Created By: Merrie Najimy

Grade Level: Primary

Curriculum Area: Science

NSTA Standards Addressed:

Content Standard D: Earth and Space Science Standards As a result of their activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of properties of earth materials, objects in the sky, and changes in earth and sky

Technology Skill Level: Moderate

Student Grouping: Individual

Materials:

Computers

KidPix Studio Deluxe

The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown

Procedure:

Part I: Off the computer (about 3 class sessions)

1. Read The Important Thing by Margaret Wise Brown
2. Discuss the pattern in the book
3. Model how to use the pattern from the story to create a three line summary for each type of cloud. The summary will begin the following way: The important thing about a (Cummulus, Cirrus, Stratus, or Nimbus) cloud is that ….
4. Give each student a "cloud planning packet". The packet should contain four pages (one for each cloud), which students can use for their first draft of writing and illustrations.
5. Have the students design one cloud scene on each page of the packet. They may use information from pre-selected web sites or classroom books.
6. The students should write three lines describing attributes of each cloud type such as color, shape, size, texture, or behavior.

Part II: On the computer (about 4 class sessions)

1. Introduce the process of designing a KidPix cloud picture by modeling which drawing tools and stamps to use and how to use them to create an authentic cloud scene.
2. Design one page in front of the class talking about what you will put in the scene. Be sure to emphasize the characteristics of the illustration and its relationship to the text.
3. Discuss the attributes that will make the picture authentic (for example, only one sun and no stamps from the monster collection).
4. Students spend time working from their planning pages to reproduce their illustrations that depict the attributes of each cloud.
5. Once the illustrations are finished, the text of The Important Thing summary should be added (use adult volunteers for this step.).
6. After the text is added the students will begin putting the four pictures into slideshow format and adding transitions.
7. Finally the students will read their important thing summary into the slide show to create sound.

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