ICT 1

Planning to integrate ICT into Learning

Cool Science for curious kids.

http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience

Grade: one/ two

Kito Mode: Level 1 – Operations and Computer components. The child identifies computer components and their uses. Loads programs.

To be able to use the program the child must be familiar with the computer and its different parts in order to search for the relevant website and be able to explore the digital resource, ‘Cool science for curious kids’.

Lesson Objectives: Children should be familiar with how to use the computer by using the different parts such as the mouse and keyboard. They should also know how to start the computer (Teacher will tick off on a checklist if they can do these simple skills). They will learn how to either type in the website or click on it in the favourites column then explore the program, using the mouse clicking on information and answering questions, understanding that science is important and classifying plants and animals.

Resources needed: A checklist to check off each child if they could perform all the objectives.

Teaching Strategies and activity procedures:

Students will be instructed what to do first. So the teacher will show them how to go to the website and what activities they need to explore. Individual children will be able to have a go at using the website. If some children are struggling to use the computer components or even the website a more competent child or adult could assist them so they learn how. Adults will assist if some students have trouble reading the text/instructions so they understand what they need to do to perform the activities chosen. Students can choose if they would like to classify plants or animals first. The program basically asks them to match words with pictures of plants and to match types of animals with their species, which is learning about basic classifying techniques that is used in science. Teacher will take note on the checklist if they have trouble performing the tasks and which ones, and if they asked for assistance or not.

Following activities:

1^st activity- making a butterfly. This activity is shown on the website. It helps students to understand that caterpillars turn into butterflies (this is called metamorphosis). This is another science based activity that the class can do together as a class individually or in groups. Basically the students get to make a butterfly and a pupa out of craft resources so this activity is also linking with the key learning area, visual art. This will help them to understand the connection and changing process of a caterpillar and a butterfly.

2^nd activity- 3cm square project- This activity is also demonstrated on the website as another science based activity. However, they have suggested to make the piece of paper 1inch square. So I changed the activity slightly so the children are using familiar measurements (centimetres). The activity involves the child taking a A4 sheet of paper and cutting a 3cm square piece out of the paper to make a window. This is quite small so to cut it accurately the child may need to fold the piece of paper. The teacher needs to explain how scientists use microscopes to look small or even large objects up closer so they can see more detail. The children go outside with their piece of paper and examine objects through the window. Then they will choose something interesting: a tree trunk, a leaf, flower, or the soil surface. They put the window over the object and look at it closely. Then on another piece of paper they are asked to draw what they see this will help the children to look at the object more closely and be aware of the detail involved.

3^rd activity: Journal

The children basically get to write a journal on the computer about how they felt about using the computer program, the classifying tasks within the program and the two following activities (making a butterfly and 3cm square project). Questions will already be on the computer screen prompting their thoughts and answers. They will be asked which activities they found easy or difficult, what they learnt? What is classifying? What is metamorphosis? Do they enjoy the science activities? How did you feel while doing the activities on the computer? How did you feel looking at objects through the window? And how did you feel making the butterflies? This is for the teacher to understand if the activities were worthwhile, if the children learnt anything and which children and which activities were enjoyed the most. This can help for future lessons regarding ICT, science and visual art.