Front Page | Lesson Plans By Grade Level | First Grade Lesson Plans

Practice 

Have the students log in but not to go into KidPix.  Remind them to go into the folder called Little Wings Web Links on the Desktop and click on Tux Math Command (the penguin).  Then click on the first choice on the first screen - Play Alone.  On the next screen click on the top choice - Math Command Training Activity.  Have them again click on the first choice, Number Typing.  Remind them that they are going to use the numbers and the Enter key on the number keypad.  Remind them to use their pinky finger for the Enter key.  We are going to "train their brain" in using the number key pad.  Have them practice for five minutes.  Close the program when time has expired and have them go back to the Desktop.

Internet

Today the students are going to begin short lessons on the Internet and Internet Safety.

Begin by asking the students how many of them have heard of the Internet?  How many of them have been on the Internet?  Then ask them what is the Internet?  Students will probably give some of these answers: they play games on the internet, parents look up information, they send email, they listen to music, they buy things on ebay, or they download songs.  Emphasize after each response that that is how we USE the Internet BUT what is the Internet? (FYI - The Internet, in simplest terms, is the large group of millions of computers around the world that are all connected to one another.  These computers are connected by phone lines, fiber optic lines, coaxial cable, satellites, and wireless connections.  When you log on to the Internet you are given access to many of the other computers that are connected around the world.) 

Explain that we are going to learn about the Internet and Internet Safety.  Review that they are on a network connected by all the wires to St. Johns High School.  Continue a dialogue how in this room we have 30 computers connected to about 10,000 computers in St. Johns Public Schools.  The Internet is millions and millions of computers connected around the world.  The Internet is something you pay for.  The schools pay for us to have the Internet.  Your Dads & Moms pay for the Internet at home.  At home, you may have it through your phone (imitate the di-di-di-di of dial up), or cable TV or wireless (like cell phones) that connect to satellites way up in space.   You also can have a computer without the Internet that just has programs and games that you purchase on it.  But we are lucky and have the Internet that connects us to the whole world.

Now, out in the world are there safety rules?  Do you have safety rules in your classroom? (i.e. no running, talk nicely) on the playground? (i.e. play fair, don't fight) at your house? (don't talk to strangers, matches, knives).  (This age may answer with silly responses.  Remind them that this isn't something to be silly about with answers.  This is serious so no one gets hurt.)  Well, there are safety rules for the Internet and over the next few weeks we are going to learn about the Internet and some safety rules.

To begin let's look at your desktop.  The Internet icon is a blue "E" with a yellow arc around it, Usually on the desktop it is in two places.  Who can find them?  (A large icon is on the desktop and a small one is on the bottom of the screen in the system bar usually next to the word Start.

The Internet is worldwide and since it connects things, like a spider's web, it is called the World Wide Web.  (Put these words on the board.)  Now to get anywhere in the world you have to have an address.  For someone to come to your house you give them your address.  For you to go somewhere on the Internet you have to type in an address.   The addresses on the web usually start with (underline the "w" in each word on the board and then write below a "w".)  www-dot-name of the place-dot-com.  (The students have been known to yell an address out.)  Now, we have friends and meet new people that are nice, and kind, and good.  But over the internet we don't know all the people because it is world-wide.  We don't know if all the people are good, and kind, and nice at all the addresses on the web.  That, again, is why we need safety rules for the Internet.

Instead of you typing in addresses that can be this long (spread out your arms), I have put some websites in a folder for you.  Look on the desktop and find a folder that says, Little Wings Web Links".  Words have meaning and here's the meaning behind this folder's name.  K-2 are little people in the entire district.  You are 5-8 years old and people that are 18 and 19 go to school in St. Johns.  So that's how we came up withthe word "Little".  The mascot for St. Johns Public Schools is the Redwings.  So I called this Little Wings.  Web is for the World Wide Web of the Internet and Links us so when you click on the icon it links you to the World Wide Web address.

Have the students double click on the Little Wings Web Links.

Inside you see lots of icons.  Some are pictures and some just have the Internet "e".  When I downloaded the program, the program did not come with an icon picture so it just puts an "e" there to show that it came from the Internet.  Other links came with a picture that is why there are pictures.  Ask if they see a folder marked "Grade 1 Internet Safety".  Have them double click on the folder to open it.  There is a list of video links that they are going to watch about the Internet.  These videoes have some friends from the sea that are going to help them learn about the Internet.

Today, in a minute, we are going to click on the first one in the list - "Details, Details".  Before we click on it I need to show you two things about opening links.  (Demonstrate using the window that is open at this time.)  Sometimes when you open a link the window is small and you don't see the whole picture.  Think of going to the movies and you want to see the movie screen.  Demonstrate how in the upper right corner at the end of the blue bar, there are three squares.  The first one minimizes the window.  (Demonstrate on the window you have open.)  See it disappears down to the gray bar on the bottom.  Just click on the words to open it again.   The second square looks like a movie screen.  It maximizes the window or makes it as big as your computer monitor.  (Demonstrate)  When we go on a link, sometimes we have to click on this movie screen to see the whole window.  The last square, the X, closes the window.  So, when we go on this link you will probably have to click on the movie screen to see the whole picture.

The other thing you might have to do is use the scroll bar on the side to scroll down to the area you need.  Remember you do that by left click and drag the bar down.  (Demonstrate)

Now have the students open Little Wings Web Links.  Double click on Grade 1 Internet Safety.  Double click on Cybersmart 1 - 'Details, Details'.  As the video is counting up to 100 to load, it will give you time to remind the students to make the window a movie screen (maximize) and scroll down to see the entire video.  Also, remind them to be close the window when the video ends and remain quiet while others finish watching the video.

Have the students close the windows back to the desktop before discussing the video.

After the video ask who are some of the characters either by the animal or the character's name:  Ranjeet (crab), Kui (whale), Tama (jellyfish), Hector (dolphin), Constable Solosolave (sea horse), Ming (clam) and Sprat (fish).  Asked what happened in the video:  Ranjeet (crab) has a new computer and is putting personal information on it for everyone in the ocean to see.  However, everyone may not be a friend.  So Tama (jellyfish) zaps the computer so the information coudn't be sent.  Hector (dolphin) suggest to use only your first name or a nickname so they really don't know who you are.  Ranjeet agrees to do this.  Lesson: Don't put personal information out on the internet for everyone to see.

Snow Stories - First, Next and Last - Title Page (first visit)

(Because of the Internet discussion this part may have to be finished at the beginning of the next lesson.)

Before beginning have the words Snowman, Snowfort and Snow Angel either on a board or on sheets of paper on the wall for the students to copy.

Demonstrate using a projector.  It is recommended that you have different samples saved ahead of time for each story.

Ask students if they remember what kind of stories they are going to begin to write.  (Snow stories)  Explain to them that we are going to make the title page today.  For the title page they are to use one of the backgrounds in KidPix.  Have the students open KidPix.  Click on "Backgrounds".  They may choose either one of the snow backgrounds (Antarctica or Winter Scene) in the Nature category or the ski slope in the Extreme Sports category. 

When the background is on the screen, have the students click on "ABC".  Click twice on the screen to open a text box.   Recall with the students how to use the shift key to make a capital letter.  Begin by typing a capital H, then o and w.  Then just like writing this is the end of the word so they need to put a space in after a word so press the space bar.  Talk the students through typing the rest of the title with capital letters at the beginning of each word and spaces between words (How To Make A ).  The last word in the title will be their individual choice for their book.  They will either type Snowman, Snowfort, Snow Angel or an approved choice of their own.

Then press Enter.  Type "by" in lowercase letters.  Press Enter again and type their name.  Highlight all the text and change the size to 32.  Then center the text by clicking on the center text key at the bottom of the page.  (Do a quick check for placement so that you can read the entire title on the picture.)  One may want to give the students the option of changing the color of the text.

When finished or class time has ended, have the students click on "Draw" (to hide the text box).  Next, do a File, Save As to their F:\.  IMPORTANT:  The name of the file is snow1.  (This labelling will help when the students make their booklet.)

Timeline 

It will take the students several visits to complete this book (approximately 8 visits depending on class size).