The Technology Curriculum

While at The Carey School, students focus on developing and practicing the skills and experiences they need to be successful in middle school and beyond. The technology curriculum emphasizes the following skills in order to prepare students for academic success:


  • How to research a topic using Google and other search engines
  • How to paste illustrations and/or pictures found on the Internet into documents
  • How to touch-type 20+ words per minute
  • How to create and edit word processing documents (MS Word)
  • How to enter data into a spreadsheet and chart and graph the results (MS Excel)
  • How to organize and prepare a multimedia presentation (MS PowerPoint)
  • How to design and organize a small website (HTML)
  • How to print, save, and retrieve files in a networked computer environment
  • How to make a tri-fold brochure How use a variety of creative software programs for learning and communication


PRE-KINDERGARTEN

The pre-kindergarten curriculum emphasizes the development of basic mouse and keyboard skills. Additionally, the curriculum seeks to provide ample opportunities for students to explore and learn about computers and software. Examples of software used in pre-kindergarten include KidPix, Mouse Practice, Millie’s Math House and the Putt-Putt Series.


KINDERGARTEN

The kindergarten curriculum reinforces mouse and keyboard skills. Additionally, students create and print documents that combine artwork with words and ideas. Examples of software used in kindergarten include the Putt-Putt series and Kid Pix.


FIRST GRADE

The first grade curriculum provides a transition for students to document-based applications and the skills needed to open, use, and save simple documents. Students begin to explore how to type using Type to Learn Jr., Kid Pix and MS Word software programs. We also begin to utilize educational Web-based sites such as Seussville (www.seussville.com) among others.


SECOND GRADE

In second grade, students are introduced to the process of browsing the Internet and searching for specific information. Students search for images online as well as answers to questions. Students create presentations for projects related to oceanography, US states, animals, and so on. Software used includes MS Word, MS PowerPoint, AJKids.com, and Google.com, Kid Pix, and Type To Learn Jr.


THIRD GRADE

In third grade, the curriculum focuses on asking the children to research topics on the Internet and create multimedia presentations that include images, graphs, text, and appropriate formatting. Students are asked to summarize the information they gather from the Internet and utilize a variety of software to format a final product. We also explore digital photo editing, concept mapping, and a software program called UltraKey that develops touch-typing skills. Other programs used in third grade include MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, Type to Learn Jr., The CIA World Fact Book website, AJKids.com, TypingPal.com, and Google.com.


FOURTH GRADE

In fourth grade, students focus on outlining and formatting a California Mission report. As a class, students have a graphing project (spreadsheet) that charts the temperature in major cities around the world. Examples of software used at this level include MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, TypingPal.com, AJKids.com, Google.com, CNN.com/Weather/, The CIA World Fact Book website, an HTML editor program for creating web pages tag by tag, and UltraKey typing software to advance their touch-typing skills.


FIFTH GRADE

In the fifth grade, the curriculum focuses on finding accurate information on the Internet for answering research questions and creating more advanced presentations that might include, for example, tri-fold brochures. Students also develop an in-depth, well-formatted PowerPoint presentation from Internet research they have conducted over many weeks. Additionally, via the Internet, the fifth graders track the value of a stock investment and chart its performance value in MS Excel. Students also use HTML tags to create, from scratch, a well organized, multi-page website. Touch-typing proficiency continues with UltraKey keyboarding software. Other project possibilities include programming a simple video game using Stagecast Creator software or using Apple iMovie to create a 30 second information commercial. Examples of software used at this level include MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, UltraKey, TypingPal.com, AJKids.com, Google.com, CNN.com/Weather/ and the CIA World Fact Book website.


APPLICATIONS AND HOMEWORK

The Carey School uses Macintosh computers running Mac OS X and Microsoft Office. This combination makes it easy even if your family has PC versions at home.


If you bring documents formatted in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel, we can read them. Just bring the documents to school on a CD-ROM, USB Flash Drive, or a plain old floppy disk. Or you can email the documents to Barney Desroches () and the files will be put into your child’s Document folder on the server, where they can be saved or printed.