6th+Grade+Curriculum+(2011-12)

=6th Grade Curriculum=

==King's Educational Technology Department worked with experts to create standards for online content creation, online inquiry, and online collaboration. Collectively these standards are known as Digital Literacy skills that we believe are important for students to master at various stages of their K-12 careers. The Digital Literacy skills can be found at==

Student "How-to" Instructions

 * ===[|How to install First Class on your Mac]===
 * ===[|How to install the King Printers on your Mac]===

Policies and procedures

 * 1) **Digital Literacy** is a hands-on class that teaches you important technology skills. The class is project-based, which means that I do very little lecturing and you get lots of time to work on your project.
 * 2) We will be doing several projects throughout the trimester. You must stay on task and use your time wisely. If you complete a project before other students, I expect you to help other students and not just play games on the computer.
 * 3) It is important to understand that this class is more like Ms. Tobin's art class, than a math class. This is an important difference. Ms. Tobin does not move your arm to help you draw. Instead, she shows examples and provides the materials you need. She also answers your questions as you draw.
 * 4) For Ms. Tobin to be helpful, you must have something drawn. The same is true for **Digital Literacy**. I can't be helpful if you have not started the project.
 * 5) The rubric for each project is simple (see Grading Rubric below) and the requirements will be posted below each project. Make sure that you understand the requirements for each project __**before**__ you begin the project.

Grading Rubric

 * Projects are scored on a three-point scale
 * 1 point - student showed significant effort on the project and completed __**some**__ of the project requirements
 * 2 points - student showed significant effort on the project and completed __**most**__ of the project requirements
 * 3 points - student showed significant effort on the project and completed __**all**__ of the project requirements
 * Students may work together to complete these projects. As a way to encourage this, I limit the number of questions students can ask me during a particular project. The number of questions is based on the overall complexity of the project.
 * The number of projects we complete will likely vary by class. Projects that the whole class does not complete are __**not**__counted towards the overall grade.
 * Students may skip one project without penalty. This will help prevent students from falling behind if they are absent or have difficulty with a particular project.

Projects

 * ==Project 1 - Macintosh and FirstClass basics (you are allowed to ask me one question)==
 * ===It is very important that you know how to take a screen shot on a Mac and upload and download a file to Firstclass.===
 * ===there are six requirements to complete (you are allowed to ask me one question)===
 * ===(1) use Firefox and navigate to **http://tinyurl.com/king-schedule2**===
 * ===(2) take a screen shot of your schedule (Shift-Command-3)===
 * ===(3) rename the file to be trimester1 schedule ===
 * ===(4) create a new folder called Digital Literacy6 in the documents section of FirstClass===
 * ===(5) upload the trimester1 schedule file to this folder in Firstclass===
 * ===(6) download the trimester1 schedule file to your desktop===
 * ==Project 2 - Creating an Avatar (you are allowed to ask me one question)==
 * ===Avatars are online pictures you use to represent yourself. Some people use actual photographs, but we are going to use a tool that allows more creativity.===
 * ===Select one of the images below and click on it to be directed to the website that will allow you to create a similar avatar.===
 * ===Each website is different, but the general process is the same. You will be asked to select facial features like head shape, mouth, nose, eyes, eyebrows, etc.===
 * ===When you think your avatar looks like you (or the way you wish you looked), you should download the avatar to your computer. If the website does not have the ability to download the avatar, then you should take a screen shot (a skill you learned in Project 1)===
 * ===Rename the avatar file to include your last name and the word "avatar". For example, my file would be "Faig avatar".===
 * ===Upload the avatar file to the Digitial Literacy6 folder in First Class.===
 * ===Show me the avatar saved in the Digital Literacy folder (in First Class).===
 * [[image:JDF_Avatar1.jpg width="148" height="148" link="@http://www.osoq.com/edit-pictures-online/make-your-avatar.asp"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar2.png width="111" height="144" link="@http://clayyourself.com/"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar3.png width="122" height="149" link="@http://flashface.ctapt.de/"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar4.png width="143" height="147" link="@http://faceyourmanga.com/"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar5.png width="132" height="162" link="@http://www.buildyourwildself.com/"]] ||

>>> >
 * ==Project 3 - Power Surfing (you are allowed to ask me two questions)==
 * ===The Internet is an amazing resource for finding information. Sometimes finding information is like finding a needle in a haystack. This project will teach you how to locate information on the Internet and validate the information as being useful.===
 * ===(1) Website validation. Visit each of the websites below and determine if they are a credible source of information.===
 * === Create a Word document that will contain a screen shot of each website and its URL . The document name MUST inlcude your last name and Project3.===
 * ===Next to each screenshot, write the reasons that the website is credible (or not).===
 * You can resize the screenshot to be smaller.
 * You should right-click on the screen shot and change the text wrapping to be "**Top and Bottom**"
 * ===You should save this document to the Digital folder in First Class so you can work on it during the next several classes.===
 * @http://www.dhmo.org
 * [|http://www.rythospital.com]
 * []
 * []
 * ===(2) Use Google's image search to find a picture of a sloth. __ Before you use Google Image Search, you must make sure that the Safe Search are set to strict __ (see picture below). When you find the picture of a slothe, add it to the Word document you created in step 1===
 * ===(3a) What is Google Scholar? (respond in Word document)===
 * ===(3b) What is Google Books? (respond in Word document)===
 * ===(4) Find the answer to the following questions===
 * What is the diameter of the Earth?
 * Who was President of the United States when you were born?
 * What was the most popular song when you were born?
 * What was the most popular movie when you were born?
 * What was the most popular television show when you were born?
 * ===(5) Find five search engines other than Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Add them to your Word document===
 * ===(Extra Credit) Find the answer to __**any two**__ of the following questions:===
 * If you stood in the shadow of the High One, you might be on the lookout for the Big Five. What would you be trying to see?
 * You are standing in the farthest west U.S. town with a population of one person. What is the speed limit?
 * If you consecutively slept one night in each room (excluding bathrooms) of the Palace of the Light of Faith, how many years would it take you to sleep in them all?
 * This is a close-up photo of the heaviest boneless animal. What gives the skin its slightly yellowish tinge?
 * I can grow my body back in about two days if cut in half. Many scientists believe I do not undergo senescence. What am I?
 * If you were a ferry passenger traveling from Continental Europe to the country with twice as many sheep as people, in what town would you most likely dock?
 * This is a close-up photo of the heaviest boneless animal. What gives the skin its slightly yellowish tinge?




 * ===(6) E-mail me the Word document===
 * ===make sure that you attach the file to the e-mail using the ATTACH (paper clip icon). Do __**not**__ drag the file onto the e-mail.===
 * ==Project 4 - Using Excel (you are allowed to ask me two questions)==
 * ===(1) Download this [|Excel spreadsheet] file===
 * ===(2) Make sure you save it to the Digital Literacy6 folder in Firstclass===
 * ===(3a) Complete the questions on worksheet "Part1"===
 * ===(3b) Complete the questions on worksheet "Part2"===
 * ===(3c) Complete the questions on worksheet "Part3"===
 * ===(4) e-mail me the completed spreadsheet file===
 * ==Project 5 - Introduction to Programming (you are allowed one question during this project)==
 * ===Computers are very fast at processing digital information. People write computer programs to instruct computers what to do. In order to be a good programmer, you must be able to write clear and detailed instrcuctions. Computers cannot ask questions - they can only do what they are told.===
 * ===(1) Download and print the [|TurtleArt Grid.pdf] or ask me for a copy===
 * ===(2) Draw your first name on the grid===
 * ===(3) Write the __**exact**__ steps to write your name (as if you were directing someone over the phone)===
 * ===(4) Use steps from above to write a Turtle Art program to draw the letters in your name===
 * ===(5) Save the Turtle Art program to the Digital Literacy folder of First Class===
 * ===(6) Send me a copy of the Turtle Art program (.PNG file)===
 * ===Note: the file must be named with your last name and the words "project 5"===
 * ===I am going to "run" the program in TurtleArt on a CLEAN screen===
 * ===Caution: don't rush to write the Turtle Art program before you carefully write the instructions in __**step 3**__===
 * ===Extra Credit: Use Turtle Art to design computer art (see samples below)===


 * [[image:TurtleArt1.png width="400" height="308" align="center"]] || [[image:TurtleArt2.png width="400" height="310" align="center"]] ||


 * ==Project 6 - Learning to Blog==
 * ===Blogging is an important development that makes the Internet more interactive. Historically, writers would write articles and readers would read them. With blogs, reades can now express thier opinions - they can //participate// in an online discussion. Several teachers in the sixth grader will be using blogs this year. They are an excellent tool to sharpening students' critical thinking and writing skills. When using blogs (or any website with a username/password), it is very IMPORTANT to make sure that you sign out after you are done using the website. Simply closing the browser (Firefox or Safari) will NOT sign you out.===
 * ===(1) Make sure that you (or another user) is NOT logged into ANY blog before you start. To make sure, navigate to Blogger.com and look in the upper right-hand corder of the screen.===
 * ===If you see a "Sign In" link, then nobody is logged in ( this is good )===
 * ===If you see a username, then somebody is already logged in ( this is bad ). Log them out by clicking the "Sign Out" link.===
 * ===(2) Wait for an invitation to arrive in your First Class inbox.===
 * ===(3) Respond to the invitation.===
 * ===(4) Navigate to the blog associated with your section===
 * ===Section 1===
 * ===Section 2===
 * ===Section 3===
 * ===Section 4===
 * ===(5) Login to my blog with the username and password that you created for Mr. Bruno's blog.===
 * ===(6) Read the "Project6" post for instrctions.===
 * ==Project 7 - Learning to Program ( THIS PROJECT IS OPTIONAL )==
 * ===The TurtleArt project (project 5) challenged you to provide instructions for the turtle to write your name.===
 * ===For this project, you will be using a similar programming tool (called Scratch), but it is more powerful. Scratch was developed by MIT and it can create animated presentations, create music, and create games.===
 * ===You may ask as any question that is not discussed in the following Scratch guide:===
 * ===[|Learning2ScratchDraft.pdf]===
 * ===Other Scratch Resources:===
 * ===Video Tutorials===
 * ===Scratch Examples===
 * ===Examples of Animated Stories===
 * ===Project Options:===
 * ===(1) Create a program that moves a sprite around the stage.===
 * ===(2) Create a program with a sprite that has two different costumes. Have the sprite change costumes and size.===
 * ===(3) Create a program that moves two sprites around the stage and have a conversation.===
 * ===(4) Create a program that makes a musical song.===
 * ===(5) Create a program that randomly moves two sprites around the screen. If the sprites collide, then the program ends.===
 * ===(6) Change the program from (5) and add the capability where the two sprites say something when they are close to each other (but do not actually collide).===
 * ===(7) Create a program that duplicates sprites when the space bar is pressed. The sprites should be randomly placed on the stage.===
 * ===(8) Create a program that duplicates sprites when the space bar is pressed. The sprites should be placed using the arrow keys on the keyboard.===
 * ===(9) Create a program that displays a math problem (addition or subtraction) with two negative or positive numbers (example -12 + 14). The program should let the user type an answer and then program indicates if the answer is correct. If the answer is incorrect, then the program should show the correct answer.===
 * ===(10) Change the program from (9) to keep a list of the number of problems answered correctly and incorrectly. The incorrect problems should be added to a list and shown to the user.===
 * ===If you complete at least three of the project options, then see Mr. Faig to start working on programming a game.===