This activity can be adapted to all grade levels and satisfies many competency goals from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
Materials:
Introduction:
Ask the children to visit and read the example page and student page
linked below. When they are finished, explain that the entire
class will be creating new inventions.
Review:
Before the students begin work, the teacher should review the steps
in the writing process (pre-writing, draft, editing. final product).
Procedures for properly handling and using the equipment and programs should
also be reviewed.
Activity:
Break them into small groups. Each group will pick an object
or possibly two objects. They are to invent a new use for it. It
MUST be completely different from its original use.
Once the students decide what their object will be, they should demonstrate
its use and take a picture with the digital camera. When they have a picture
they like, they are to insert the disk into a computer and open the file
in a photograph editing program such as Photoshop. They should resize
it and adjust the color. Hints
on using Photoshop. Each students should save this file to their
disks. The individual student may now start working on their pre-writing.
They should brainstorm about how to sell their product. Their article
should be creative and include information to persuade a reader to buy
their invention. After pre-writing, they may begin a first draft.
Once their first draft is finished, they should begin the editing process.
You may want the students to word process their draft and email it to you
and a peer for editing. When the document has been sufficiently edited,
the students should make corrections and additions to complete their final
draft. The final draft and pictures should be imported onto a web
page.
Hints
for using Netscape Navigator to create a web page. The students
may want to include an email address so you and other readers can provide
feedback. After the web page has been checked for accuracy and is
functioning properly, it should be put on a server. Hints
for putting a web page on a server.
(Source for hints: Goodman, Jeff. 2002. Modern Fashion and Invention [Online]. Available: http://www.ltl.appstate.edu/436/block/media/fashioninvention/fashioninvention.html (17 January 2002.)
*Depending on the number of computers available and the number of students you have, you may have trouble accommodating everyone at the same time. You may want to set up a system for rotating.
Assessment:
Grading for this project can be done is several ways. Some teachers
may opt to emphasize the writing elements while others may emphasize the
computer skills. Below is a possible rubric that can be modified
to your needs. Communicate with students about their progress frequently
over email.
| Element | Points |
Pre-writing page
|
/10 |
Rough Draft
|
/20 |
Final Draft
|
/30 |
Web page
|
/40 |
| Total | /100 |
North Carolina Standard Course of Study Connections
Fifth Grade:
Language Arts Competencies
4 and 5
Information Skills Competencies
4 and 5
Computer Skills Competencies
2 and 3
Fourth Grade:
Language Arts Competencies
4 and 5
Information Skills Competencies
4 and 5
Computer Skills Competencies
2 and 3
Third Grade:
Language Arts Competencies
4 and 5
Information Skills Competencies
4 and 5
Computer Skills Competencies
2 and 3
Source: State Board of Education and the Department of
Public Instruction. 2001. North Carolina Standard Course of
Study. http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/
(17 January 2002).
| Master Page | Teacher Page | Student Page | Example Page |