Complete Guide Follows on the Next Page

Christmas Acrostics

Handout

(Complete guide follows on the next page)

December 25, 2012

Dear ______,

MERRY

C ______

H______

R______

I______

S______

T______

M______

A______

S______

LOVE,

P.S. For Christmas I hope ______

Christmas Acrostic

Language Arts, Social Studies

Word Processing, Internet

Web Sites:

Objectives:

Students will use a word processor to create an acrostic poem.
Students in K-2 will visit to learn about the History of Christmas and select an appropriate image for their poem.
Students in grades 3-8 will “Search” the Internet and locate 3 web sites to use in their research of the history of Christmas. Students will add properly cited pictures and 3 interesting facts to their document from their research.

Model Academic Standards:

Language Arts:

E.4.1 Use computers to acquire, organize, analyze and communicate information

B.4.1 Create or produce writing to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes

B.4.2 Plan, revise, edit, and publish clear and effective writing

E.4.5 Analyze and edit media work as appropriate to audience and purpose

F.4.1 Conduct research and inquiry on self-selected or assigned topics, issues, or problems and use an appropriate form to communicate their findings

Technology:

B.4.6 Follow a set of instructions to produce a product using appropriate tools and materials

Assessment: Student created Microsoft Word document which includes an acrostic poem, graphics and researched facts.

Word Processor Skills:

Open, New, Save and Exit files
Format Font, Size & Color of text
Add a Page Border that is “measured from text”
Copy, Paste and cite text and images from the Internet
Format images using Watermark and Wrapping-None (Office 97)

Washout and Behind Text (Office 2000-XP)

Internet Skills:

1. Click on a hyperlink in a Word Document to visit a specific web site

2. Enter the address of specific web site in an Internet browser address bar

3. Use Search to locate websites with appropriate information

4. Use the BackForward buttons to navigate in a web site

5. Copy and Paste text and graphics for use in a word-processed document

6. Copy website addresses for proper citation in a word-processed document

Preparations and Procedures

Christmas Acrostic

Preparation:

1. Explain acrostic poetry, pass out the sample for this project

2. Brainstorm with primary students and create a list of possible words that

could be used for each of the letters of “Christmas”

Procedures:

1. Open a new Word Processor file.

2. Save: Click File, Save As, determine saving: location, choose a filename for students - for example, ‘John-Thanks’. Click Save.

3. Change the font size to be “18” then type “Dear Mother,” on the first line.

4. Press the Enter key 2 times to leave a blank line, then type “HAPPY”

5. Press Enter 2 times to leave a blank line, then type each letter of Christmas on a separate line pressing the Enter key just one time between lines.

6. Use the arrow keys to position the cursor just to the right of the letter “T”

7. Explain to students that they will need to change the font to size 12 to add the words, phrases or sentences for each letter in Christmas. A common mistake students will make is to press “Enter” after they have added their text– this is an excellent opportunity to have students click on the “Show/Hide” button and demonstrate “erasing an Enter”. Explain to students that they should use the “down arrow” instead of the Enter key to move between lines that already exist – otherwise they will add blank lines.

8. Type “LOVE,” and leave space for students to personally sign their name.

9. Add a Page Border. (see Rubric for procedure)

10. Add 1 or more Christmas pictures from the Internet using copy & paste

11. Format the pictures so they do not move the text. (see Rubric for procedure)

Office 97 Users: set Wrapping to “none”

Office 2000-XP Users: set Layout to “Behind Text”

12. Add a picture in the“Background of the Poem (see Rubric for procedure)

Office 97 Users: Watermark

Office 2000-XP Users: Washout

13. Guide students in using the “Search” button to locate 3 appropriate Web

Sites. Ask students what words to use in the search then test the answers.

14. Add 3 interesting facts about Christmas to the document:

- State the facts using your own words or

- Copy & paste the exact text and put inside quotation marks

15. Cite each "source" using right align on the next line. (See example)

Extra Activities (accelerated students)

1. Locate a Christmas Web Site with quizzes and games.

2. Take the quizzes and play the games.

3. Be ready to tell the class about the Web site you found.

4. Draw a picture using Paint.

5. Select, CopyPaste the ClipArt created in Paint to the Worddocument.

6. Properly format the picture so that it does not affect the text. (see step 11)

December 25, 2004

Dear Mother,

MERRY

Christ is our Savior.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

Rejoice

LOVE,

Edward

Interesting Facts about Christmas:

1. Christmas was not always on December 25th. “In the Western world, the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354, replacing an earlier date of January 6th” .

Source:

2. Decorating Christmas trees started in the 16th Century. “Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas Tree with candles, to show his children how the stars twinkled through the dark night.”

Source:

3. “Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem.”

Source:

Christmas Assignment Rubric

Web Sites:

Level 1: (grades K-8)

___ 1. Open a new Word Document & Save as directed by your teacher

___ 2. Using size 18, create the Acrostic Poem Format (see example).

___ 3. Using size 12, add words, phrases or sentences for each letter in “Christmas”.

___ 4. Print Preview, Print. Students should sign their name personally under LOVE.

Level 2: (grades 3-8)

___ 1. Add a red or green “Page Border” that is “measured from text”.

Procedure: Select Format: Borders and Shading, click the “Page Border” tab, then click the “Options” button (lower right corner): change the “Measured from” section from “Edge of Page” to “Text”: Click OK. Then select a “Setting” (“box”, “shadow” or “3-D”), select a style, and select a color: Click OK.

___ 2. Add 2 or more Christmas “Pictures” from a Web Site (or use Clip Art)

that do not affect the position of the text in any way.

Procedure: for each picture, click on the picture, then:

- Select FormatPicture, click Layout, click Behind Text (Office 2000, XP) or

- Select Format: Picture, click Wrapping, click None (Office 97)

___ 3. Add a Washout (“Watermark”) picture to appear in the background

Procedure: Click on the picture, then select FormatPicture, then click the Picture tab.

- In the Image Control area change the Color to Washout (Office 2000, XP) or

- In the Image Control area change the Color to Watermark (Office 97)

Format the picture for movement without affecting text (see step #2 above)

Level 3: (grades 6-8) (need The Internet or Encyclopedia)

___ 1. Research Christmas using 3 different sources (websites).

___ 2. Add the 3 Facts about Christmas.

-rephrase facts using your own words or

-copy text from the Web Site – this text must be put inside quotation marks

___ 3. For each fact, properly cite the source and right align (see sample).

Extra Activities: (K-8)

___ 1. Locate a Christmas Web Site with quizzes and games, then play.

___ 2. Copy the address of the web site and show to family and friends on Christmas.

___ 3. Make small changes to your Acrostic Poem

CHRISTMAS