Educational Activities (Lesson Plans) The Winnipeg School Division No. 1
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Science - Solar System Planet Essay Planner

Language Arts
ON

Science
Yes

Description
Using Microsoft Note-Its instructions for writing an essay about a planet can be included in a file so that students can independently create an essay which includes pertinent information organized into paragraphs.  Since directions are included, more time is available to teacher to circulate among students.

MultiClassPlan
Yes

Tech Skills
opening/closing/renaming/saving/printing word processing files

Software
Microsoft Works 3.0 or higher

MiddleYears
Yes

T1
grades 5/6

SubmittedBy
Steve Broda-Milian

Collaborators
Kim Grewe

Acknowledgments
This activity was developed entirely be Ms Grewe.

E-mail: kgrewe@wsd1.org, sbrodamilian@wsd1.org

Details:

This activity is contained in one Microsoft Works file, SESSAY.WPS.   For use on a network, this file should installed in a shared, read only directory on the server (Winnipeg School Division uses S:\2Student). To download this file, click on this link SESSAY.WPS.

After launching Microsoft Works and opening the file, students are ready to work.  Be sure to have students save the file with a unique name in another drive.

To save the first time:
Click on File
Click on Save As
Type in a file name
Choose a drive (If you choose a:\ be sure there is a disk in the drive)
OK

This activity makes use of what are termed Note-Its.  “Note-It lets you add a pop-up note to any Windows document that supports embedded objects.  Once the note is in your document, you can open and read the note, move the note, copy the note, change the size of the note picture, or delete the note.” (Microsoft Works “Help”)

The Note-Its in this activity contain instructions as to what information is to be included into each paragraph of an essay about a planet of our solar system.   Students are directed to double click each of the note-its (pictures of the Earth in this case), write a  paragraph containing the information called for underneath it, then double-click on the same note-it a second time to confirm that the correct information has been included.  The note-it is then deleted.  Students repeat this process for each of the note-its.  The net result is an essay about one of the planets of the solar system which is organized into appropriate paragraphs which include information that is deemed necessary.

Following this model, students can produce as many planet essays as the teacher deems appropriate.  Participating in the process more than once is beneficial.

As an extension to the original activity, students may be directed to include additional paragraphs, clipart, Paint images, etc.