All Activities

Salmon Research

As the kids are studying salmon in their classrooms, we use some of these activities to build their interest and understanding in the lab.

Learning Word Processing

These short activities have proven to be a fun way to get kids started using a word processor. This is usually the second to last big activity of the year and gets the kids ready for the Frog Life Cycle Booklet.

Weather Activities

In this project kids research the weather in four cities in Washington State, then use Clicker 5 and Clicker Paint to create a weather map from their data. Kids who want to can record a weather report using their map.

Frog Life Cycle Booklet

This is a fun project done at the end of the year to give the kids a good introduction to word processing. We do this during the First Grade unit on ponds.

Planets Project

I always like to start First Grade students on their first real project that requires them to research a topic using one internet site and then build a PowerPoint slide using that information. I combine the pages into a book that the kids keep in their classroom.

Arctic Animals

This is the first organized research project I do with First Grade students, usually in December or the first thing in January. The kids always want to print pictures, so I show them how to copy and paste lots of pictures into one PowerPoint slide and print those out.

Parts of the Computer

WeDo Robotics

Marine Life Project

This project teaches students just about everything they will need to know about using PowerPoint throughout their journey through sixth grade. Once we finish this project it is expected that students will be able to create any PowerPoint show on their own.

Programming with Scratch

Owl ComicLife Project

ComicLife is a great program from Plasq software. Second Grade students love demonstrating their knowledge of the owl they studied in science as they create a page for a grade-level graphic novel style book about owls.

Biography Timeline

Each spring second grade students read and study a biography of a famous person of their choice. After the kids have done some work in the classroom they use PowerPoint to build a fairly sophisticated timeline. We print the timelines to bind into a book and for each student to include in their Biography Portfolio.

Reptile Web Site Project

As the students are studying reptiles in their classroom, we are busy creating a collaborative web site in the lab to enhance their classroom learning. This is a quick project with a BIG return.

Lego Race Car

Whenever we have a week open (2 days or so) in the lab, this is a great activity. Build a rubber band powered car and then let the kids race them. I usually do this one towards the end of the year.

Mapping the Oregon Trail

Second Grade students study the Pioneers and how they made it to the West. We always spend a few days with the old classic "The Oregon Trail," but this activity helps students realize that the trail really exists and the places they hear about can be located and visited. Another great collaborative project that does not take a great deal of time but provides a great return.

Famous Latinos in History

Each year Third Grade students study a famous Latino person in American history. As a part of this unit, the kids create a poster in Microsoft Publisher to highlight a few things about their person.

Biome Project

This started life as a PowerPoint project, but by the end of Second Grade students are all pretty good at PowerPoint. So I switched the project to creating an animated biome using the Scratch programming language. This one is fun for everyone, me included!

STS Field Guide for Birds

An integrated project with Art, Technology and Science. After studying a Northwest bird, then drawing and painting the bird in art, we scan in the artwork and have the students use it to create a wonderful field guide for Northwest birds. Printed in color and simply bound, the kids love the end product.

South America Brochure

Another Publisher project where Third Grade students use their research information from Social Studies to create some stunning and informative brochures about their chosen country. We print these in color and display them prominently.

Create a Wordle Poster

This is a project we do at the beginning of the year just to get back in the swing of things. It reviews word processing, cut and paste between applications, and some simple PowerPoint. Students have to save several files and really keep track of what they are saving and where they can find it. This makes a good early display of student work as well!

Create a Fable Podcast

Another project everyone really has fun with! We start by learning the basics of Audacity. After listening to some old time radio shows and determining the key elements they all seem to include, students work in pairs to record a fable and then add sound effects, music, titles, credits and sometimes even advertising to make some really, really fun radio podcasts.

Native American Photo Story Project

A HUGE project that students complete using their research on a Native American tribe done in their classroom Social Studies class. Students create a video that highlights key cultural components of the tribe they have chosen to study. Using the Ken Burns effect, students have made some very nice and informative videos.

Country Infographic

Spreadsheet Magic!

This is our first big unit of the year. After learning spreadsheet basics through a series of lessons, kids research a fast food restaurant meal and then analyze the meal using spreadsheet formulas, charts, and graphs. A great project!

Spanish Vocabulary Game

Students create a Spanish vocabulary game for the Smartboard. Using Smart Notebook and four game templates, students created interactive games they shared in Spanish class.

Stop Motion Video Project

This is one of the favorite projects students complete in Fourth Grade. My ideas for this unit came from a summer workshop conducted by Joe Dockery of Mt. Si High School.

Claymation Unit

Introduction to Fireworks 8

We have a site license for the Macromedia 8 suite of products (Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Flash) so we use all three to introduce our students to web concepts. In this unit students learn to use Fireworks to create and manipulate graphics and photos.

Famous Person Graphic Encyclopedia

Each year the Fourth Grade students research a famous person, then come to school one day dressed as that person for a formal presentation in their classroom. I have the kids come to the lab where we take various poses against the green screen for later use in the project following their introduction to Fireworks. It is a fun project to finish out the year with!

Mission to Mars: Lego Engineering Adventure

Internet Safety Webquest

Fifth Grade is an ideal time to get students thinking about how they can use the Internet safely. All Fifth Grade students start their year in the Technology Lab with this Webquest to learn online safety.

The Door Video Project

Living Memories Project

WeVideo Radio Show

Media Production Resources

Internet Scavenger Hunt

A quick activity!

Sixth Grade Video Project

Camera Shots

Sixth Grade Rome Trip Web Site

Create a Personal Wordle Poster

Media Production Resources