Lower School The goal of the Lower School Computer curriculum is to continue to develop technology skills for both academic learning and personal productivity in the 21 st century. Students learn the science and engineering behind major computer peripherals. Through comprehensive projects, students accumulate practical skills in keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, and digital presentations in order to work successfully on technology-based assignments throughout all content areas. In addition, the concept of digital citizen is expanded to include the importance of responsible decision making when using technology and potential real-life, long-term consequences on on-line dangers. Third Grade I. Computer Terminology a. Computer Hardware i. Demonstrate knowledge and use of basic computer hardware (tower, monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, headphones, printer, network cable, CPU, switch, flashdrive, projector, web camera, CD, DVD, floppy disk, scanner) ii. Identify the location of all basic computer hardware iii. Explore location and roles of basic internal tower hardware (CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drive) b. Operating System Software (Microsoft Windows) i. Investigate the role of OS software ii. Independently demonstrate the use of basic software tools (desktop, icons (shortcuts), window, maximize, zoom, close, save, open, start menu) iii. Investigate ways to organize files on a flashdrive (create folders, move files) iv. Explore the use of the task bar (minimize windows, switch between open windows) c. Application The students will independently demonstrate the following: i. Proper use of computer mouse ii. Proper use of headphones iii. Proper technique to start and shut down computer iv. Proper use and care of flashdrives II. Keyboarding (Custom Typing goal 15 AWPM) i. Demonstrate proper keyboarding techniques (capitalization, punctuation, backspace) ii. Demonstrate two-handed keyboarding technique III. Word Processing (Microsoft Word) a. Terminology (ribbon, tab, group, dialog box, alignment, horizontal, vertical, orientation) b. Editing text (insertion point, delete, back space, selecting, hard return, spell check) c. Formatting (font, font size, bold, italics, underline, font color, page orientation, page margins, paragraph alignment, page border) d. Objects (ClipArt, Textbox, text wrapping, sizing handles, outline, fill) e. Other (zoom level, save, save as, open, new, print, print preview) IV. Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel)
a. Investigate the uses of digital spreadsheets b. Terminology (spreadsheet, data, column, row, cell, cell address, formula, function, workbook, worksheet) c. Entering and Formatting Data (number formats, adjust column width, adjust row height, borders, header/footer, merge & center) d. Mathematical manipulation of Data (AutoSum, Average function) e. Charts and Graphs (Column, Bar, Line) V. Digital Presentations (Microsoft PowerPoint) a. Investigate the elements of a good digital presentation b. Creating slides (slide layout, slide designs, themes, slide backgrounds) c. Slideshow elements (transitions, basic animations) d. Slideshow presentation (playing slideshows, printing options) VI. Digital Citizenship a. Care of Computer Hardware i. Examine computer lab rules ii. Explore reasons why we have rules governing computer hardware use b. Appropriate use of School Computers i. Examine what appropriate use of computers means ii. Understand why we have guidelines governing computer use at school c. Computer / Online Dangers The students will investigate the following computer/online dangers: i. Posting personal information ii. Internet predators/strangers iii. Illegal downloading iv. Cyberbullying v. Excessive screen time
Fourth Grade I. Computer Terminology a. Computer Hardware i. Examine different categories of computer hardware (input, output, storage) ii. Indentify and categorize basic computer hardware (monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, headphones, printer, network cable, switch, flashdrive, projector, web camera, CD, DVD, floppy disk, scanner, digital camera) iii. Explore and categorize additional computer hardware (CD, DVD, floppy disk, scanner) iv. Identify the location and role of basic internal tower hardware (CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drive) v. Investigate different types of computer mice (optical, mechanical, trackball, track pad) vi. Investigate types and characteristics of data storage devices (magnetic, optical, solid state) b. Operating System Software (Microsoft Windows) i. Investigate the role of OS software ii. Independently demonstrate the use of basic software tools (desktop, icons (shortcuts), window, maximize, zoom, close, save, open, start menu) iii. Investigate ways to organize files on a flashdrive (identify storage devices, create folders, move files, rename items) iv. Explore the use of the task bar (minimize windows, switch between open windows) c. Application The students will independently demonstrate the following: i. Proper use of computer mouse ii. Proper use of headphones iii. Proper technique to start and shut down computer iv. Proper use and care of flashdrives II. Keyboarding (Custom Typing goal 20 AWPM) i. Demonstrate proper keyboarding techniques (capitalization, punctuation, backspace) ii. Demonstrate two-handed keyboarding technique III. Word Processing (Microsoft Word) a. Terminology (ribbon, tab, group, dialog box, alignment, horizontal, vertical, orientation, dialog box launcher) b. Editing text (insertion point, delete, back space, selecting, hard return, spell check) c. Formatting (font, font size, bold, italics, underline, font color, grow font/shrink font, clear formatting, page orientation, page margins, paragraph alignment, page border, show/hide paragraph symbols) d. Objects (ClipArt, Textbox, Shapes, Word Art, text wrapping, sizing handles, outline, fill, bring to front, send to back, align, height, width, free rotate handle, adjustment handle) e. Copy / Paste (copy and move items, steps, within documents and from the internet) f. Other (zoom level, save, save as, open, new, print, print preview) IV. Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) a. Investigate the uses of digital spreadsheets
b. Terminology (spreadsheet, data, column, row, cell, cell address, formula, function, workbook, worksheet) c. Entering and Formatting Data (number formats, adjust column width, adjust row height, borders, header/footer, merge & center, text orientation, clear, rename sheet tabs, print area) d. Mathematical manipulation of Data (AutoSum, Average function, basic formulas) e. Charts and Graphs (Column, Bar, Line, Pie) V. Digital Presentations (Microsoft PowerPoint) a. Investigate the elements of a good digital presentation b. Creating slides (slide layout, slide designs, themes, slide backgrounds) c. Slideshow elements (transitions, custom animations) d. Slideshow presentation (playing slideshows, printing options) VI. Digital Citizenship a. Care of Computer Hardware i. Examine computer lab rules ii. Explore reasons why we have rules governing computer hardware use b. Appropriate use of School Computers i. Examine what appropriate use of computers means ii. Understand why we have guidelines governing computer use at school c. Computer / Online Dangers The students will investigate the following computer/online dangers: i. Posting personal information ii. Internet predators iii. Illegal downloading / copyright infringement / plagiarism iv. Cyberbullying v. Excessive screen time vi. Appropriate cell phone use
Fifth Grade I. Computer Terminology a. Computer Hardware i. Indentify and categorize basic computer hardware (monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, headphones, printer, network cable, switch, flashdrive, projector, web camera, CD, DVD, floppy disk, scanner, digital camera) ii. Identify the location and role of basic internal tower hardware (CPU, ROM vs RAM, hard drive, motherboard, busses, modem, video card, power supply, optical drive) iii. Identify different types of computer mice (optical, mechanical, trackball, track pad) iv. Identify and categorize data storage devices (magnetic, optical, solid state) v. Investigate and characterize different types of printers (laser, ink jet) b. Operating System Software (Microsoft Windows) i. Investigate the role of OS software ii. Independently demonstrate the use of basic software tools (desktop, icons (shortcuts), window, maximize, zoom, close, save, open, start menu, minimize windows, switch between open windows, system tray) iii. Independently demonstrate file organization on a flashdrive (identify storage devices, create folders, move files, rename items) c. Application The students will independently demonstrate the following: i. Proper use of computer mouse ii. Proper use of headphones iii. Proper technique to start and shut down computer iv. Proper use and care of flashdrives II. Keyboarding (Custom Typing goal 25 AWPM) i. Demonstrate two-handed keyboarding technique III. Word Processing (Microsoft Word) a. Terminology (ribbon, tab, group, dialog box, alignment, horizontal, vertical, orientation, dialog box launcher) b. Editing text (insertion point, delete, back space, selecting, hard return, spell check) c. Formatting (font, font size, bold, italics, underline, font color, grow font/shrink font, clear formatting, page orientation, page margins, paragraph alignment, page border, show/hide paragraph symbols) d. Objects (ClipArt, Textbox, Shapes, Word Art, text wrapping, sizing handles, outline, fill, bring to front, send to back, align, height, width, free rotate handle, adjustment handle, DropCap, aligning text vertically and horizontally within objects) e. Copy / Paste (copy and move items, steps, within documents and from the internet) f. Bullets and Numbering (bulleted list, numbered list, multilevel list, line spacing vs paragraph spacing, decrease indent, increase indent) g. Other (zoom level, zoom slider, save, save as, open, new, print, print preview) IV. Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) a. Investigate the uses of digital spreadsheets
b. Terminology (spreadsheet, data, column, row, cell, cell address, formula, function, workbook, worksheet) c. Entering and Formatting Data (number formats, adjust column width, adjust row height, borders, header/footer, merge & center, text orientation, clear, rename sheet tabs, print area, AutoFill) d. Mathematical manipulation of Data (AutoSum, Average function, basic formulas) e. Charts and Graphs (Column, Bar, Line, Pie, graphing non-adjacent ranges of data) V. Digital Presentations (Microsoft PowerPoint) a. Investigate the elements of a good digital presentation b. Creating slides (slide layout, slide designs, themes, slide backgrounds) c. Slideshow elements (transitions, custom animations, sounds, movies, automatic timings) d. Slideshow presentation (playing slideshows, printing options) VI. Digital Citizenship a. Care of Computer Hardware i. Examine computer lab rules ii. Explore reasons why we have rules governing computer hardware use b. Appropriate use of School Computers i. Examine what appropriate use of computers means ii. Understand why we have guidelines governing computer use at school c. Computer / Online Dangers The students will investigate the following computer/online dangers: i. Posting personal information ii. Internet predators iii. Illegal downloading / copyright infringement / plagiarism iv. Cyberbullying v. Excessive screen time vi. Appropriate cell phone use