Description
This
is an activity that integrates 3rd-6th grade language arts, computer skills,
and information skills. The students are to invent a new use for
an obscure item (junk). Then they will create a web page advertisement
for their product that explains its new use. They will do this by
using a digital camera, Adobe Photoshop, and Netscape Navigator.
Process
1)
Gather random and obscure items, like a hubcap, fork,
cookie sheet, etc.
2)
Allow each group to select an item to create a new use.
3)
Teach them the basics for using a digital camera: power
button, inserting a disk, taking disk out, zoom, shutter
button, menu, color preferences, etc.
4)
Tell them to take pictures of their product in use in
their newly invented way. Tell them to be sure to get a
close up of the item.
5)
After they take the pictures, show them how to edit
pictures in Adobe Photoshop, and save the photos to a
disk.
6)
Each group will now create a web page advertisement or
newspaper article for their new invention. Web pages will
be created using Netscape Navigator.
7)
Go over Copyright regulations with students. It is
acceptable for them to use graphics and ideas from other
sources as long as they give credit where credit is due.
The following is a sample of an acceptable citation:
Author, A.A. (Date of Publication or Revision). Titles of
full work [online]. Available: full web address. (Date of
access).
Materials
1)
Crazy items for students to choose from
2)
Digital cameras
3)
Computers equipped with Netscape Navigator and Adobe
Photoshop
4)
Zip disk or 2-3 floppy disks per group
Suggestions
1)
If you have a classroom computer for this activity, you
may want to utilize a “Computer Sign-in
Sheet” in order to
regulate and maintain equal access to the computer.
2)
If you have a student with a visual, auditory, or motor
impairment, you may want to adjust the computer settings
to better accommodate the student. I have included
instructions and descriptions of the adaptations available
on the computer. See Accessibility
Options. If you have an ESL
student, it would be a good idea to pair him/her with a native
speaker. What better resource for learning the English language
than a native English-speaking classmate! Be sure, though, that
the native speaker does not do all of the work, but shares in the
responsibilities, and encourages the ESL student to experiment
and discover as well. Don't make the mistake of assuming that
because the student can not speak English yet, that he/she does
not know how to think. It is your responsibility to challenge
them.
3)
If students have email accounts, you should email your
suggestions and other feedback to them. If they do not,
you may want to help them set up an account at either
Yahoo! or Hotmail. You can set up an account for free at
these sites.
4)
In order to post students’ pictures on the web, you must
maintain a parental permission slip.
Rubric
for Grading (20 possible points)
| Creativity | 5 possible points | 0-2 points-
Product illuminates little or no original ideas.
3-5 points- Product illuminates creativity, original ideas, and incorporates group members' own personality into their creation. |
| Organization | 5 possible points | 0-2 points-
Product has no obvious organization, scattered thoughts and ideas.
3-5 points- Product is well organized and easy to follow. |
| Grammar and Spelling | 5 possible points | 0-2 points-
Product has multiple spelling or grammatical errors.
3-5 points- Product has little or no spelling or grammatical errors. |
| Group Participation (derived from group member evaluations) | 5 possible points | 0-2 points-
Student did not contribute fully to the product, and did not give it 110%
of his/her effort..
3-5 points- Student demonstrates active participation and offered 110% of his/her effort. |
NC Curriculum Objectives
This
activity aligns with the NC Standard Course of Study for English Language
Arts, Computer/Techonlogy Skills, and Information Skills. The following
are the specific objectives met:
| English Language Arts | Grade 3-
2.02, 3.06, 4.03, 4.06, 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.06,
5.07
Grade 4- 2.07, 3.06, 4.03, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08,4.09, 4.10, 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.06, 5.08, 5.09 Grade 5- 1.02, 3.06, 4.02, 4.03, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.09, 4.10 Grade 6- 1.03,2.02, 6.01, 6.02 |
| Computer/Technology Skills | Grade 3-
1.5, 2.3, 2.4, 2.10, 3.1
Grade 4- 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.9, 3.1, 3.4 Grade 5- 2.1, 2.4, 3.5, 3.6 Grade 6- 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 3.2 |
| Information Skills | Grade 3-
1.04, 1.09, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05
Grade 4- 1.04, 1.09, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 5.02, 5.03, 5.03, 5.05 Grade 5- 1.04, 1.09, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05 Grade 6- 1.04, 1.09, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05, 5.06 |
| Master Page | Example Page | Student Page | Teacher Page |