Early Elementary - Primary Best Uses for the Internet:

Shelby AlfordCandace Brownfield

Sara FuselierHala EsmailKelly Kelly

10 Best Uses of the Internet for Primary Grades:

• 1. Online Learning- these practices allow students to communicate and identify thoughts through online work page sites

• 2. Publishing - using technology to create and share student work.

• 3. Classroom Website

• 4. WebQuest

• 5. Virtual Tours

10 Best Uses of the Internet for Primary Grades: Continued

• 6. Keypals

• 7. Wikis

• 8. Podcasting

• 9. Educational Games

• 10. Communication/ Collaboration

Early Elementary Best Use #1:

• 1. Online Learning – these practices allow students to communicate and identify thoughts through online work page sites, such as www.internet4classrooms.com, which provides interactive learning in all primary subject areas. (Access Information and Communication and Collaboration)

• Idea: Use the site above to enhance student learning and achievement focusing on Louisiana GLE’s for Kindergarten.

• Subject Specific: Math (Number and Number Relations) (GLE’s: N-1-E, N-3-E, A-1-E, N-@-E, N-6-E, M-1-E, N-4-E) – These GLE’s refer to counting, identification, comparing, and using concrete objects as models.

Early Elementary Best Use #2:

• 2. Publishing - using technology to create and share student work.

• Idea: Students create a short story on an assigned topic. Then, after editing, their stories are published on the “primaryweb” web

• site for all to see. They may also use• tools to illustrate their work.• Subject Specific: As a standard 5 for

kindergarten states, students are required to use technology to produce class work (ELA-5-E4).

A classroom website is a great way for teachers, parents, and students to collaborate together.

Scholastic offers a step by step guide to creating a free class webpage: http://teacher.scholastic.com/homepagebuilder/

On School Notes teachers can post information homework and other class information on their own personal page for parents to access. http://www.schoolnotes.com/

Suggested Items to place on a class webpage: The teacher’s name and grade level

A picture of the whole classA table or chart with the following links:

-Class roster -Teacher contact information

-Student and parent resources-Student pictures -Class Newsletter

-Homework Assignments

Check with the Technology Coordinator at your school for help and suggestions for creating a class webpage.

 A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web.

Below is a list of recommended literacy based WebQuests.       

    Create a Flag WebQuest http://asterix.ednet.lsu.edu/~lou2/Kelly/flag/index.htmThe Create a Flag Webquest is appropriate for students in first through third grade. During

this WebQuest the students are invited to create a flag based on their special features. 

  An Insects Perspective http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/insects/This WebQuest integrates both literacy and science skills for second and third graders. The students work independently and collaborate with others to explore the world of bugs! This

site also has excellent teacher resources. 

     Author Cards http://www.west-bend.k12.wi.us/webquest/ms/author/Default.htmHere is a very creative WebQuest that has students create their own Author Card. This

WebQuest is appropriate for third graders, but the idea can be modified for first and second graders. 

  Toys of the Future http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/Academics/LS/2/toys/index.htmToys of the Future is a great resource for teachers to use to create a lesson for third

graders. This site gives great step by step instructions for a teacher to develop a Toys of the Future WebQuest. 

 

Virtual Tours are multimedia guided tours allowing students to see the

world from their computers.Below are links to some virtual tours.

• Medieval Castle Virtual Tour http://www.nationalgeographic.com/castles/enter.html This is a tour of a medieval castle. You follow the mouse through the castle and read about the different areas he brings you in the castle. (Social Studies)

• Space Shuttle Columbia Virtual Tour http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-90/vrtour/checkpoint.html This is a tour of the space shuttle Columbia. It allows students a chance to see the different parts of a space shuttle before it launches into space. (science)

• Virtual Tour Link Page http://www.jdenuno.com/VirtualTours.htm This page offers over 25 different virtual tours related to science. Some are for primary grade levels such as: Living Children’s Multimedia, The Story of Milk, and The Virtual Cell (taught in 3rd grade).

Keypals allow students to have electronic penpals using

e-mail

This would be a great social science and English assignment. The students learn

about other students immediate environment and write a paragraph

comparing the two cities. Social Studies:G-1C-E4, G-1B-E1 English: ELA-3-E2, ELA-3-E2, ELA-5-E4, ELA-2-E1, ELA-2-E4

Students can e-mail a class in another city in Louisiana to learn about their

culture, community and physical land region.

Wiki

• A wiki is a collaborative web page that allows multiple authors to add, change and edit content.

• Your elementary class can collaborate and create their own wiki.

• Sample lesson: Students can read a story and research information on topics relating to the story. Students can then collaborate to add information, pictures and links to the wiki. They can also make comments on eachothers lessons and receive feedback from a variety of sources.

• Links:

Podcasting

• A Podcast is an audio or video file which is posted online.

• Podcasting can be used for your students to express their ideas about classroom subjects or experiences.

• Sample Lesson: Have students reflect on a field trip they have taken and apply what they saw to classroom topics and real world events. Audio and/or video record their responses and combine them into a podcast to publish online.

• Links:This site has many sample podcasts that real students in real schools– The education podcast network

Educational Games

• Great to use for early finishers• Makes learning fun• Increases students’ interest in subject area• Provides an interactive way to learn• Websites:

– http://www.gamequarium.com/ – http://www.primarygames.com/– http://www.mrnussbaum.com/gamescode.ht– http://www.abcya.com/

Communication

• Uses of Online Communication:– Communicate with experts– Communicate with other students from different schools– Communicate with students from other countries (Ex: Keypals,

E-pals)• Benefits of Online Communication:

– Supports an active, student-centered learning environment; – Promotes global relationships and cultural understandings – Exciting and motivating for both teachers and students – Enables students to enhance their communication abilities

• Sample Lesson: – After reading a book in class, students can come up with

questions that they would like to e-mail the author.