Brooklyn: Our Beloved Borough
HOW IT WORKS
Brooklyn: Our Beloved Borough integrates technology
into the social studies and language arts curriculum. The students use the Internet to
research the borough of Brooklyn as part of the Neighborhoods and
Communities curriculum. The students visit various websites to
research their topic and gather relevant information. They report what
they have learned by writing in a variety of interesting formats. The
students must first edit and revise their writing before it is published with
the aid of the computer. Using Microsoft Publisher software, they create
postcards and travel brochures about some of the different tourist
attractions found in Brooklyn. They write books on various aspects of
Brooklyn using Microsoft Word, and also create slideshow presentations about the history of their
neighborhood using Microsoft PowerPoint. At the completion of their work, their families are
invited to a Technology Expo, during which the students proudly display their
fabulous projects.
THE STUDENTS
Twenty-three second grade students participated in this program. The
children worked on their project two times a week in their classroom.
The class worked on both small group and individual projects. This
program can easily be adapted to all grade levels and academic
achievement levels. A teacher can alter the program by finding
various websites that are appropriate for the students’ academic level.
THE STAFF
Terri Olivieri has been teaching second grade for ten years. She
received both a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a
Master of Science in Elementary Education from Brooklyn College. This past June, she received a Master
of Science in School Administration and Supervision. This is the first year that she has implemented
Brooklyn: Our Beloved Borough. She previously received an IMPACT II
Award in 1995 for a grant entitled Proud Pupils’ Press. In addition,
she has led several technology workshops for both teachers and parents
over the past five years.
WHAT YOU NEED
Required materials include computers with Internet access, a printer (a
color printer is preferable), Microsoft Office (which contains
PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word), and books to supplement the Internet for
research. A digital camera is optional.
OVERALL VALUE
This is an excellent program that boosts the participants’ self-esteem
while integrating technology into the social studies and language arts
curriculum. The students improve in language arts because they
research, read, write, revise, and edit their pieces. They improve in
social studies as they become aware of their community and its rich
history. In addition, through their research, they become proficient in
technology. Most importantly, students will feel successful and proud
when their completed work is published and justly celebrated.
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