Let's go to the zoo

Franklin - In Susan Ottogalli’s K-4 computer classes, Franklin Borough School, the children have taken on several roles these past few weeks. They started out as explorers learning how to use The San Diego Zoo Presents: The Animals 2.0 software. After investigating and learning about many different kinds of zoo animals and their care in the zoo setting, they then became researchers. The children chose an animal that they wanted to learn more about and set off to research facts about the animal’s diet, habitat, defense in the wild, and geographic origin. The next role the children assumed was that of author. The younger (K-1) students used Kid Pix Studio Deluxe as their authoring tool. They drew a picture of an animal and wrote the name and a brief rational as to why it was chosen. Then they indicated the descriptive works being spoken by using the speech feature in the software program. The students in second grade used Microsoft PowerPoint to develop a three-slide presentation. Students in grades three and four will also use PowerPoint to design a nine-slide presentation which will include a bibliography page. Working on this project has been an enjoyable activity for the children. They are not only using technology to conduct research, but they are also using their writing skills to share their information with an audience.