Week 12 - Saving (Snowmen)

I gave the first graders a tough challenge this week: think of a way to make a snowman that will never melt. There were some very interesting suggestions...robot snowmen, giant freezers in the hallways of Baker, snowmen made of huge cotton balls, etc. Eventually we came up with a more practical solution. We created snowmen on the computer AND SAVED THEM. This way, we can look at our snowmen no matter what the weather is outside...10 degrees or 110 degrees! I was so happy to see how well the first graders did with this activity. But I have to admit, I was kind of excited about the idea of a robot snowman. Oh well.

Week 11 - Saving (Gingerbread House)

This week, the Baker first graders worked on another great creation...a gingerbread house. They worked very hard and made some amazing (and tasty looking) houses. After experimenting with candy canes, icing, lollipops, hard candies, and gingerbread men, the students were warned that they'd better save their work before I run around and eat them all up. Good thing they've been practicing how to save or they'd have no more houses...and I'd have a big bellyache. Crisis averted.

Week 10 - Saving and Drives

I  showed the first graders a picture of two elephants I drew on the computer about seven years ago...before some of them were even born! How was I able to show them this illustration after seven years? I SAVED IT!

I try to equate the drives and saving process to something more familiar to them...a house. I tell them that the computer is like a house with several different rooms (drives). Some of the rooms are off limits (like an office or their parents' room). Some are open for everyone to enjoy (like the family room). And some are just for them (like their own bedroom). To save a project, they must follow a series of five steps to get into their room and put that project into a drawer where it will be kept safe. They must follow these steps to keep the project safe (save it). Again, it's tough concept to understand, but they'll get there! Even if they don't have the memory of an elephant.

Week 9 - Keyboard and Mouse FUN!

Due to Election Day and the NJEA Convention, this was a short week. Only one first grade class had computers this week. So it seemed like a great time to have some FUN (while secretly practicing the keyboard and mouse...shhhh...don't tell the kids). First graders had their choice of ABCYa games to play...Type Rocket Jr. (learn the location of the different keys while making fireworks explode in the sky), Fuzz Bugs Patterns (click and drag on tiny scurrying bugs and put them in a pattern), or Little Jane (maneuver the mouse to guide Jane and her balloons around sharp obstacles in the sky). Good times!