Introduction to Publisher

Introduction to Publisher

Watch the following video to learn more about what publisher can do!

Holiday Wish Lists

Holiday Wish Lists

As part of our Microsoft Word 2010 instruction, students were asked to make a bullet list.  In this case, my students created a "wish list" using the bullet feature in Word.  After completing the list, they were to turn it into a slide show using Pwoerpoint!  Check out the videos below to see how to make one for yourself!

Advanced Students click on the following video after finishing the basic wish list powerpoint!

The very advanced students can click here to learn about animations!

Supermuncher

Supermuncher

How to player and old MECC game called Supermuncher!

This is a good way to practice your reading skills as well as Earth Science because you will need to know what a Mammal is, what insects, reptiles, and  even animals with hooves!

 

This game is only available at out school.  I am not aware of a place where you can purchase it, but you might try looking it up in google.  It has a copyright of 1991!  Good luck.

Kid Pix- for elementary students

Kid Pix

For Elementary Students

Kid Pix is a drawing program that young children grades K-5 enjoy.  It has various academic parts such as letter stamps which work out  great for our younger students. There is also a section for typing using the keyboard. 

Older  students like to use this program during their free time choice at the end of technology class for just plain old drawing and fun!

It is on a CD and can be purchased for about $20-40.

Here it is for  a good price!

or try Amazon.com

Please note that we have the "old version"  called Kid Pix Deluxe, made for Windows 98.

Typing Programs- PAWS In Typing Town

Typing Programs- PAWS In Typing Town

Every student in the United States should know how to type with two hands using a standard QWERTY style keyboard.  The lowest functionable rate of speed in my opinion would be 20-25 words per minute.

I teach elementary as well as middle school level students.

At the elementary level I use a program called PAWS In Typing Town.  It was creted in 1996 and sold by Thompson Learning Company copyrighted by The Cute Company. It is pricey for the average home user but I have had some parents find it for a reasonable price.  Before you consdier buying it new, you might check Ebay.

Check out my videos showing what the program we call "PAWS"  looks like!

A few links:
 McGraw-Hill
Ventura Educational Services

Another video explaining where you might buy it. 

Keep in mind that something similar would work fine as well!

Ebay Overview 101

Over the years a few adults have expressed interest in learning how to sell items on Ebay.  Since my own Aunt  recently asked for some insight, I figured others out there would appreciate this lesson.

Well, you should first understand how it works and eventually work your way up to making a few purchases before you ever attempt to sell.


In this lesson, students of all ages will learn that eBay is one example of a database that can be sorted many ways.  You will learn to search for "fun" things but you won't know how to bid just yet.

My next eBay lesson will be about signing up for an eBay account and Paypal account (younger students need to have their parents handy for that lesson).

Happy Learning!

Current Events

This is a lesson for my students on current event videos using the web sites of www.foxnews.com and www.cnn.com.

Current Events

This is a lesson for my students on current event videos using the web sites of www.foxnews.com and www.cnn.com.

Microsoft Excel- An Introduction

This past week I have been busy introducing folks to spreadsheets.  Specifically Microsoft Excel 2003 version.

Since spreadsheets have many uses from counting money to charting highs and lows and taking inventory, I thought you might like this little overview of Excel.

Once you know a little about Excel- watch as I explain how you can grab a package of multi colored candy and practice your spreadsheet skills!

Now that you know more about Excel- try listing five of your favorite burgers from McDonalds.  Go to www.mcdonalds.com and look up the calories in each burger under the FOOD, Nutrition section.

 (Please note that it will be a pdf file which mean you need Adobe Reader)

Graph your results using the Chart Wizard in the toolbar just as you saw me do in the video!

Want another fun assignment?  Take a handful of Fruit Loops or Trail Mix.  Count and sort according to color and graph them!

Spreadsheets can be real fun!

Live Web Cameras

Daily lessons that are meant for adults and older students are posted during the school year and then ocassionally throughout the summer months.  If you would like to get these lessons delivered to your in box, please leave me your email address using the form on the right or sign up to follow me using RSS.  As always, I appreciate your comments.   

Spring is Here!

I always think of Spring as the time for bird babies, wild animals being born, and bears coming out of hibernation!  Thanks to live web cameras, I can see the action first hand including straight from the bird's nest.

Try out this camera to get a sense of what a live camera allows you to see!  As of April, there were three baby eagles in the nest and both male and female eagles co-parent.

Try this Eagle Cam out of Norfolk, VA!

Live web cameras are most fun when indivduals have placed them in locations such as outside looking at bird feeders, inside a chicken coop,  in local dog pounds, in a goat pen , puppies (with sound) and even watching the family dog at the kennel  There are companies and zoos that also share great web cameras.  Almost any vacation destination has a web cam and the same is true for most larger zoos.

There are other cameras that are great year round, not just baby bird season.  Try my favorite streaming chicken camera (with sound) where you can actually feed the chickens dry corn every 10 minutes!

A web camera such as the one in the below picture can be used to send video streaming throught the Internet for others to watch.  Using a website like Justin TV and an inexpensive camera, you could post your own live camera! 

They can be simple and upload a picture every few seconds or they can be a little more expensive and "stream" the video to the Internet.   Most of my favorite cams are streaming.  Only a few have sound!

And the National Zoo in DC has so many live cams!  Give them a try.  A virtual field trip to the zoo.

There are so many live animal cams out there!  Have some fun today and

 look up LIVE ANIMAL CAMERAS or LIVE ANIMAL CAM in google.

A word of caution:  Not all live cams are appropriate for children. Always provide supervision when using google.   Even when supervising please make such to preface your search terms with an animal name such as:
horse cam  or horse live cam
chicken cam
dog cam
puppy cam

You might be inspired to have a live camera at your own home or farm.  If you run into a good one, please come back and share it with me!