Grade 4
Unit 4: Advance iLife

Standards Assessed
(1) Creativity and innovation. The student uses creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge and develop digital products. The student is expected to:
(C) use virtual environments to explore systems and issues.

(4) Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. The student researches and evaluates projects using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to:
(C) evaluate student-created products through self and peer review for relevance to the assignment or task.

(5) Digital citizenship. The student practices safe, responsible, legal, and ethical behavior while using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to:
(G) comply with fair use guidelines and digital safety rules.

(6) Technology operations and concepts. The student demonstrates knowledge and appropriate use of technology systems, concepts, and operations. The student is expected to:
(E) use proper touch keyboarding techniques and ergonomic strategies such as correct hand and body positions and smooth and rhythmic keystrokes.

Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions
Overreaching…
  • Self and peer assessment results in a better product.
  • Virtual environments show complex systems and issues where skills are applied to specific circumstances.
Tropical…
  • Workstation setup and student postures contribute to increased productivity.
  • Individuals have rights and responsibilities that must follow copyright and Fair Use Guidelines.
Overreaching…
  • In what ways does this product met our goals?
  • How can I use a virtual environment to define and solve a problem?

Tropical…
  • How does the way I sit and use my hands help finish the assignment?
  • How do I use technology responsibly?

Knowledge 

Skills 
The student will know... 
  • Understand the importance of self and peer assessments when trying to meet a goal.
  • Understand the value of and practice self problem solving and using all available resources.
  • Understand and practice good computer posture, and keyboarding skills.
  • Understand and demonstrate guidelines set by the Fair Use Copy Right Law.
The student will be able to...
  • Know how to self evaluate and how to check a project ensure benchmarks have been met.
  • Know how to research answers to questions on the internet independently.
  • Know and demonstrate good posture when sitting at the computer and typing.
  • Know and follow copy right law.

Performance Tasks  (main subject integration: Social Studies)

  • Goal: Students create a literary magazine designed for colonial kids about historic American events between 1754 and 1865.
  • Role: Students are the journalist for the only magazine designed for colonial kids in the United States, For The Kids, By the Kids.
  • Audience: Your audience range from children of angry colonists, to the kids of the first citizens of a new nation, to the sons and daughters of US citizens struggling in a country divided.
  • Situation: Not many people know about the For The Kids, By the Kids, America’s first newspaper made just for kids. As journalists, you will create headlines, write articles, and create illustrations and maps. You have been hired to write stories about key events in early American history in a narrative, story telling form. cover a series of events covering the American Revolution, Building a New Nation, and A Nation Divided.
  • Product: You will create an commemorative edition of For the Kids, By the Kids by compiling an archive of newspaper articles, maps, and illustrations to be published and circulated among new students learning about US history for the first time.
  • Standard: See Technology Standards.