Name: Carla Hockenbury
School District: Hamilton Township
Category: 6 to 8
Title: Whole Language with Powerpoint
Supporting Materials: PowerPoint Presentation

• To be able to use the Internet and links to locate specific information.
  
• To be able to plan out a presentation by storyboarding.
  
• To be able to summarize information.
  
• To be able to save files on file server in appropriate location and open them.
  
• To be able to use the spell checker.
  
• To recognize the effect colors and fonts have on a presentation.
  
• To be able to cite an Internet resource.
  
• To be able to add clip art, images, transitions, and animations to a PowerPoint presentation.
  
• To become familiar with the vocabulary associated with on-screen presentations.
  
• To be able to edit a presentation.
  
• To recognize the value of an on-screen presentation.
  
• To be able to present an on-screen presentation.

New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards addressed

Cross-Content Workplace Readiness:
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.4, 3.8, 4.1,
4.3, 4.5, 4.9, 4.10, 5.1, 5.3, & 5.4

Visual & Performing Arts: 1.3.2 & 1.6.3

Language Arts: 3.1.8, 3.1.14, 3.2.7, 3.2.8, 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.3.5, 3.3.6, 3.3.8,
3.3.10, 3.3.11,3.3.12, 3.3.17, 3.4.6, 3.4.7, 3.4.8, 3.4.10, 3.4.12, 3.4.25, 3.5.2, 3.5.7, 3.5.14,3.5.15

Summary of Lesson

Students create and present a PowerPoint presentation based on the whole language theme for the marking period. Directions, suggested topics, links to general web sites, and further reading suggestions are available on the school's web site for each theme. Students are to find three articles on their topic and to record the information needed to cite references. They read through their information and plan out a storyboard for the minimum twelve slides (title, reference, and ten content slides).

After they have created their slides, they print out a draft copy (six slides per page) for the teacher to proof read. Next they edit the text, add pictures, animations, and transitions. During the last class, they use the LCD projector to present their completed project to the class. After the presentation the class is asked to comment on what they liked about the presentation and how the instructor could make improvements.

Equipment

Computer with Internet connection, LCD projector Software: Netscape Communicator, PowerPoint

Materials

School Web pages with links to resources for each topic Handouts: Online References, Storyboarding worksheet, Creating PowerPoint Slides, Project Checklist, Classroom Connect's Citing Internet Addresses Guide, On-screen Vocabulary worksheet, On-screen Presentation Test

Detail of Activities

Presently, for this unit students meet once every six school days for two periods (80 minutes) for a marking period
(usually seven times). The marking period themes are American Revolution (which is also being studied in history
and music at that time), Science Fiction, Medieval Times, and Heroes for All Times.

Lesson One

• A general overview of project is given to the students before they are directed to the
  Web page created for that marking period (see attached printouts of Web pages).
  
  
• They must select their topic and use the links provided to find their three articles.
  
  
• When they find an article they want to use, they are to print it out and record the author, name
  of article, URL, and date (see Online References).
  
  
• If they find pictures they think they would want to use, they are to record the previous
  information also. This way they will be able to return to the site later.
  
  
• All of this information is kept in a folder.

• Students are shown a sample presentation using a LCD projector, so they understand
  what a PowerPoint slide is and have an idea what they will be creating.
  
  
• They finish finding their three articles on their topic.
  
  
• Next they read through the material highlighting the information they want to present.
  
  
• Then they storyboard their presentation (see Storyboarding Worksheet).

• Students are reintroduced to PowerPoint. They are walked through starting a presentation, selecting a slide layout, applying a design, inserting new slide, viewing slides in different modes, scrolling slides, using bullets, and saving on network.
  
  
• Pass out and discuss handouts - PowerPoint Project Checklist and Creating PowerPoint Slides.
  
  
• Students spend the rest of the class creating slides.

• Before continuing work on their presentation, a brief lesson is taught on the differences between serif, sans serif, script, and decorative fonts, and the effects of font sizes and colors.
  
  
• The correct way to cite their references for the information and images they found on the Internet is also discussed before they continue. Pass out handout - Citing Internet Addresses
  
  
• Students continue working on their presentations.
  
  
• Those who finish may return to the Internet and look for images to use in their presentation and save the images in their network file.

Lesson Five

• Before starting their PowerPoint work, there is a demonstration and discussion on inserting clip art and images and adding animations, sounds, and transitions.
  
  
• Students then continue working on their project.
  
  
• Before the end of this lesson, they are to print out their presentation putting six slides on a page.
  The teacher will proof these before the next class.

• There is a discussion regarding the vocabulary involved in creating an on-screen presentation. During this discussion, students complete the vocabulary handout (See Onscreen Vocabulary worksheet).
  
  
• Proofed printouts are returned for student editing.
  
  
• Students are to complete presentations.

• Students are given a test on the vocabulary and class discussions (see On-screen Presentation Test).
  
  
• Students are given approximately ten minutes to run through their presentations.
  
  
• Then they present what they have created to the class using the LCD projector. They may read their slides to the class or
  just elaborate on the material, but they are required to speak while they are showing it.
  
  
• After each presentation, the rest of the class is asked to comment on what they liked about the presentation and how the instructor could make improvements.

Student Feedback and Assessment

• Teacher observation
  
• Student participation
  
• PowerPoint Project Checklist
  
• Student comments
  
• Test

Additional comments and suggestions

Throughout this project, students are encouraged to assist each other. This unit is easily adaptable. A handout with Web addresses could be used instead of Web pages with links. Previously, this was taught using desktop publishing with a newsletter format instead of PowerPoint.