Computer at CKS

The Kindergarten and 1st grade curriculum is all about getting to know the computer and having fun with learning. In these grades the students explore the computer and the Internet to become more comfortable with the machines that are becoming a more important part of their learning.

The second and third grade curriculum begins the process of moving from learning about the computer to integrating the computer into the students' regular studies. The students will come to see the computer as a tool to enhance their learning, and improve their understanding of the world around them. The second grade continues with their Microsoft Office studies, but now they use the program, combined with the Internet to research and create presentations on a number of topics. Third grade the students begin to use the computer for word processing, including typing practice with Type To Learn and independent exercises with Word. As well, third graders will have the most complete integration of their homeroom subjects with Publisher.

The curriculum for the fourth and fifth grades is one of integration and adaptation. Both grades develop typing and writing skills?the fourth grade through automated programs like Type to Learn and fifth grade through creative writing exercises that require them to create stories from images. Each grade is completely immersed in PowerPoint and Excel, 4th grade for integrated projects relating to Georgia history and colonial studies. The 5th grade uses PowerPoint more independently, creating presentations on topics of their choice, in a gaming format. Publisher is another main program used by these grades. The 4th grade makes colonial newspapers and 5th graders create travel brochures for their immigration unit.

Middle School students apply standard productivity tools (e.g., database, spreadsheet, drawing, and painting software) in sophisticated ways to track trends, make predictions, evaluate data, and create illustrations that are applied in real-world situations to solve real-world problems.

The Internet becomes a vehicle for collecting and exchanging information, verifying information, and exploring ideas and cultures through communications with content experts and students from other countries. Multimedia-authoring software, integrated productivity software, and graphing calculators become the tools for analyzing and illustrating data, information, diagrams, and graphics collected through research on countries, economies, trends, and issues. Collaborative projects using a variety of technology tools for content learning address the need for individuals to cooperatively solve problems and generate strategies for addressing public issues.