The First and Second Graders, are learning about different parts of the computer and how the parts work. They are learning how to access the internet, how to access MrC's Bookmarks, how to use the "Back" button, how to close windows, and how to close applications.

The Third and Fourth Graders, have been keyboarding, using the home row, and learning the proper stretches for each letter. They have been practicing proper techniques by typing without looking at their keyboard while typing the ABC's. The 3rd and 4th graders have learned how to add backgrounds to PowerPoint slides, how to change backgrounds, how to use a background from the internet, how to create designs in paint and Hyperstudio and add those designs to their PowerPoint slides as backgrounds. The students then added word art, slide transitions, and custom animations to each slide.

The Fifth Graders have completed a "President" PowerPoint Presentation, Each student selected a different president, researched the internet for presidential facts about their president, saved those facts in an excel document. With this information and graphics they have built slides. Each student is presenting their presidential project to their classmates.

The sixth graders have just completed a Country PowerPoint Presentation. The students researched facts about their country and built slides using the facts. Students then have added slide transitions and custom animation to complete their presentation.

The seventh grade students did a PowerPoint "Life Timeline". For every year of their life they have researched the internet and found facts. They have illustrated these facts by drawing them in a paint program, and then used these graphics to create PowerPoint slides. The class is then placing each student slide into one class files with news events and photos from 1994- 2007 with slide transitions and animations.

draw an object and make that object move, or make that object change with slide transitions and/or custom animation. Some examples were a rocket taking off, orbiting the moon, and splashdown and a cow jumping over the moon.

The 7th graders are now running a public service campaign in Microsoft Publisher, creating business cards and signs.

The eighth grade students have completed their "Decades" PowerPoint project. Each student researched a decade 1940's through the 1980's. They were required to find 20 facts in one of the following categories: historic world events, historic U.S. events, world leaders, people in the news, politics and government, inventions, firsts, and new products, sports, entertainment, and fashion or the cost of items then and now. The 8th graders this year have added a new category - Science and Technology. They created all the graphics to illustrate their facts, and added downloaded sounds to their slides. The 8th graders are now writing scripts for a newscast of an important day in American History. They are recording this newscast on video, and will use video editing software as needed.

This year, 5 students, Delora Nelson, Eric Villalpando, Bailey Bryan, Mada Hauck, and Madison Lenzini have typed the alphabet in less than 3 seconds!!! As of now, Bailey Bryan holds our school record at 2.37 seconds to type the whole alphabet. Amazing!!!

If any parent or student would like my GoogleDocs Bookmarks of educational sites, just send an email to MrC@stviatorchicago.org and I will send you an email with the link. There are links to sites and activities for all ages preschool to 8th. The page is being updated constantly. If you have a link that you would recommend to others, send me the web address and I will check it out!