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Welcome Back to School
"Prepare your minds for action."
(I Peter 1:13)

We're Tracking Down Computer Parts
Can you locate each of these:

	Tower (Case or CPU)			Monitor
	Mouse			Keyboard
	Speakers or Headset			CD ROM Drive
	Microphone			Printer
	Floppy Disk Drive			Scanner

Which have power buttons?
Do you know where the volume control is?

Click here for a digital picture of a computer.*
Save it with a right-click and label the parts in Paint or Word.

Computer Parts Worksheets
Drag and drop computer names, or
select names from drop-down menus. Print.
(Excel file that can be opened in Excel or Internet Explorer.)

Growing With Technology, K-5
Choose a level to see Katie's Computer, Burton's Computer...
Key Terms, Keyboarding & other activities

Printable Kids' Domain Computer Lessons*
(Teacher - worksheet section*)

You should know these words & terms as we begin:
hardware software screen desktop icon or shortcut start menu computer programs Internet	click double-click window maximize minimize scroll and scroll bar exit or close task bar

Don't Be A Clicking Maniac!

clicking maniac.jpg (58268 bytes)
Over-clicking can slow down your computer and possibly cause it to freeze. UGH!

Learn about mouse skills with these...

Mousercize*
Practice Mouse Skills
by Lawrence Goetz
How to Use the Mouse
(beginners see "Scrolling" section)
New User Tutorial
RabbitBrush

For fun, practice your mouse skills on...

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Main Session - Part 1 to follow the dots.

Listen and practice moving the mouse, clicking, and finally drag & drop with Bees & Honey*
Freida Fillet is back! Hooray. Practice mouse control to see if you can safely maneuver Freida through the dangers of the sea. Keep on your toes or, "Ooops! Aww, poor Freida."

Take a Trip from ABCya
Stay on the path and make it to the finish line. Do you have each of the landmarks in your community?
Practice Drag & Drop -
Berenstain Bears Dress-Up
or Dress the Doggie (click, drag & drop, and listen)
and also
Buzzing With Shapes*
Adventures with Nash or Flick
Practice clicking - Crayola Match'n Madness*, ABC Match, Spelling Match (with or without timer), and AlphaZoo*

Practice patience and clicking as you listen to - Story Bear's The Wishing Tree* or "Sharon the Shocking Sharer".
Patience is a MAJOR computer skill!

Not available when checked.
"Edwina's Energetic Elephant"*

Tackle Math from Mr. Nussbaum
2-player (or play against the computer)
5 or 10 minute "quarters".

What formula would be used to calculate your highest score? Hint: the opposite of Minimum.
Use Excel to create a Score Sheet
as you try Crayola Match'n Madness.
Use the "Min" formula to calculate your best score. Can you explain why the Min formula is used?

Don't Hunt for Keys!
Know where they are.

Can you find these?

	the Alpha-numeric Keys		the Numeric Keypad
	the Enter Key		Num Lock
	the Space Bar		the Escape Key
	the Backspace Key		the Tab Key
	Caps Lock		Arrow Keys
	the Shift Key		Slash & Backslash Keys

Begin with CLEAN HANDS on the HOME ROW.

Strive for
1.	Technique
2.	Accuracy
3.	Speed

Click the "Keyboarding" link
on the left side of this page
to begin learning & practicing proper keyboarding skills.

Give Typer Shark a try for keyboarding fun.
(Noah's Ark is a fun challenge too.)

PRACTICE!
We'll have some fun with keyboarding once in a while,
so be ready.

I'll be watching for those using good keyboarding skills.
Cheating cheats you!

Give the Touch Typing drills a try.

Click me

Arrow Keys on the Keyboard can be used to move around web pages.
Practice using the arrow keys with Inch Worm*.
Read the tips as you go.

Growing With Technology, K-5
Keyboarding & other activities

The Amazing Incredible Handwriting Worksheet Making Tool*
(Standard or Denelian)

Handwriting for Kids*
Click "Manuscript" or "Cursive" buttons to see several printable options.
See the helpful animations by resting your mouse over each letter.
Use the Make Your Own 8 Line Text Worksheet for sentences - example: Today is Monday. Tomorrow is Tuesday.

Word Central's Coding Chamber*
Use the drop down menu to select Coding Chamber.

We won't always need the headset.
Please wait until you see whether you'll need it.

We rarely need the microphone.
Playing with it can cause it to break.
See Commandment #2 of the
Computer Lab 10 Commandments.

Starfall
Learn to read activities, Calendar, and more.
The calendar is great presented with the Sympodium or Smart Board.
Be sure to listen, and click any word you want to hear again.

Put your headset on and listen as you try these Brain Teasers:
A B C Gulp, Bear Wear, and more.

Put your headset on and listen as you read along with these and more.
These are terrific displayed on the large TV monitor or projection screen.

The Grumpy Bug* - Click the All Stories button to choose a story.

The 3 Bears & the New Baby - find it under the A-Z tab.
Practice computer skills with The 3 Bears & the New Baby.
Many other stories offered.

Plus
Diary of a Worm from Tumble Books
(Click the Story Books button.)
View the story and then take the Tumble Quiz.
Follow-up: Create your own e-diary using the writing processor or PowerPoint.
Add bits throughout the year during lab sessions or center time.
Include digital pictures of you, your friends, and your school.
Use the scanner to include some of your classwork.
Burn your e-diary to a CD at the end of the year.
(Include the PowerPoint Viewer)
Mom and Dad will be surprised!

If you're hungry,
let someone know.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
works with schools.

Constitution Day - September 17

Listen to the Preamble from Schoolhouse Rock

Constitution Timeline Quiz
from Enchanted Learning
Click the Timeline link in the menu to read information.

Save the Bill of Rights

Constitutional Convention Quiz from Quiz Tree

Constitution Q & A

Clickable Map of Historic Philadelphia
See Independence Hall

Locate Independence Hall on Mapquest or Google Earth
Hint: Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th.

Congress for Kids
Read about the Constitution and try quizzes over each section.

Read about the Constitution
View Page 1 of the actual Constitution.
Use the writing processor to create your own preamble.
Use fonts similar to the original.
Print and sign.

Sign your name with a digital quill pen.
Print your most decorative signature.

Recommendable Reading - offline treasures for August and September.

Quiddler School Challenge
Daily Puzzles, August-July

Can you solve this month's lab challenge?

September Computer Lab Challenge
Print and hang or display.
One side has a challenge question;
the flip-side offers a hint.

	Back to School Scavenger Hunt from Enchanted Learning
	Printable Math worksheets from Billy Bear*
	TLS Books Kids' Page printable Math worksheets*
	Reading Rover Reading assessment. Evaluate phonemic awareness and language & reading skills. First time users click here. Teacher and parent questionnaires. Excellent results page. Headsets on and listen!
	Math Realm - Subscribe to e-mail newsletter providing links to online math demonstrations.
	Personal Educational Press - Generate worksheets plus instant, interactive Flash activities!
	E Printable Calendars - Basic calendars with or without holidays. Super simple!

Teachers & Computer Lab Coordinators, set an educational wallpaper such as
the ones offered on our Computer Decorating - Wallpaper page to
teach terms such as "desktop", "icon", and "wallpaper".

Bring 5 different colored leaves. See if you can match the colors using the Paint program to create custom colors.
October
We're learning to use the Internet.

"Leaf" it to us! We'll know these terms in no time.

	desktop
	icon
	browser
	window
	title bar
	menu bar
	address bar
	tool bar
	status bar

	task bar
	URL
	search engine
	bookmarks
	keywords
	history
	ghosted
	radio button
	drop down menu

Give these October web lessons a try:

FEMA Fire Safety
Read about fire safety and try some safety activities.
Can you spot all the hazards in the Hazard House?
October is Fire Safety Month

NYS Fire Safety for Kids
Do you know about Operation Edith?

Help Sparky Out
Fire safety activities for non-readers too.

NOT AVAILABLE when checked CyberSurfari - launches October 18th, 2002
A terrific online treasure hunt.
Put on your thinking cap and sharpen your Internet skills.
TEACHERS, register your teams.

NOW FEE required Brain Pop Autumn Leaves
Watch a movie and take a quiz. Listen carefully!

Autumn Leaf Scrapbook

Leaf Invaders

NOT AVAILABLE when checked - moved to November Autumn Acrostic Poem Worksheet
Use online dictionaries, online rhyming dictionaries, and thesauri to create your poem.

Science Made Simple-Why Do Leaves Change Color in Fall?

Why Do Leaves Change Color from EEK

Daylight Saving Time
What's that all about?

Daylight Saving Time Around the World
from Info Please

Identifying Time
Good for class presentation on TV monitor.
Then try Willie the Watchdog* in Computer Lab.
It's a 2 player activity.

+ - X ÷ Fact Dash*
Set the timer to 1-minute for a mad minute type activity.

Spooky Monster Numbers* and Haunted Alphabet*
from Fun School & Kaboose

Fishin' Mission
Be careful!

Use the Paint program and digital camera
to illustrate how you'll dress up for Trick or Treating.
Thanks to Mrs. Blackburn for this terrific idea. Here are some examples from her class*:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Crossword

The Atoms Family

Bats
interesting information

Crayola Crafts - Black Bat Silhouette
Login, read, and follow directions to try this clever watercolor technique. Be sure to bring supplies!
Bonus: Use an online dictionary to pronounce and define "silhouette" and "echolocation".

Apple Corps
virtual pumpkin decorating, learn about radio buttons & splash pages

Farmer Ken's Virtual Pumpkin Carving
Radio buttons select features. Also offers pumpkin facts and online quiz.

Do pumpkins grow on trees, under the ground, on vines, or on stalks?
Virtual Pumpkin Decorating
from Ben & Jerry's
Drag & drop the decorations out of the basket and onto your pumpkin.

Carve a Pumpkin
from Cub Pack 81

Peetnik Mysteries of Clutterbuck Valley
Read and put on your thinking cap!
Try to solve the Mystery of Smelly Jelly.
Print the newspaper article telling of your success.

Mystery.net

Columbus' Voyage Maps & Ships
Make a map and ships to trace Columbus' journey.
Learn to save or copy a world outline map, open it in Paint, and draw Columbus's journey while on the computer.

Christopher Columbus and the Great Age of Exploration
and Other New World Explorers (categorized by country of origin)
from WorldBook Student Activities

Whaddaya Know Quiz Shows
Christopher Columbus plus several other topics offered.

Crack the Code
A latitude and longitude - map activity. Teachers, click here for the Classroom Lesson Plan to prepare for the activity.

Oklahoma Acrostic Poem
Use the Acrostic Wizard from Read, Write, Think
to create a poem about Oklahoma.
Include the names of Oklahoma towns, places of interest, and people.
"H is for Henry, Governor of Oklahoma" or "Holy City, found in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge."
Include interesting information and photo (not clipart) illustrations along with a map.

Put your headset on and listen as you read along with these and more.
These are terrific displayed on the large TV monitor or projection screen.

Book Pals, Storyline
Watch and listen as terrific stories are read by
Tia & Tamera, Amanda Bynes, Melissa Gilbert, Al Gore, and others.
Mrs. Cannon recommends, "A Bad Case of Stripes" read by Sean Astin..
TEACHERS, accompanying activities and lesson plans with each story.
Tip: click "Large" for the best video display.
---

On RIF
FEATURED STORIES FREQUENTLY CHANGE.
Check RIF's site for current stories.
Follow-up "Pink and Purple Pumpkins"
by using the Paint program to create your own unusually colored items.
Follow-up "Nat & Pat Have a Spat"
with the writing processor, Power Point, or KidPix to
create your own rhyming sentences or story. Pick a word out of a hat and rhyme away!
Check out the Monthly Activity Calendar
and online activities.

Sylvan Dell Publishing
Loads of follow-up activities:
Creative Minds, AR quizzes at a discount, Story Time Crafts, online Comprehension Quizzes, fact sheets, Teaching Activities, mp3 audio, Special Days Calendar, and much more.

Johnny Appleseed Hidden Picture
Find other Johnny Appleseed activities
on our Holiday & Special Events page

Math Attack*

I Know That*
Leon's Math DoJo, Math Movies, and more

WHOMP!
Read the directions together to know how to play.

Multiplication Station from Weekly Reader
Use Excel to create a Score Sheet
Calculate your best score. Can you explain which formula you would use?

(Posted during election years.)

Election Co-nection
online voting October 11-25, 2004
(register in advance)

Scholastic's Election 2004

Elections 2004 from AOL@School
Interactive timeline of key events from CNN,
Meaning of election terms from Time for Kids

Weekly Reader Election
Try Fishing for Votes

Keep up with election news by reading online newspapers.
Find some listed on our Reading page (#59-67)

Know that Technology Term

Make a list of technology terms you know. Compare with others. Can you define each? What is "ghosted"?
When a button is inactive and has a faded appearance it is ghosted.
Can you find a button on your screen that is ghosted?

Time for Time - Master Worksheet Creator 2*
Use the Master Worksheet Creator 2 to create custom printables showing times you specify - such as times related to your class or students' daily schedule. Rather than have them write in the time, instruct them to write the event that happens at that particular time of day.

What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?

Use spell check for "cornucopia". Is it correct?
November

U.S. Presidential Election 2004
Make your own choropleth map of election results.
U.S. map from Eduplace - one with postal abbreviations
U.S. map from Enchanted Learning - you label the states
Print to take home. Color your map as you watch election results come in on television or online.
Divide your class into groups, each responsible for a region of the United States.

Compare your data with election results from 2000.
Also offered by National Atlas. Click History to generate maps showing election results, of both electoral and popular votes.
Zoom in and click the Identify button above the map for more information.

Electoral College Votes
Click a state to see how many votes are associated with that state.
Label your own saved or printed U.S. map, showing the number of votes per state.

Scholastic's Election 2008

Elections 2004 from AOL@School
Interactive timeline of key events from CNN,
Meaning of election terms from Time for Kids

Weekly Reader Election
Try Fishing for Votes

Keep up with election news by reading online newspapers.
Find some listed on our Reading page (#59-67)

If You Were President
by Scholastic

Meet the candidates via online press (follow links posted here) and prepare for our Extra! Extra! project*.
Use the writing processor to take notes as you research.
*found in Mrs. Cannon's Computer Lab Project Book

U.S. Election Atlas
Excellent interactive maps and charts.
Check out the latest primary results.
Red or Blue? What does that mean?

Election Glossary
from Enchanted Learning

Voter Registration
What's that?
Oklahoma Voter Registration Form
FAQ
Search out registration forms for other states and compare.

Step Inside the Voting Booth
from PBS

What methods of voting can you imagine for the future?
Consider technology, convenience, accuracy, information, etc.

	Veteran's Day
	Veteran's Day Activities from Enchanted Learning
	Info Please-Veteran's Day
	MTOM - Read about challenges kids of military families face.
	The Vietnam Memorial Wall
	Korean War Memorial
	USS Arizona Memorial
	Arlington National Cemetery

Let's Say Thanks

Colonial Williamsburg for Kids
Use the Colonial Post Card Maker
to send an e-card to each other or your class address.
Include a Colonial challenge question (along with your name) in the message.
View each card and answer everyone's question.

The First Thanksgiving from Scholastic
Plimoth 1621 - What was life like for the Wampanoag and Pilgrims?

Plimoth Plantation - Talk Like a Pilgrim and more

Plymouth Plantation Treasure Hunt

Bringing History Home

Mayflower Compact
See 1620

Pilgrim Clothing
What did the pilgrims really wear?

Unlock the Secrets of Indian Language
from Texas Beyond History
How did Native Americans, explorers, and settlers communicate?

The First Thanksgiving from Scholastic
Be sure to follow The Voyage on the Mayflower, clicking each spot along the way.

NOT AVAILABLE when checked Thanksgiving Cyber Challenge

Plimoth Plantation's You Be The Historian -
Investigating the First Thanksgiving

Can You Survive Jamestown?
printable worksheets with research links
plus the Jamestown Online Adventure

Sammy the Turkey Snake
an online story

Online Thanksgiving Games from Kaboose

Thanksgiving Printables from Family Fun
Thanksgiving TV BINGO cards, coloring pages, and more.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Find out more about those spectacular balloons.

Mixin' Math
See how handy your math skills are in this kitchen.

NOT AVAILABLE when checked Smarty Marty's Guide to Cooking a Turkey
Want to know how that delicious turkey made it to the table?

Why does a turkey have white and dark meat?
Find the answer on Everyday Mysteries.

Virtual Holiday Dinner
Check out the nutritional value of the items you drag onto your plate.

What does the orange area of this chart represent?

Create a Pie Chart
Not very tasty, but interesting just the same.

Gather information from your class, and create your own pie chart.

How do you write "Thank you" in Spanish?
How do you pronounce it?
Use the writing processor or Paint program to create a thank you card or poem.

Learn other Spanish words with Dora the Explorer
Try the Say It 2 Ways printable cards.
How do you say "computer" in Spanish?

Option - Visual Link Spanish

Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem Worksheet
and Read, Write, Think's Acrostic Poem page including the Interactive Acrostic Poem generator
Use online dictionaries, online rhyming dictionaries, and thesauri to create your poem.

Native American Cultures from Scholastic

Decorate your computer for the holiday.
Try these wallpaper choices by Black Dog or these from Billy Bear.
Not sure how to decorate your computer? Click the "Computer Decorating" link along the left side of this page.

A Thanksgiving Timeline
from the Library of Congress
Use Microsoft Word or Paint to create your own timeline.

Use the printing rules you've learned and design your own bookmark with these...
and surprise your media specialist too!

Bookmark Forge by TVO Kids
(search or click All Games)

Bookmark Factory by National Geographic

Create a newspaper with the
Printing Press template from Read, Write, Think

? ? What is it? ? ?
Print and connect the dots.
Other worksheets found here.
Print carefully! Click the provided Print button or
use Print Preview (File, Print Preview) to print only the worksheet.
Can you copy and paste the picture into Paint to complete and color?
Watch for broken lines when filling with color. Use "Edit, Undo" as needed.

Print, color, and assemble
How to Plant Corn
from Evan-Moor

Chipardy featuring Oklahoma!
on our Oklahoma page

Growth of a Nation - Animated Atlas
Watch for Oklahoma!

Rumble, Grumble*
A fun penguin story.
(Click the Stories button to choose a story.)
Click to advance.

Dave the Brave
Build your own monster,
Then write sentences filled with adjectives to describe it.
Can anyone build your monster from your description?

Encyclopedia Britannica presents
Native American stories
The Coyote and the Money Tree
and
Neighbors

Begin with "Getting Ready to Read" and click any underlined words or phrases to learn more.
Click the speaker icon below the story to listen.

Sing along! Educational Songs from Kids Know It
Constellation Jig, Why Do We Have Seasons, and many more MP3s.

Skate Cam
Live look at Braum's Ice Rink in Oklahoma City, Downtown in December
Have you been?

Additional Teacher View activity pages

I'm Thankful for Spell Check activity

World Book Activities and Lesson Plans

Sample U.S. Citizenship Questions
Students use online research to answer

Veterans Day Fact or Opinion worksheet
Veterans Day Comprehension worksheet

Stories from the Veterans History Project
Video & audio interviews plus documents shared by actual veterans.
PREVIEW before sharing with students to determine appropriateness.
Option: Students select a veteran, read the information card and locate the service locations on a map. Calculate the difference between ages served and current ages. Compose a thank you letter.

Packing the Pilgrim's Trunk lesson plan
from Read, Write, Think

Ahhhh. A Fresh Tech Tip:
Prevent static electricity,
now that our heaters have come on,
with a mist bottle of diluted laundry softener.
Plus the room smells wonderful!

November Computer Lab Challenge
Print and hang or display.
One side has a challenge question;
the flip-side offers a hint.

What a Deal!
Holiday Take Home Book Packs
grade level, sets of 20
great for gifts
from The Teacher Store at Scholastic

April showers bring May flowers.
What do May
flowers bring?

Pilgrims.

Use your computer's calendar to see what day of the week Christmas Day falls on this year.

NORAD Tracks Santa

Are you on Santa's Naughty or Nice List?*
You can also learn the Top Ten Ways to Make the Nice List and even the Top Ten Ways to Make the Naughty List! Watch out for those.
(Remember - Never give your last name on the Internet.)
Visit the Reindeer Barn to read about those famous reindeer.
Work your way through Elf School, and more fun on this site.

online Advent Calendar with crafts, activities, printables, recipes and more.

Christmas Around the World Advent Calendar
compare with more information from Santas.net Christmas Around the World

Good Deeds Calendar from North Pole.com
Print and fill in. Good idea to help ensure your name appears on that Nice List!
Plus other activities in the North Pole Academy.

Read along and listen to "The Wishing Tree".
Be ready to click when it asks.

Read about Jesus' birth at Bible Gateway,
an online Bible with an amazing variety of translations including Contempory English, King James, and NIV.
A "Listen" button and an audio version are also available.
Search for Matthew chapter 1 and begin with verse 18.

December in Downtown Oklahoma City
Find out when and where to go for snow tubing, ice skating, canal rides and more.

Skate Cam
Live look at Braum's Ice Rink in Oklahoma City, Downtown in December
Have you been?

Where would you find a Christmas Tree Worm?
Search our Science page to reach the answer,
and get a glimpse of the spectacular creature.

Listen to Christmas music online
Christmas Radio Network

Christmas Radio.com
click the old radio to listen

KLOVE radio online

accuholiday radio online

Oklahoma City's Magic 104

Oklahoma City's KOMA

MP3 Downloads
	Feels Like Christmas.com Menu offers several sections - instrumental and vocal.
	Christmas Music from Songs of Praise
	The Heavenly Harpist Sally Fletcher, Harpist
	Thanks So Much - Christmas including I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Carol of the Bells, and many more.

Flashcard Maker from Scholastic

Keyboarding Challenge
Are you still sneaking a peek
at the keys?
Try keyboarding with boxers to see how well you can locate the keys.
Take a pair out of our Computer Lab laundry basket and give it a try.

Slip a pair of big, fun boxers over the keyboard and type away. Try not to peek.

Don't hunt for the keys. Know where they are. PRACTICE!

Imagine what someone just like you
would do differently throughout the day (including our snow days) 100 years ago.
Use the writing processor to write about the daily differences.
What progress can you imagine for the future?

	This is a good time of year to clean that computer.
	Visit our Chip's Patrol page to learn how. Be sure to check the vents on the back. Is your computer choking for air? How gross is that keyboard? YIKES! And the mouse... is it supposed to be that color? Yuck, yuck, yuck!

Get the Facts on Poinsettias
Are they poisonous? How tall can they grow?
How do you pronounce "poinsettia"? Click here to look it up.
Click the little red speaker to hear it pronounced.

Login to Crayola.com Arts & Crafts to search for
Christmas crafts. Select one for your team to try.
Use the writing processor to print supply lists for each member to gather. Include the name of your craft.
Bring your supplies to lab the following week, and return to the online directions.
Can your team follow directions and create a beautiful display?
Give Tin Foil Twinkles a try!
Tip - use the main search field or click here.

Decorate Jan Brett's Gingerbread House

Virtual Snowman* and
Fun Ranch Virtual Christmas Tree* Flip the switch and listen.

Help Willie Decorate the trees
and see what multiplication is all about.

Play a game of Christmas Checkers

Create and Print your Own Snowman

Kooker Kids - Build a Snowman

South Florida Virtual Snowman

The classic Frosty the Snowman
Wonderful illustrations.

Put your headset on and listen as you read along with these and more.
These are terrific displayed on the large TV monitor or projection screen.

Listen to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Read the online text.

Clip Art As always read terms & conditions for each, and preview prior to student use.
	Awesome Clipart for Kids & Educators
	Classroom Clipart plus photographs
	ClipArt for Teachers
	School Clip Art
	Discovery School Clip Art Gallery
	Designed to a T

The main section of the Computer Lab home page is routinely updated to offer new and seasonal ideas for your computer learning adventures. As a means of helping teachers plan ahead click any month below to see what you can expect during that month.

August	November	February	May
September	December	March	Summer Break
October	January	April	Summer Break