Grant Curriculum


The following classes are a joint project between the 8th grade computer class students at School District 70 in Morton Grove and the senior citizens of Morton Grove.  The classes will take place at the Morton Grove District 70 computer lab from on one week day from 3:30-5:00 after school. One class will be taught by the students each week for three weeks.  The students will have worksheets, handouts, and lesson plans created for each class prior to
instruction time.   In addition to having their lesson plans counted as class assignments, the 8th graders will receive points toward the required community service for each grading period.

Taming the Computer Beast
The Computer as a Typewriter
Fun with the Computer
Mining the Internet

 

Taming the Computer Beast
3 class sessions-90 min. each

Session 1

The students will first explain each part of the computer’s hardware and what it is for:  Computer, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers.  Then the students will start with turning on a computer, explaining where the on button is, the reset button (if available), proper way to shut down a computer.  Next they will explain and demonstrate using a mouse:  moving the mouse around the window, pointing at an object, left clicking, right clicking, double clicking.  Next the students will show the seniors how to maneuver through the windows desktop:  selecting and opening a folder or file, and starting a program.  During this class the students will also discuss the differences between a Windows operating system, Macintosh operating system, and WebTV (if they only want internet access).
 

Session 2

Students will instruct the seniors in the basics of using a Windows operating system computer.  The student will demonstrating as they instruct the seniors on how to open the C drive and look where the programs are stored, using the Start Menu, Programs, and Settings.  Inside of the Control Panel the students will demonstrate how to remove a program from the computer,   Inside of the Printer folder the students will show the senior how to add the driver software for a printer and demonstrate by adding the lab printer to the list.
 

   Session 3

The students will discuss with the seniors the different types of programs you can purchase for the computer.  Together they will make a list of computer software that the seniors would be interested in using.  The students will have different mail order catalogs and newspaper ads for computer software available to show the seniors as a reference.

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The Computer as a Typewriter
3 class sessions-90 min. each
 

Session 1

The students will discuss with the seniors using the computer to type letters, recipes, and various other writings, asking the senior what they would want to type on the computer.  The students will then show the seniors the program Microsoft Word.  Together the students will guide the senior through the program menus explaining what each part does.  During this the senior will be able to do examples of the different styles in the program while the student is explaining them.

Session 2

The student and the senior will each type an example letter and make predetermined changes to it (underline, bold, italics, change size, center….)  and print it out.  The senior will then have a chance to write a letter to a person of their choice for practice.  The students will show the seniors how to save their letter on a disk.

Session 3
The students during this session will have the seniors retrieve their letter from their disk and then print it out.  Then using this letter as an example the students will show the seniors how to insert clipart into their document and resize it.  After the senior has had a chance to practice this the student and the senior will both create personalized letterhead stationary and print out a copy and save it to disk.

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Fun with the Computer
3 class sessions-90 min. each
 

Session 1

During this class the students will teach the seniors how to do fun things with their computer.  First, the basics like changing the desktop pattern and color, changing the screen saver, and changing the size of the display font.  Using Windows 98 the students will show how they can change to different themes such as baseball, ocean, space themes….
 

Session 2

The students will demonstrate how to install a program and then to run it.  Before the class the students will have a copy of a software program that is on C.D. and floppy disk so that they can use it as an example when showing how to install.  The student will show the seniors the games that come pre-installed with Windows:  solitaire, free cell, minesweeper, and hearts.  The students will then challenge the seniors to a game of their choice.
 
 

Session 3

The students will introduce the seniors to Netscape Navigator explaining to them that this is a browser software giving definitions as they explain.  Also, explaining and showing them that Internet Explorer comes with Windows computers and that it is very similar to Netscape.  Then they will explain all of the tools contained in Netscape and how to navigate using the buttons.  The students will show the seniors how to use a search engine to find sites about certain topics.  The students will show the seniors how to use the categories in the search engine to narrow down web sites on a topic they are searching for.  Also the students will show the seniors how to type in a search string directly into the search box.  Once they practice this the students will show the seniors how to click on individual web sites they think would be good to look at.

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Mining the Internet
3 class sessions-90 min. each

Session 1

First the students will review how to use Netscape Navigator.  Next the students will instruct on how to determine if a web site is useful or if it is a biased site, using an already created rubric.   The student will demonstrate to the senior how to type in a URL address to go directly to a site. (list of sites)

Session 2

The students will show the seniors how to use e-mail either using Netscape Messenger or Outlook.  They will explain all of the menu commands and how to type a message and send it.  They will show how to set up an address book and access it, how to spell check a message, and how to check for messages.  The seniors will get to send a practice message to the Tech. Coordinator for the school, the coordinator will be available and will respond to the senior’s e-mail and send one back so the student can show the senior how to check for a message and read it.  Then if they have e-mail addresses of friends and family they can also send to them.

Session 3

The last class period will be used to show seniors how they can download software.  The students will explain the difference between freeware and shareware.  They will take them to the web site www.download.com and let them look through the different program available on many different subjects.  The students will let the seniors download a program to the computer and then help them install it.  After they install it they will try the program to see if they like it.  The students will give the seniors a list of download web sites they think would interest them.

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