First Grade

Typing

Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to help students become familiar with Microsoft Word.

Materials:

  1. A computer for each child
  2. Child’s name tag or spelling words

Technology Standards:

Basic operations and concepts: Students demonstrate a sounds understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.

Social ethical and human issues: Students practice responsible use of technology systems information and software.

Technology productivity tools: Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

Activity:

  1. Students log onto their computers.
  2. Introduce students to Microsoft word
  3. Click on start
  4. Scroll up to Microsoft Word and left click
  6. Once Word is open introduce students to tools found at the top of your blank page. Students are going to be introduced to the different styles of font and the different font sizes.
  7. Instruct students to click the small upside town triangle next to the words “ Times New Roman” found at the top of the page. Explain to students that “ Times New Roman” is the name of a font. When they click on the small triangle they are going to be exposed to many different types of fonts.

  1. Have students scroll up and down the fonts until they find on they would like to use. They can scroll the different types of fonts by moving their mouse up and down. To view more fonts have then click on the small triangles found within the new font scroll bars. Once students pick a font have them type their names.
  2. Instruct students to do the same thing in a new font. Students can now type their name again or work on spelling words. After a few different fonts have been used. Introduce how to change the size of your font which is found on the tool bar right next to font names. Explain to students they can access different font sizes the same way they picked a new font. Have them experiment with different font sizes.

  1. After students have experimented with different font styles and different font sizes introduce them to font colors. Have students locate the large letter A found in their tool bar. Have them notice that there is thick line underneath the letter A. This line is going to show them their font color. ( Right now the line should be black because we are typing in black.) Have students move their mouse so that their arrow appears on the large letter A. Have them left click on the small triangle to the right of the letter A. When they do this a color table should appear. Students can now scroll over to any color they would like to use and click on it. Their font will now appear this color.

  1. To close the activity students need to pick a font style, size and color and type a sentence on what they liked about this activity and/or what they learned. Underneath the sentence have students type in the date.