Computer Lab

Computer Lab Directions

Monday, March 2, 2009

Goals for today:
1) Print out an online encyclopedia article on your topic for the research paper using Encyclopedia.com or Infoplease Encyclopedia.

  • Open “My Documents.”
  • Open the “Mr. Walker” folder.
  • Open your folder. (Those of you who are sharing computers may have to create another folder with your name if you cannot access the folder you created previously. This is important to save your information in case you are not able to print it today.)
  • Open Microsoft Word. Create a document titled “Research.” Save it in your folder.
  • Go up to the View pull-down menu in Word and open “Header and Footer.” Type your first and last name in the header, then close it. This will ensure that your name will automatically be on every page that you print.
  • Go back to one of the encyclopedias and find an article on your topic.
  • Highlight and copy (CTRL-C) the relevant parts of the article that you want to print. Only copy parts of the article that will help you on your research paper. Keep in mind the time period between 1763 and 1783. Do not copy pictures, maps, illustrations, etc.
  • Paste (CTRL-V) what you have highlighted and copied into your “Research” document.
  • Copy the website address from Internet Explorer and paste it at the bottom of what you have pasted into Microsoft Word. You will need this information for your bibliography.
  • Put your cup up and Mr. Walker will come to you to see what you have copied. When he gives you the okay to print, go to the “File” pull-down menu and select “Print.” Do not use the “Print” icon in Microsoft Word; do not tell it to print more than once.
  • Mr. Walker will pull your printed copies off the printer and give them to you. No one beside Mr. Walker is to touch the printer.
  • If you print without permission or pull copies off the printer, you will lose your computer lab privileges for today.

2) Find other online information for your research paper and use the same procedures above to copy from Internet Explorer and paste into Microsoft Word. You may not be able to print today, so save your “Research” document often for the next time we go to the computer lab. Use the Research Links page to find other sources of information. Do not use Google without Mr. Walker’s permission. Do not use Wikipedia for this assignment.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Today, we’re beginning our online research for the research paper.

We’re working on step one: Choose a topic that interests you and which is an important part of the American Revolution.

You can always see the list of approved topics on the Research Topics page. The Timeline page is also helpful to keep you focused on the proper time period for the research paper.

You must find an encyclopedia entry on your topic as part of your research. You may use these online encyclopedias: Encyclopedia.com and Infoplease Encyclopedia, as well as traditional book encyclopedias like the World Book Encyclopedia. Type in a topic that you are interested in researching and read the encyclopedia article on that topic. This step is essential to choosing a topic that you are interested in. I want to make sure that you are happy with your choice, because I do not approve changes in topic after the first few days.

And we’re using the computer lab to see what online information Mr. Walker has already provided and pointed you towards. You can use the Research Links page to find more online sources for your research paper. If you find that any of these links no longer work, let Mr. Walker know and he will update this page. You may also suggest additional links for Mr. Walker to add to this page. Simply write down the topic and the website address and give it to Mr. Walker; after he reviews the site, he may add it to this page.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Today, you may work on one of three projects: 1) adding and subtracting fractions, 2) states and capitals, or 3) weather.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Here are some online activities, some of which we've done before, which can be good practice with adding and subtracting fractions, as well as review of other fraction concepts.

States and Capitals

Here are some online activities that you can use to help you study the 50 states and their capitals. While many of you did well on these two tests, many of you did not. If you did not do well, use these activities to help you study so that you can take the test(s) again for a passing grade.

Science: Weather

Here are some pages that Mr. Drum recommends:

Monday, February 9, 2009

Today we are going to continue typing the poems you wrote on our field trips to the Legion of Honor.

1 - Open "My Documents" (Double-click on the icon, not on the words)
2 - Open the "Mr. Walker" folder
3 - Open your folder
4 - Open your document. This will launch Microsoft Word so you can finish typing your two poems.
5 - When you are done typing and proofreading your poems, put your cup up and Mr. Walker will help you print your poems.

After you have printed your poems, you may work on the on-line fraction activities that we have been using before (see below).

If you do not want to do any of the fraction activities, there are the logic puzzles we have previously done (see below).

Also, you may want to try one of these sites to help you study the U.S. states and capitals:

You may not go to any other website or do any other activities. Mr. Walker will only approve of activities that he has had time to explore himself. Do not ask him to approve of activities in the computer lab; he will say, "No."

Monday, January 12, 2009

Today we are going to continue working with some online activities using fractions. Try one of the sites listed below. After you explore at least two of the four new ones, you may go back to one of the logic puzzles we have worked on before.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Today we are going to work with some online activities using fractions. Try one of the sites listed below. After you explore at least two of those, you may go back to one of the logic puzzles we have worked on before.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Today we are going to practice more math puzzles that use logical thinking. You may do one of the four below:

  • Tower Puzzle - What's the least number of moves it takes? Can you move three pieces in seven moves?
  • IQ - Can you leave just one peg?
  • Hexagon - Can you beat the computer? If you do, show Mr. Walker
  • Sudoku - Can you solve this sudoku puzzle online?

Monday, November 24, 2008

Today we are going to practice more math puzzles that use logical thinking. You may do one of the three below:

  • Tower Puzzle - What's the least number of moves it takes?
  • IQ - Can you leave just one peg?
  • Hexagon - Can you beat the computer?

Monday, November 3, 2008

1. Go to Election Calculator and see which states your candidate needs to win in order to become President.
2. What do the colors (dark blue, light blue, dark red, light red, and yellow) mean?
3. How many electoral votes does someone need to be elected President?
4. What is the fewest number of states that someone needs to be elected?

Monday, October 27, 2008

Today, we are going to use the Internet to explore candidates and propositions on the upcoming election.

The California Secretary of State provides a great deal of impartial information regarding the election, including Candidate Information and Presidential Candidate Statements.

There are six parties on the ballot. Here are the people running for president and vice-president of those six parties (in alphabetical order by party):

  • American Independent: Alan Keyes and Wiley S. Drake, Sr.
  • Democratic: Barack Obama and Joe Biden
  • Green: Cynthia McKinney and Rose Clemente
  • Libertarian: Bob Barr and Wayne A. Root
  • Peace and Freedom: Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez
  • Republican: John McCain and Sarah Palin

One, you will read the candidate statements of all six people running for president. Two, after that, you may find more information about one or more of the candidates at their websites (linked below). I suggest you look for information about issues you may be concerned about, such as education, the environment, the economy, etc. You may also find more information about some of the propositions that are also on the California ballot next week (also linked below). (You are not doing any of the What Do I Do Next activities today).

What Do I Do Next?

Choose one of the activities below for fun (and the growth of dendrites). Be careful to only use an online activity that Mr. Walker has approved for your use. The use of Internet activities that have not gotten my approval may result in the loss of computer lab privileges.

If you want to suggest an activity for Mr. Walker to add to this page, write me a short note describing the site, including the web address and how the activity is educational and relevant to students in fifth grade.

Math

Logic

Tower Puzzle - Logic puzzle
Sudoku - Logic puzzle
IQ - Logic puzzle
Hexagon - Logic puzzle

Geometry

Space Blocks - Volume activity
Alien Angles - Estimating angles activity

Operations

Primary Krypto

Algebra

Algebra Scales - Algebraic reasoning

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