Grade 6 Units

Unit 1 - Wide, Wide World of Computers

• Students will review the different types of computers. (I.D)
• Students will review the different uses for computers. (I.E)

Comments

Teachers should discuss different computer platforms with students and how people use the computers in similar ways to accomplish tasks. These tasks will include the seven major uses.

Unit 2 - Computer Legalities

• Students will review the copyright laws and what the laws mean to them. (I.H)
• Students will become familiar with the increasing issues of privacy with the computer boom caused by the Internet. (I.I)

Comments

Make sure that the students understand the differences between public domain, freeware, shareware, and commercial software. Have students identify different types of information about them that might be available to the public via computers.

Unit 3 - Keyboarding

• Students will continue to develop correct keyboarding techniques. (II.B)

Comments

By this stage, students will need to be encouraged to practice keyboarding. Set some requirements for the students. Most typing programs allow a pretest. Use the pretest to help each student set a reachable goal for the end of the unit.

Unit 4 - Keyboard Shortcuts

• Students will use the keyboard shortcuts to accomplish certain tasks. (II.C)

Comments

This unit may be implemented with a variety of software. Teach the students where to find the shortcuts (i.e. in the Macintosh Finder, shortcuts follow the command on the menus) and the students can learn the shortcuts through using them.

Unit 5 - Macintosh Finder

• Students will demonstrate a mastery of the Macintosh Finder. (III.A)

Comments

This means they will be able to perform all functions necessary for the creation, editing, filing, and printing of a document.

Unit 6 - Word Processing (III.D)

• Students will review the proper skills necessary to move within a document.
• Students will edit their documents for mistakes and correct them.
• Students will format their documents using a variety of skills.
• Students will use headers and footers in their documents.
• Students will use columns within their documents.
• Students will format paragraphs within their documents.
• Students will use tabs to organize information in their documents.
• Students will construct an outline of information.
• Students will add clip art to their word processing document. (III.G,H)

Comments

In this unit the students will review skills and terms taught in fifth grade. It is important that the students all understand this before moving on. These skills are crucial for later assignments involving the word processor.

Unit 7 - Database (III.E)

• Students will review the basic concepts of a database.
• Students will create fields for a simple database to be used as an address book.
• Students will use the layout given by the computer to enter data into the database.

Comments

Encourage the students to outline what they would like to include in their database before they begin to create any fields. Emphasize that each student should include what would be valuable information for themselves. However, the teacher should require name, address, etc.

Unit 8 - Graphics (III.G)

• Students will be introduced to the differences between painting and drawing.
• Students will be introduced to the basic tools from each palette for painting and drawing.
• Students will understand the benefits from using a graphics grid.
• Students will use a scanner to digitize printed images.

Comments

This unit is designed to show students which tools from which module will accomplish certain tasks. If using ClarisWorks, the screen could be divided between two windows, one for drawing and one for painting. This would allow the teacher to demonstrate some of the differences between the two. Allow the students to explore both environments (Painting & Drawing) to learn what the tools do. It is suggested that the students be assigned one project to complete using the graphics modules. A good wrap up project would be to scan an image and then work with it in both environments, using paint to modify the image and drawing for layout as in a newspaper.

Unit 9 - Using the Internet

• Students will begin to use searches to research information. (III.I)
• Students will learn to create their own list of bookmarks. (III.I)
• Students will extend their skills in other curriculum areas by using the web to browse related subjects. (III.I)
• Students will be introduced to downloading files using the Web Browser. (III.I)
• Students will be introduced to E-mail and will send and receive E-mail. (III.J)
• The students will be encouraged to use E-mail to correspond with another person outside of school (teacher guided). (III.J)
• The students will exchange E-mail with fellow classmates. (III.J)
• Students will use E-mail as another means of gathering or requesting information. (III.J)
• The students will master the use of E-mail. (III.J)

Comments

The students will most likely encounter downloading when they are reading files. This would be a good opportunity to introduce downloading to all students. Searchers may include more advanced researches. The use of the E-mail will not be taught in seventh or eighth grade; therefore, the teacher should be sure that each student is proficient in its use.