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A Fun Way to Learn How to Navigate the Web

It’s that rare activity that excites students so much that they ask to skip recess to work on a project! The “Welcome to the Web” webquest created by Mark Warner is definitely one of those! Mr. Warner has obviously spent a great deal of time coming up with a fun and effective way for 7-11 year olds to learn about how to navigate the World Wide Web. The webquest has 7 parts and students receive a secret code after answering questions at the end of each section. The codes are needed for the Challenge, where participants become detectives using what they have learned to catch a person trying to unleash a computer virus.

Opening Screen for “Welcome to the Web”

Below is the description of each section from Mark Warner’s Teaching Ideas website.

The resources are in split into seven sections:

  1. The Beginning – explains how to use the site.
  2. Getting Started Online –  teaches children about the basic concepts involved in the Internet (World Wide Web, Hyperlinks, Back button etc). This introductory lesson also gives valuable practice in visiting and navigating around web sites.
  3. Staying Safe – encourages pupils to keep themselves safe online by following the SMART rules. Also tests their understanding using interactive activities and fun quizzes.
  4. Using Your Browser – helps people to learn more about their web browsers… what are the different features and how are they used?
  5. Searching Online – teaches children how to search effectively, and keep themselves safe when doing so. Also identifies search engines which are particularly suitable for children to use.
  6. Trying Top Tricks –  finding information on the net is great, but it is also important to know how that information can be used. This section explains about printing, using the Find tool to locate specific information within web pages, copying and pasting text, and saving images from the web. Also includes information about copyright and why it is important to credit others when you use their work.
  7. The Welcome to the Web Challenge – When the children have completed all of the sections of Welcome to the Web, they can complete this exciting challenge. It requires them to use all of the skills which they have learnt to catch the creator of a destructive computer virus!

When the students have completed the challenge, they are able to print a certificate.

I’ve been using this webquest with our 4th graders for the past  four years and it has been a huge hit! This year I even had a student ask if she and her partner could work on it over the weekend. “We live close by each other so we could get together and do it.” The funniest part is when a group reaches the point where they determine the name of the culprit who is trying to unleash the virus – frantic whispering begins because they don’t want anyone else in the class to figure it out. This is a closely guarded secret!

writing the secret code after finishing a section

This is one of the best activities for helping students learn all kinds of information needed to effectively navigate the web. Mr. Warner has developed excellent resources (worksheets and secret code sheet) to use with the webquest. I will say that the students tend to get so excited about exploring the quest that they often forget to fill in answers!

A huge thanks to Mark Warner for sharing this fabulous resource!

A Student Blogger: On International Dot Day

We’ve spent the past couple of weeks discussing quality posts and comments on our class blog. After listening to a wonderful video, How to Compose a Quality Comment, created by Mrs. Yollis’ 2nd and 3rd graders, our third graders started a post with directions to write about something that others might not know about them. For example – hobbies, a place they’ve visited, etc.

This week I wanted to show the students how to upload an image. Since they had drawn dot pictures for International Dot Day a few weeks ago, we decided to write a post about that. The class quickly learned how easy it is to add images to a post. Then they moved on to the writing. I asked them to consider the following questions as they wrote:

  1. When you first drew your dot in MS Paint, did you have any idea what you would do with it?
  2. Did an idea come to you right away or did it take awhile to figure out what your dot could become?
  3. Describe what you drew and how you decided on that.
  4. Could you relate to Vashti, not able to think of something to draw? How did you feel about that?

I wanted to share a couple of posts from Mrs. Weth’s class blog. The first is from Rachel and the second post is from Kelly.

My Dot:

My dot is an alligator’s eye. I couldn’t think of an idea at first, but then I thought of an eye.  I thought of doing a normal eye, but then, anybody could do an eye. I thought and thought and then it came to me, Whose going to do an alligators eye. So I did an alligators eye. I did some changes to it and then I was proud of it. I was done.

Dot Day Crazy:

So you think Dot Day is boring. Not when you’re an eight-year old girl who goes to TVS. In computer class the Thursday before Dot Day we made pictures made out of dots on the computer. At first I didn’t think I was going to come up with any ideas and by the end of computer class, I didn’t have anything on my computer it was blank as a whiteboard……….Just like Vashti. But Mrs. Arrington, my teacher, said we could continue working on our dot pictures the next Thursday in computer class. I tried and tried but I couldn’t think of anything and when I did, I would like it but then decided against it. Coco said a quote from the book to me. “Just start with a dot and see where it takes you.” I still couldn’t think of anything to make…But then I thought about the quote. Just start with a dot and see where it takes you. I made a dot that I liked and erased part of it. Than I made a ring around it. It kind of looked like a planet. And so forth I made a sun and a moon and a black background with stars and it was space. And my quote for you is just start with a dot and see where it takes you.

I just love these descriptions! Can you tell these girls like to write? Be sure to visit Mrs. Weth’s blog. The students would love to get comments about their dots!

Second Grade Celebrates Dot Day

Our second graders are now finished with their dot creations, also drawn in Microsoft’s Paint program. Again, we had a wide variety of illustrations. Some chose a more abstract approach while others decided to make their dot into an animal, etc. Ren drew a skunk thinking about M&Ms!

Ava drew her dog inside a picture frame.

Raegan used bright colors as she created her picture with a big dot and a little dot.

Now, enjoy the ALL the second grade dot pictures. We have a grade filled with creative students!

Third Grade Dot Celebration

In the lab, the third graders learned the Windows 7 version of Paint as they created dot pictures for International Dot Day 2012. Two weeks ago, the computers in our lab were upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7. Of course, that meant a new Paint program but the students decided that, although it didn’t look quite the same and it took some getting used to, they preferred the new program to the older, familiar one!

After reading, The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, and brainstorming what a dot could be, the instructions were to “make something from a dot.” There were questions of, “Can I draw . . .” but my answer was, “You are the artist, so you make that decision.” We had dot designs, happy faces, peace signs, pigs, dogs, caterpillars, and more. Rachel used her dot as an eye for an alligator.

Lauren and Sasha drew a huge circle and then illustrated their picture inside that dot!

Now, to showcase ALL the third grade work!

 

Celebrating First Grade Dots!

Here’s our slideshow of the dot pictures created by our first graders using Microsoft Paint. This was their first introduction to drawing on the computer and everyone seemed to enjoy it!

Maybe it’s the colors used, but Brynn’s drawing reminds me of the illustrations from The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds!

Celebrating International Dot Day 2012

What a fun day (and week) we have had celebrating International Dot Day! Music, art, library, and computer classes participated along with a couple of homeroom teachers. Every K-4 student received a certificate and a Dot candy (which was excitedly accepted!!). Here are just a few of the highlights.

    

Melissa Black, our creative art instructor, had fourth graders use Pointillism to make their mark on Dot Day. They loved using a variety of colors and tiny dots to make their paintings. First, second, and third graders chose a paper dot that was glued to drawing paper. Mrs. Black told them to use that dot as part of a bigger picture. Not everyone finished but I was amazed at how creative the students were!

Here’s what Judy Holloway wrote about music classes. “We are doing Sound Dots in music. As part of learning rhythmic patterns and melodic patterns, students write what they perform on instruments; sometimes called rhythmic or melodic dictation. Third graders made colorful rhythmic patterns and second grade wrote Do Re Mi on staff paper. First grade will take colored markers and respond to music that is staccato (dots!) and legato by drawing designs on the whiteboard.” I was able to visit a second grade class (Mrs. Shapard’s group) as they played a variety of instruments and sang a dot song that had been written by another class.

Making Music with Dots from Trinity Valley School on Vimeo.

Jane Cooper’s 2nd grade class “dotted” the equator and prime meridian on their international maps as they talked about latitude, longitude, and other map skills. Allison Shapard’s 2nd grade class used brightly colored dots to discuss arrays in math.

In the computer lab, the students are using Paint for Windows 7 to see where their dot takes them. I first asked, “Who thinks you are an artist.” Almost all first and second graders raised their hands. As we moved to third and fourth grades, fewer hands went up. That was interesting! Once we started talking about different types of “artists” the children realized the term could cover all kinds of areas – music, photography, sports, even lego-building!

Next, we read The Dot (the big screen, interative version – I highly recommend this one!) then brainstormed what a dot could be with lots of creative answers thrown out. Then the creativity began! Very few finished so we’ll continue next week. I was absolutely amazed at the drawings!

Solar System by Sam (1st grade)

Dog by Eilea (2nd grade)

by Stephen (3rd grade)

“There’s No Right or Wrong?”

Are students so conditioned to giving a correct answer that they get “stuck” if there’s not a “right” one?

I read The Dot by Peter Reynolds to our second graders when they came to the lab yesterday. My statement to the children was, “Raise your hand if you are an artist.” I was delighted to see every hand waving in the air; a few were a bit more tentative than others! We talked about being an artist in different areas – music, lego builder, photographer, athlete, etc.

We then brainstormed what you could do with a dot made on Microsoft Paint program. Answers ranged from animals to planets to solar systems to flowers and more.

As the students returned to their computers to get started on their dot picture, I heard a small questioning voice, “There’s no right or wrong?” He seemed as if he was confirming to himself that, yes, it was okay to explore.

“Yes,” I announced, “You are the artist. You decide what to draw and share!”

Preparing to Celebrate International Dot Day!

 International Dot Day celebrations begin tomorrow!

The Dot candy has been bought.


Our school is signed up for Dot Day. The certificates by FableVision have been printed. A glog is ready for the students to learn more about Peter Reynolds and The Dot.

 

Several of our teachers are doing special activities with the students they see. In the computer lab, we’ll be creating dot pictures using Paint. Can’t wait to get started and watch our children “MAKE THEIR MARK.”

4th Graders Create a Blog Commenting Video!

A couple of weeks ago, a few of Mr. d’Auteuil’s students finished their computer lab assignments and wanted to know what they could do. I suggested that they form small groups and come up with a video to teach our younger students what makes an effective comment or a strong post on a blog.

A few students absolutely took off with the idea, giving up recess for a week to write and practice their ideas. One group of boys finished today! Jitesh, Bryson, Jake, Luke, and Kishan came up with a few ideas that they thought were important to share with others. It’s under a minute long but that’s okay! This is their first production of what I hope will be many more.

Gold Medal Readers

Our wonderfully creative Lower School librarian, Kirsten Murphy, introduced an Olympics theme for summer reading. Yesterday, the students gathered for the “Parade of Athletes” as Mrs. Murphy and principal, Sandy McNutt, announced that we had 100% participation this year! And that statistic is true for 2 years in a row! Wow! We DO have awesome readers! After the parade, all students visited every classroom to view the fabulous projects created by the students. I tried out my new iPad to video a small portion of the excitement.

 

Gold Medal Readers from Trinity Valley School on Vimeo.

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