this activity, the class book will be made from the Story Jumper tool. This will require typing skills from the students. Each group will be in charge of typing their own page. As a class, we will decide if we want to illustrate our own pages or use the illustrations provided by Story Jumper. Story Jumper does allow you to import your own pictures so this is an option.
The Goal:
By the end of this activity the students will be able to publish an entire book as a class. They will be able to see their work on both the screen as well as in their hand. In order to have a printed copy the book will need to be purchased. Seeing the book online will be rewarding, but to hold a printed copy of their book will be a huge feeling of accomplishment for the students, and for me as well.