What have we been up to in technology?? K-3

Hello, friends!  Sorry that my posts have been far and few between.
Here is an update on what the students have been learning in technology lab.

• KINDERGARTEN:  Every week I locate a few new educational activities/games for our youngest KCSMA knights to explore.  Almost all of the students have learned how to double-click to open the Kindergarten folder on the desktop, and then double-click the game that they want to play.  Through this, not only are they learning technology skills but also reading, to read the titles of the games in the folder, which are always simplified to be easy to read and remember. If a student chooses to want to paint or type instead, that is always a choice.  My objective is to keep them engaged for the full 45 minutes, and they are always happy when that is happening!  **Starting Thursday, we will explore Microsoft Paint in preparation for this 9 weeks' technology standard:  Use drawing tools to create an original illustration or picture story.
  
• FIRST GRADE:  My objectives for First Grade at this time are very similar to those of Kindergarten, as we have to work less on classroom procedures with first graders.  Also, the games are more difficult and challenging and incorporate more math and reading skills.  First graders are more prone to being able to assist their peers with troubleshooting.  We have also been able to practice shutting down the computer correctly at the end of each technology session.  **Starting Thursday, we will be exploring Microsoft Paint's features, in order to create a picture that tells a story.  We will extend this later in the year to create a concept map on Paint.
  
• SECOND GRADE:  Second graders have really been enjoying the various games that I have located for them to practice math, reading, and technology skills.  I have to say the most popular has been Fun Brain Math.  What I really like about this site is not only all of the math games but the reading as well.  So many students choose to sit and ready chapters of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" during some of their technology time.  They have also enjoyed the Mad Libs section of this site.   ***Starting Thursday, we will be creating a brainstorming map about Fall on bubbl.us.  Students will be encouraged to attempt to create a brainstorming map on their own.  (This is the 2nd grade technology standard for this 9 weeks)
  
• THIRD GRADE:  A few weeks ago, we started a bit of Internet research, just to get our feet wet.  We will continue with this in different subjects at intervals throughout the year.  I have also realized that breaking a technology lesson into chunks is the way to go.  The key is to keep it fun and rewarding, to keep them interested for lifelong learning.  **Starting Thursday, Third grade will be learning/practicing how to search for an image and then saving it to a folder on the hard drive.  We will then insert this image into a document and write about it.  (2nd 9 weeks' technology standard in Third grade:  "Uses appropriate keywords and search strategies to locate information (text and pictures) online")