This task will enable you to work in the following areas of Desirable Outcomes for Early Years:

• Language, Literacy and Communication Skills and Personal and Social Development, or
• Mathematical Development, Knowledge and Personal and Social Development, or
• Understanding of the World and Physical Development and Personal and Social Development.

It will make teachers aware of how the Internet can be used to download images to be used as a resource to enhance themes and topics through teacher-made activities. Also how useful web sites can be used by pupils to enhance learning across the Early Years curriculum.

This task entails using a desktop publishing (DTP) package. An additional support program such as Clicker Plus or a concept keyboard could be used with some of the downloaded images with a DTP package.

Task:

Decide on the focus for the activity and the desired learning outcomes.

Using the Internet, demonstrate to pupils how to use the mouse to select or drag to move objects on screen.

Prepare differentiated, cross-curricular tasks/activities that will allow pupils to:

• use relevant WWW sites to support current activities by using the mouse to select or drag to move objects on screen
• use teacher-made activities, which involve extracting images from the WWW and inserting into a DTP package to create screen-based and printed resources to support a theme or topic
• work collaboratively
• talk about their work

Learning Outcomes for the Teacher

Using the Internet, knowing how to:

• locate useful web sites and bookmark or add to hotlist
• extract images from the World Wide Web (WWW)
• insert images into a DTP package
• create screen activities or print out work, linked to class theme or topic, for pupil use
• save, retrieve and amend work

Resources

• word processor/DTP software
• computer
• printer
• Internet access and suitable adult supervision

Teaching Strategies