Partnering for Youth Project A to Z

Technology Zone South America QWERTY Lesson

Grades 3 - 5 Materials 26 letters (A-Z bold and printed on 8 x 11 cardstock) (Support Material) Please print the letters on white cardstock, but print the letters A,S,D,F,J,K,and L on another color paper, such as blue, to indicate that these letters are home row keys Roll of masking tape Excellence in Technology certificates (print out one per student) (Support Material) Projector Computer YouTube Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips link (refer to link in Inspiration) Focus Students will view a short film clip on computers and the important pieces of hardware that make a computer function. They will then learn more about the keyboard (a communication device and piece of hardware) by completing an interactive QWERTY lesson. A large keyboard will be placed on the floor and students will take turns using it to spell out words chosen by the instructor. Each student will earn a technology certificate by viewing the film clip and participating in the QWERTY lesson. Objectives When students complete this activity, they will: Recognize the patterns and arrangement of the letters on a keyboard Familiarize themselves with keystrokes Define the term, hardware Identify the various pieces of hardware of a computer Integration of Academic Skills Writing, Interpreting, Inferring, Sequencing Words you can use hardware physical pieces of a computer and its equipment that you can see and touch (i.e.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, CDs, etc.) keyboard the piece of hardware that allows you to communicate with a computer through keys. Some keys have special functions (such as Escape, Space, Print, etc.), while others mean specific letters and numbers. Inspiration Background (to be read by instructor to prepare for lesson)

Computers are made up of both hardware and software. In elementary terms, software is whats inside the computer, such as programs. Microsoft Word is an example of software. Hardware is also part of the computer, but these parts can be felt and seen. A keyboard, a monitor, and a mouse are all examples of hardware. One important part of hardware is the keyboardit is the way we communicate with the computer. Being able to navigate the keyboard is important, and students can become acquainted with the keyboard by learning the sequences of the letters and where they are located on the keyboard through the QWERTY lesson below. Instructors, before the lesson, please set up the computer and projector. Use the site coordinators log in ID and password to access the Internet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIXW2pvCDtE&feature=youtube_gdata_player Use the link below to set up the short movie clip, Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips. Similarly, please make sure you have a Excellence in Technology certificate printed out for each student. Also, before the lesson, use an empty hallway or large space to set up the keyboard. Use the 26 printed cardstock letters and a roll of masking tape. In the large area, tape each letter down in the same sequence as a keyboard. Use the guide below: QWERTYUIOP ASDFGHJKL ZXCVBNM Ask and discuss the following questions contributing background information and additional questions when appropriate. What do the home row keys mean? Why is it important to know these keys? ASDF, JKL (do not discuss the ; unless some students already know); it is important to know these keys because they are the keys your fingers should position themselves on to get the most effective reach/access to all of the keys when typing. Exploration Instructors, please make sure you have taped down the A-Z keyboard in a large designated area, such as a hallway, before the zone begins. Also have the Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips video clip ready to play for when the students come in. As students arrive, have them sit down at a computer, but do not have them turn the computer or monitor on. Tell them that by completing this lesson today, they will earn a certificate that shows their understanding of technology, but they must participate by watching the video and taking part in the keyboard lesson. Start the Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips video. At the end of the video, spend approximately 2-3 minutes summarizing the video clip. Ask the students what hardware is. Have them look at the computer in front of them at their seats. What pieces of hardware do they see? Next, have the group move to the keyboard that is taped down in the hall/other designated area.

Tell the students that these keys are in the same pattern that they are on a regular keyboard. The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn the home row and the different position of keys on a keyboard. Ask them what they think the colored keys in the middle are. If no one identifies them as the home row keys, explain to them that these keys represent the home row. Then explain what the purpose of the home row keys are. Have a student volunteer (or the instructor chooses) to go first. Have the rest of the group stand around the keyboard or off to the side. Tell the students they will be stepping on each key as a way of typing. Please stress the point that this is NO race, but an exercise to learn where they keys are. Have them step carefully on the letters so not to tear them! Give each student a word that they will have to type by stepping on each letter one at a time. Instructors, please choose the words. The words can range from the students name, a vocabulary word, technology word, etc. Have the students take turns typing words. At the end of the zone, hand out the Excellence in Technology certificates to those students who participated in the lessons.

Reflection While passing out certificates, have the students sit back at their seats. Challenge them to try and place their fingers on the home row keys and practice extending their fingers to the different letters. Have them pretend type different words, but making sure they begin each word by having their fingers placed on the home row. For those students who have still not grasped this concept, have them practice typing and finding the different letters on the keyboard.