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Subject

English Language Arts (2005)

Prerequisites

• Student should be familiar with the basics of Microsoft Word, basic formatting and inserting pictures, Clip art, WordArt and Charts.
• Student should also have some experience in Internet use, searching and acquiring images.

Materials

• Access to PCs
• Access to the Internet

Procedure

Begin with a lesson on using the drawing toolbar. Then proceed with creating the timeline so students can apply their newly acquired skills.

Prepare Worksheets

1. Vocabulary sheet – use the vocabulary sheet attached
2. Drawing Toolbar Quiz – use the Quiz attached

The Drawing Toolbar Lesson

1. Hand out the vocabulary worksheets.
2. Have student's open Microsoft word. Have each display the drawing toolbar – from the menu bar chose View – Toolbars – check drawing – this displays the drawing toolbar docked to the bottom of the window.
3. Explore the drawing toolbar letting students create AutoShapes, lines, arrows, rectangles and ovals. For each one, click the button and then click and drag to draw.
4. Draw a text box and click inside to type in text.
5. Experiment with the 4 buttons for inserting graphic images. These are shortcuts to the exact same dialog boxes you get from choosing insert from the menu bar above.
6. Begin formatting the shapes, lines and text you created using the fill color, line color and text color buttons. Notice your choices of more colors, fill effects and line patterns below each of the color palettes.
7. Continue formatting with the line, dash and arrow style buttons. Add shadows or dimension to your shapes with the shadow and 3-D style buttons.
8. Group shapes together by selecting several shapes (select a shape – press the control key and continue selecting shapes) On the Drawing toolbar click Draw in the left corner – choose group. The selected shapes should now resize and move together.
9. Order is used when shapes or text lay on top of each other. Select what you want to order – choose draw – choose order – make your selection. There are six choices of bring objects forward or backwards.
10. Rotate or flip an object by also clicking on Draw – choose rotate or flip.
11. Students can use the Vocabulary sheets to study for the Quiz.
12. Give Quiz at the next class.

Creating the Timeline

1. Open a new Word Document.
2. Decide if you want your time line vertical or horizontal and use Page Set Up to either portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) your paper.
3. Insert a long narrow text box in the center of the document for the dates. These should be in general with a starting and ending date and a few in between. Use Tab to space out your dates.
4. Choose approximately six specific dates and captions for the time period covered. Create a text box for each, begin with the specific date of the caption and then add the text. Place your boxes above or below the date bar near the corresponding date. Use the line tool to attach lines from the text box to the corresponding time on the date line.
5. Briefly review Internet Safety rules. Have the student's search for images. To insert images right click – choose copy – select your Word document – click and choose paste. Format your pictures to float in the document – right click – choose format picture - choose layout - choose through.
6. Add a title using WordArt or a nicely formatted text.
7. Format your text choosing fonts, styles and colors. Format your text boxes with line colors and fills.
8. Make final adjustments, everything can be moved around easily by clicking and dragging.
9. When complete, print.

   Comments

   The Lesson
   

   • To locate each specific button on the Drawing Toolbar, follow the vocabulary words beginning with AutoShapes and proceed to the right ending with 3D styles. The other commands are located under Draw to the far left.
   • This lesson creates a rather jumbled document of shapes and is intended to let students explore the many facets of the Drawing Toolbar.
   The Timeline
   
   • Information for timelines can be acquired from many places, including directly from student's History books. The website listed below has a large amount of information broken down into a large variety of time periods.
   • Coordination of color should be stressed. You many want to limit the number of colors students can use.
   • Check that text is readable from a short distance so timelines can be displayed. Use clear, bold fonts.
   • These timelines can be displayed and referred to during corresponding lessons. More ideas on using timelines can be viewed in related content section below.

   Description

   Students create timelines that will include captions and pictures using Microsoft Word, more specifically; the Drawing Toolbar elements, and the Internet to gather pictures. This lesson relates to Social Studies timelines but can be adapted to create timelines in other subject areas.

   Website(s)

   Time Lines of History
   

   Resource/Materials

   Sample Timeline
   Vocabulary Sheet
   Drawing Toolbar Quiz

   Assessment

   Use the Creating timelines Rubric for assessments.

10. Creating Timelines Rubric

Related Academic Standards

New York State

CDOS.I.3a.TE.5.A Students select and use appropriate technology to complete a task.

CDOS.I.3a.MI.6.A Students select and communicate information in an appropriate format (e.g., oral, written, graphic, pictorial, multimedia).

7W4 Create a poem, story, play, art work, or other response to a text, author, theme, or personal experience.

7W6 Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, drawing on multiple sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate. Generate additional related questions for further research and investigation.

W.7.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.

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