Responding to Literature with ClarisWorks for Kids

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ClarisWorks for Kids
	What does it do? ClarisWorks for Kids is an integrated software program that is like having 5 programs in one. It consists of a word processing, database, draw, paint, and spreadsheet application. The term integrated means that you can use the different funcions in Appleworks together in one document. So you don't have to use a drawing document to draw a picture and a separate program to write a letter. It can all be done on one page.
Online Resources for ClarisWorks/Appleworks Jordan School Tutorial and Examples Teacher Tools: Templates and ideas for math, lesson planning, and spelling Folk and Fairy Tale News Template Appleworks Clip Art Appleworks Drawings by 4th Graders Working Out with Appleworks by Margeret Henderson GREAT RESOURCE Writing Slide Shows from Kodiak Alaska: Nice student examples (and M+M Graphs with student developed questions) Draw Program Templates for Middle School Art Tips and Tricks for Appleworks Appleworks.com Overview of All Elements Exemplary Projects in ClarisWorks (and other tool software) Alaska and the Iditerod: pre-reading activities Rush Elementary School ClarisWorks projects and templates for teachers Animal Classification Worksheet Davidson Ideas and Templates (Some Kid Pix in here too) Construction Zone book to order from Computer Literacy Press Directions for creating slide shows ClarisWorks drawings enhanced with oral reading recordings using Quick Time Counting

Responding to Literature with ClarisWorks/Appleworks

Literature: any non-fiction text about animals (ie. Eyes on Nature series by Kidsbooks, Inc)
Software Tool: ClarisWorks for Kids, by Davidson Associates
Additional Internet Resource:

Zoom School Animals from Enchanted Learning
KidsPlanet
Animals of the World from Kids.com

Grade Level: 2-3

Tasks:

Shared or Guided Reading: While reading, call attention to the way authors in non-fiction texts organize paragraphs. Notice that many paragraphs begin with a main idea and then have several details about that idea. Take turns locating paragraphs and decide which sentence gives the main idea and which gives the details.
Center Activity or Guided Reading: Students read pre-selected books that contain information about animals. Students choose an animal to research and use the classification study sheet to locate and write down information about that animal. Later, they can plan the way their slide show will look using the storyboard template.
Center or Partner Activity at Computer: Students use the classification sheet and storyboard template to the computer station and use ClarisWorks to design their slides. Later, slides can be put together in a slide show to share with others.

Product Example:
Animals Slide Show: (These are two sample slides from an animal project completed by third grade students at Dublin City Schools in Ohio.)

Assessment Idea:
Students who have completed these tasks can be assessed in four areas (quality of text, technology skills, teamwork and overall presentation) using a rubric.