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Computer Capers

Fun K-8 home/school activities that reinforce Indiana Academic Standards using computers to encourage students to draw, research, calculate and express! Though we have discontinued the monthly Computer Capers publication, sign-up for our email list to receive notification of upcoming grants and workshops.

Get to Know You Graph

Get to know your new friends and classmates a little better by surveying them to determine their favorite school subjects. Use a scratch piece of paper and write down all of the subjects you study in school. Survey at least 15 of your friends and classmates and put a tally mark (or their initials) next to the subject that they have selected as their favorite. Next, make a graph out of your notes by placing the data into a spreadsheet. Type in the subjects going down Column A and then in Column B enter the total number of tally marks for each subject. Finally, highlight all of the entered data and select the menu item to make a "chart." Choose the type of display that you would most like to view your data: bar graph, line graph, or pie graph. Finally, use your graph to answer some questions about your data. What subject was the most popular? Least? Do you think the data would look the same at the end of the year? Why or why not? What subject got your vote? Is it that same as the most popular? Is there a new friend that voted the same? What else might you have in common? Have fun finding out and getting to know him or her a little better!

Indiana Academic Standards

Grade Level K-2

Mathematics - Number Sense

Sorting Solid Shapes in a Spreadsheet

Search for these solid shapes around your home and make a list of them as you find them: cube, cylinder, rectangular prism, sphere, cone, pyramid and cube. Go from room to room as well as taking a look outside in nature.

When you are finished with your list create a new spreadsheet on your computer. Place the shape types in each of the columns. Next take a look at your list and type in each item that you found underneath the appropriate column. Now that your shapes are all sorted answer the following questions:

• What shapes did you find the most of? Why do you think they are the most popular shapes in your home?
• What shapes did you find the fewest of? Why do you think there are so few?
• Were there any shapes that you found the same number of?
• What was the most interesting object you found that fit into one your solid shape categories?

Will you ever see the solids in your home the same way now that you've sorted them?

Indiana Academic Standards

Grade Level K-2

Mathematics - Geometry

Spelling in Cells

Want a fun way to practice your spelling words and build your vocabulary at the same time? Begin in a spreadsheet by writing at least 10 of your spelling words across Row 1 of your document, one word to each column. Now, under each spelling word, write as many new words that you can create using only the letters in your original spelling word. Put each new word in its own cell going down the column, row by row. From what word could you create the most other words? What spelling words generated the same numbers of other words? What word was most difficult for you to use to create other words? How many total words did you create, not including your original spelling words? Did you spell all of your new words correctly?

Indiana Academic Standards

Grade Level K-2

English/Language Arts - Reading Vocabulary

Spelling Squares Game

Learning is always more fun when a game is involved. Use your computer to make a spelling game that you can use to practice your weekly spelling lists. Begin with a spreadsheet. Make each of the rows and columns wider and taller so that you have equal sized squares. Format all cells so that there is a thick border around each and that the character inside is aligned in the center, both left to right and top to bottom. Now place a letter into each cell. You may want to take a look at your spelling list to see which letters are most commonly used. For instance you may want to make at least 2 of each letter, maybe 3 or 4 of the vowels and other popular letters. Finally, print out your letter cells on card stock and cut them into squares along the border. Now you can play! Have a friend or parent call out a spelling word on your list and see how quickly you can find the letters on your game pieces to spell it correctly. Save the game pieces in a zip lock bag to practice with all year long.

Indiana Academic Standards

Grade Level K-2

English/Language Arts - Writing Conventions