Google Earth Challenge

Think you're up for the challenge?  See below for a Clue Sheet and a map of the world.  Want something fun to do this summer while exercising your technology skills?  Try to race your friends across the globe!
**Answers are posted below just in case you are stuck!**

Week 34-37: Amazing Race through Google Earth!

To end the school year on an exciting note, we are reviewing all that we have learned this year in computer lab through a race around the world!!  Mimicking the tv show Amazing Race, students will have to answer a set of clues and fly to unique places around the globe.  Join us on this AMAZING RACE!!

WANT A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE TV SHOW?  CLICK HERE!

WORD OF THE WEEK: Fonts

If you've ever looked at a magazine, you can easily pick out the words that grab your attention.  Maybe they are larger than some or in big, bright colors... or maybe they are written in a creative way.  You can do that with FONTS.  Fonts can be thought of as the design in which words appear.  Just like one's handwriting is very unique, so are one's fonts.  It can be unique to the project that you are creating.

As you are creating your t-shirt design, making an invitation, or even designing a poster in Microsoft Word, pay attention to the way in which you can make your words appear.  If you feel as if you still would like your words to look differently, check out online places to download fonts of your choice.  I love the website www.dafont.com!

Dafont.com even has recognizable fonts from popular books, movies, and music!!

Week 32 & 33: Design your own t-shirt!

As we are ending the school year, I wanted to teach something fun that all students could work on over the summer to brush up on their technology skills.  By using a program all students are familiar with [MaxWrite for kids K-2 and Microsoft Word for students 3-8], students can step into the role of a graphic organizer to design their own t-shirts!

EARTH DAY:
Since most homerooms are discussing Earth Day, students first started brainstorming about Earth Day t-shirt designs.  To get our brains moving in the right direction, we first watched the trailer for Disney's Planet Earth.  For some more creative ideas, we checked out poster designs that artists around the world created.  Since their goal was to combine both text and images to create an "Earth Day" graphic that could be worn on a t-shirt, this was great inspiration.  Check out that website here!


Once we finished our brainstorming, we started imputing our designs into the computer.  Of course, after the students designed their own Earth Day designs, I encouraged them to try designing their favorite sports jersey, class t-shirt, or future SMOY emblem.  As we are ending the school year, I wanted all students to realize they had the tools to do amazing work in a software program they all had access to.  It is my job to teach them the skills they need, as I would love all students to explore and take their learning to the next level!

NEED ANOTHER EXAMPLE?  
Check out this t-shirt that Miss Wilmes made for her drama program!  She just found an image on Google that she liked and added in some words in a cool font of her choice.  It's that easy!