[LM_NET] HIT: HELP for easy WORD lessons Part I of 2

[Kathy Hintz <kmhintz@YAHOO.COM>]

Thanks to everyone who replied with great ideas. I really needed that memory jog.
   
  Here is Part 1:
   
  Kids like free things, and kids like downloading stuff, so a lesson 
that will 
probably really stick with them would be how to download and install 
OpenOffice 
at home. With OOo they can do the things they've learned in Word 
because almost 
all of the behavior is the same, but they'll save their parents the 
cost of 
buying this expensive program just to write a few papers.

I would teach the use of styles as the most fundamental skill usually 
overlooked by word processor users. Styles are important for modern 
word 
processing, but their use also spills over into many other computing 
skillsets, 
especially in the age of the web (styles will be great for students who 
are 
later learning HTML and XML and CSS).

========================================
    Shelly-Cashman produces a textbook (used in high schools and colleges) that 
might provide the easy lessons you need. Although it is used in higher ed, don't 
let that scare you away. They typically contain very little reading and a lot of 
pictures. You would be able to pick and choose a topic to teach using their 
lessons. 

   
  I love to do name signs to teach formatting. I usually have done it with second 
grade but the basic skills are good for anyone. It should be one half hour lesson 
and lots of fun.
   
  1. Type their name. 
  2. Highlight.
  3. Copy
  4. Press Enter.
  5. Paste. - You can use the keyboard shortcuts here to teach that. (Prepare for 
oohs)
  6. Make 10 names total. 
  7. Highlight first name.
  8. Locate it on line - center, tab, right justify - use this to teach ways to get 
the word across the page.
  9. Format - font, color, size, other aspects of formatting (this lets them get 
choosing all different types of fonts out of their system)
  10. Do this with the rest of the names.  They should have their name in different 
fonts and colors all over the page.
  11. Print - but only if it's one page.  How can they tell that?
  12. Print Preview. 
   
  Skills - copy, paste, keyboard commands, justification, centering, tab, 
formatting, print preview
     

   
  this is really simple as I use it with 1st grade.
  I like to read Chrysanthyum by Kevin Henkes.
  We discuss and talk about their names, how they got them. I tell them to ask 
their parents why they gave them that name etc. 
  Then they are instructed how to open a MS word doc
  Type their first and last, middle is optional
  Then I teach them how to change font color size, etc
    Also you can teach them word art with their name. They love that. Print it in 
color and they can put on their room door at home

   

Do you teach changing fonts? Size? Word Art?

One activity our kids like is writing their names in

as many different ways as possible.

 
  
What about inserting a graphic?

   
   

For 3rd & 4th short, easy lessons are best:

copy and paste

how to spellcheck (especially showing how it isn't perfect!)

dictionary, thesaurus

insert clip art (from file, from online clip art gallery)

Word Art

Insert a table

Proper use of bullets

Fonts

Justification

Formatting (at the end of a document!)

setting tabs, margins

Insert page break

 
  
Just look at a Word document and you'll probably come up with more.

   

I use these tutorials with my 6th graders, but maybe you can some how

incorporate it with your 4th grade classes. They are fun lessons.
  
http://www.kidsnetsoft.com/applications/word.html 


 

I use WORD to teach icons and also do a Cinquain poetry with them. I 

Also teach WordArt, which is fun :)

The icons are on the 5th grade on my site: www.mikids.com

 
  
(I used GOG (Good old Google) to find a cinquain lesson  KH)


If you haven't yet, check out http://inpics.net/word2003.html for a 

picture-based tutorial on using Word. Your students might take to it 
  
and/or it might be helpful to you teaching them.


How about a simple flyer.  Have the kids brainstorm an item they wish to promote, 
or a school event, or something the wish to sell.  I used our school carnival in 
this project.  Again, this was for a class that I took.  I'm sending you the 
directions …
  Creating a Flyer in Microsoft Word 
  Goal: To be able to create a quick, creative flyer for use in your classroom or 
school.
  Directions: We will use the school carnival as an example, once you understand 
these procedures you will be able to create your own flyer for any occasion.
    
   Open Microsoft Word and change all margins by going to File - Page Setup, click 
on the Margins tab, and then set the margins for 0.75. Leave Orientation on 
Portrait. Click OK. 
  Notice, all four margins set at 0.75.
    
   Now pick one of these topics: Games, Food, or Prizes.   
   On the Menu Bar - Go to Format – Borders and Shading   
   For now, bring the Page Border tab forward. Someday you should experiment with 
the Borders and Shading options.   
   Click on the drop down arrow under the Art heading and choose a border that fits 
your topic. I chose food and then a cake border.   
   Under the Width heading you can make your graphic smaller or larger, I 
personally like to make them as large as they’ll go which is 31.   
   If you can change the color of your border the Color area will be available 
also. The cake graphic can not be changed.   
   Notice the Preview area, if you do not wish to have your border surround the 
entire document, you can remove by clicking on the buttons that apply to the 
borders, try it, notice how this changes your document, it might not be the effect 
you want especially when using graphics.  
  Color heading, not available
  Width heading.
  Options button.
  Art heading.
    
   The next thing you’ll want to do is click on the Options button on the right 
hand side. See where it says: Measure from, using the drop down arrow, change from 
Edge of Page to Text. This keeps your border from being cut off at the bottom of 
the page. 
  Measure from: Text
    
   Click OK, then click OK in the next dialog box.  
   Now go to Insert – Picture – Word Art. (If your Drawing toolbar is open you can 
click on the blue A to bring this up).  
   Choose a style then type in your category. Click OK   
   You can now format, resize, change colors, etc. by using the options on the 
floating Word Art toolbar that appears when you Click on your text in your 
document.   
   Now let’s add a graphic. Go to Insert – Picture – Clip Art or Click on the 
picture icon on the Drawing Toolbar that says Insert Clip Art.   
   In the Clip Art column on the right, type your category name in the Search for: 
box and Click Go. Click on the graphic you want, and notice a drop down arrow 
appears and you can Insert from here, or just Double Click the graphic. It is now 
in your document where you can resize and/or position. 
    
   You can now add the text in a variety of manners besides using a text box. A fun 
way is using AutoShapes located at the bottom left side of your screen. Click on it 
and explore the different choices.    
   Click on one and it will insert into your document, if you get a screen that 
says: Create your drawing here. Hit the esc key on your computer and it will 
disappear and you end up with a plus sign that allows you to create your shape. 
Experiment with this.   
   Draw your shape, then Right Click on it, go to Add Text and type in your 
information.      
   Next, fill your shape with a color by clicking on it to highlight, make sure 
your Drawing toolbar is still on, then using the drop down arrow by the paint 
bucket, choose a color to fill your shape or Right Click on your shape and go to 
Format AutoShape. 


 
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