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(picture from www.geocities.com/.../Garden/5721/GraphicCorner/garden.htm)
Overview:Students
will work in pairs and will pick an everyday object. Using this everyday
object they will “invent” a new use for their item. The students
should write a newspaper article to accompany their invention. The
students will compile pictures of their invention and the newspaper article
into a web site for everyone's enjoyment.
Supplies Needed:
*A large selection of everyday items (examples include wire basket, an old curling iron, car parts, anything will work!!!)
*Netscape Composer and Adobe Photoshop
*Digital Camera
*A computer lab would be ideal
*A disk for each child: 3.5 disk or a Zip disk.
Directions:
1. Have students work in pairs. Allow each group to pick an object from the objects you have pre-selected.
2. Working together with their partner, each pair should come up with a creative new use for their object.
3. Once the use for the object has been determined each group should take a picture of their object in use. Each group member will need to save the pictures onto a disk of their own. Adobe Photoshop can be used to edit the picture. For help using Adobe Photoshop click here.
4. Individually, each student should write a newspaper article about his or her object. Allow them to be as creative as they want. Their article can be an advertisement, an article commending the inventor, or an announcement of a new invention.
5. Once the article is finished allow the students to start creating their web page with Netscape Composer. If your class has not used this program before, guidance will more than likely be necessary. For help using Netscape Composer click here.
6. After the article is placed on the web give directions on importing the pictures onto the site. Allow them to use Adobe Photoshop to edit and resize their pictures.
7. Be sure to give directions on saving and retrieving their document. Remind them of the importance of making a back up for their project.
8. Discuss Internet edict with the class. Tell them to be sure to give credit where needed.
9. Ask them to include their e-mail address on their page to allow you to e-mail them feedback.
Assessment and Suggestions:
It is important to assess the understanding
of Netscape Composer. My suggestion would be to have the students
write the steps down or show the steps when asked. Make sure the
article is edited and perfected before the web site is created. A
fun activity might be to allow the students to critique each other's web
site. Have students vote on the most creative, most useful, silliest,
and so forth. To integrate the lesson further have students include
spelling words or science/ social studies/ math topics into their articles.
The following is an example rubric for grading. If a computer is
not available for each child it is possible to start this project with
one of the later steps and then go back to the first. Also students
can take turns or even complete the project as a group project.
| Example Grading Criteria | Total Points Each One is Worth for a Grand Total of 100 Points |
| 1. Pre-writing- Was your article edited, well written, and creative? | 25 |
| 2. Pictures- Did both group members help with the picture taking and did both members save the pictures to their own disks? Were directions followed for editing the pictures in Adobe Photoshop? Do you understand how to use this program? | 25 |
| 3. Web Page- Did the site contain both your article and your pictures, were directions followed for Netscape Composer, and did you place your e-mail address on the page? Did you cite everything that you used that did not belong to you? | 25 |
| 4. Overall how does your web page look? Is it pleasing to look at, can you read all of the text, are the pictures placed well on the page? (not overlapping any text etc...) | 25 |
Competencies:
3rd – 5th Grade
*English Language Arts Curriculum
Competency Goal 1
The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
Competency Goal 3
The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
Competency Goal 4
The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
*Information Skills
Competency Goal 2
The learner will IDENTIFY and USE criteria for excellence to evaluate information and formats.
Competency Goal 4
The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
*Computer/Technology Skills
Competency Goal 2