RETA Training Module: Where in the USA?

RETA Training Module: Where in the USA?

RETA Training Module

Where in the USA…?

Created by

Denise Alaniz

Jolynne Catanach

Leigh Ann Leigh

Barbara Lowder

Debbie Purvines

Maria Velasco

INTERNET IMAGES

Images and backgrounds viewed on the Internet may be saved onto the hard drive and/or a floppy disk. Once saved, the images and backgrounds are accessible to be used on web pages. In addition, the images may be inserted onto various documents. In building a tri-fold brochure, insertion of graphics provides the reader visual conception of the written information. Follow these instructions to save, copy, and insert graphics:

SAVING GRAPHICS OFF THE INTERNET – Allows placement of image in a selected position on the tri-fold brochure.

1. Open your Internet browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer, etc.)
2. Place cursor on desired graphic
3. Right click for menu
4. Select SAVE IMAGE AS
5. Save dialog box will appear and the default folder will be open in the SAVE IN window. A default name of the graphic will appear in the FILENAME window. You may change this filename if you wish, and you may change the folder in which you save this graphic file. Remember that if you wish to save the graphic to a floppy, you must change the SAVE IN window to read 3 ½ FLOPPY [A:].

COPYING GRAPHICS OFF THE INTERNET – Works well when sending documents through e-mail or in the web.

1. Open your Internet browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer, etc.)
2. Place cursor on desired graphic
3. Right click for menu
4. Select COPY IMAGE LOCATION
5. Go to appropriate position on tri-fold brochure and select PASTE. The image’s http address will be placed in this area.

INSERTING GRAPHICS ONTO TRI-FOLD BROCHURE – Actually places graphic onto selected position within the tri-fold brochure.

1. Position cursor in desired area to insert graphic
2. Select INSERT, PICTURE, FROM FILE (Word) OR Select INSERT, GRAPHICS, FROM FILE (WordPerfect)
3. Find the desired graphic either on the floppy or hard drive
4. Make certain its name is selected and shows in the FILENAME window
5. Select INSERT

Graphic may be formatted by using the handlebars to resize or by left clicking on the image to access formatting menus.

TRI-FOLD BROCHURE IN COREL WORDPERFECT

ROUGH DRAFT - Fold a piece of paper into a tri-fold brochure form and label the six sides of the tri-fold. Unfold paper, lay it out, and use it to begin the designs based on the arrangement of the unfolded sheet.

PAGE SETUP – Format page in landscape mode (Format, Page, Page Size, Click radio button for landscape mode, Apply). Still with the Page Setup dialog box on screen, subdivide page (Click on the Divide Page tab, {paper should show in landscape form}, change the columns to 3, Apply). Still with the Page Setup dialog box on screen, change page margins (Click on the Page Margins tab, Check the box to make all margins equal, change the top margin to the smallest size allowed by depressing the down arrow next to the top margin window, Apply, OK).

GRAPHICS/TEXT BOXES – It is wise to anchor text boxes and graphics and set wrap to no wrap in an effort to keep text “tight” around graphics and text boxes. You may acquire a drop down menu with graphic options by selecting the graphic or text box and then right clicking on the box when the mouse pointer is in the four-pointed arrow mode.

HINTS – Students should develop the brochure in a linear fashion (left to right, page one to two to three . . .) in an effort to avoid automatic page breaks. However, it is equally important to insert page breaks when moving from one brochure page to the next to keep necessary information together.

Since you may be utilizing this format in creating tri-fold brochures, prior development of the rough draft is extremely beneficial. Be certain to have students save periodically when their document is at a favorable state to avoid the loss of valuable work time.

Step-By-Step Instructions

for Chart Development with Excel Spreadsheet

• Open Excel

• In cell A1 type the word “Cities”

• Press the RIGHT ARROW key to move to cell B1

• In cell B1 type the word “Population”

• To format the cells:

Click in A1, hold, and drag down to A6 to highlight (cursor will be in the shape of a thick white cross)

Click on “Format”

Click on “Cells”

Click on the tab “Alignment”

Choose Horizontal and then choose Left

Then click “OK”

• On the worksheet, Click in B1, hold, and drag down to B6 to highlight

(cursor will be in the shape of a thick white cross)

Click on “Format”

Click on “Format”

Click on “Cells”

Click on the tab “Alignment”

Choose Horizontal and then choose Right

Then click “OK”

• Enter the names of the 5 cities in A2-A6

• Enter the population of the 5 cites in B2-B6

• If information within cells is not fully visible, move cursor between the column heading letters A and B so that the cursor becomes a double headed horizontal arrow.

• Left click, hold, and drag to the right to stretch out column A so that all city names appear. Do the same for Column B by placing cursor between column heading letters B and C.

• Highlight cells A1-B6 by clicking in cell A1, holding, and dragging to cell B6.

• Click on the Chart icon in the toolbar, choose a bar graph (column 1, row 1), click next

• Data Range dialog box will appear, select next

• Chart Title dialog box will appear, the chart title may be changed to a different name or can be left as is, select next

• At this point you may select to have the chart placed on a sheet by itself or for it to be placed directly on the data sheet, select the radio button for as object in sheet 1, then select finish
• The chart will appear on the spreadsheet. Some adjustment might need to be made in the size of the chart in order for all entries to be seen. If necessary, click and drag the sides and bottom handle bars to stretch it out until all names and numbers can be seen.

• Right click on the chart title to format.
• Right click on the legend to format.

• Right click in the plot area to format.

• Right click anywhere in the chart area to format the whole chart

• When finished with the chart, save.

• To place the chart in the brochure, right click anywhere in the chart area and copy.

• Paste into the brochure. Some adjustments may be necessary.

Evaluation Rubric for Brochure

Student Name:______

Date of Completion:______

Wow! / Good Job. / It’s OK. / What Happened?
20 / 15 / 10 / 5

CONTENT

/ Clear evidence of researching the topic. Information is accurate and concise. / Adequate evidence of researching the topic. Accurate information is given. / Some evidence of researching the topic. Some accurate information is given. / Very little or no evidence of researching the topic. Information is inaccurate or not given.

TECHNICAL

/ Clear evidence of proofreading. Includes all required components with appropriate information. / Adequate evidence of proofreading. Includes most required components with appropriate information. / Some evidence of proofreading. Includes some required components with appropriate information. / Very little or no evidence of proofreading. Does not include required components with appropriate information.
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN / Clear evidence of a plan for a professional looking publication. Effects and backgrounds enhance publication. Excellent use of blank space. / Adequate evidence of a plan for a professional looking publication. Some effects and backgrounds are used. Good use of blank space. / Some evidence of a plan for a professional looking publication. Fair use of blank space. / Very little or no evidence of a plan for a professional looking publication. Poor use of blank space.
CREATIVITY/ ORIGINALITY / Clear evidence of unique publication qualities. Contains many examples of ideas that are original or inventive. / Adequate evidence of unique publication qualities and offers some new insight into the topic. / Some evidence of unique publication qualities, but little original thought or inventiveness. / Very little or no evidence of any unique publication qualities or new thought.

TOTAL POINTS GIVEN:______

Object Saved for Use

/

Resource

Chart to Credit Original Works

RETA Curriculum Guide

Student Activity Template

Where in the USA is……?

A Lesson for elementary grades (Social Studies)

Designed by Denise Alaniz-- , Jolynne Catanach-- , Leigh Ann Leigh-- , Barbara Lowder-- , Debbie Purvines--- , and Maria Velasco---

Someone packing a bag, a US map

The Mission

You have just won an all expense paid trip to any state in the United States! Wow, a chance of a lifetime! Now all you have to do is decide which state you would like to visit. You will be able to invite someone to go with you on this visit, so you and your partner need to work together to learn all about this state before you go. You will be publishing a tri-fold brochure about your state, so you need to gather information that will help you. Books, Internet sites, and magazines are all good references. A checklist is provided to help you stay on task and finish each requirement of this project, be sure to make use of it. Get ready to share your brochure at the “Vacation of a Lifetime” party given by your benefactor (This is really your teacher!). Have an exciting trip and don’t forget to send a postcard!

Getting Ready

First of all, think about a state you have always wanted to visit. Do you know anything about that state- historical figures and facts, location, landmarks, climate, economic resources, special events and dates, cities, natural resources, etc? Maybe you have other questions you would like to answer. Look at the brochures your teacher has provided. Decide what you would like to see in a brochure about your state. Think about what would be interesting to others if they wanted to learn about your favorite state.

Supplies

ITEM / DESCRIPTION

Computer

/ IBM Compatible Personal Computer or Macintosh Computer

Internet Access

/ Netscape Communicator or Internet Explorer used to search for information and graphics. Specific sites will be supplied.

Microsoft Publisher or Word Processing Software

/ Decide the design of your brochure. Publisher has built in templates that you may use to publish your brochure.
You will design a letterhead using Publisher and type a letter requesting information from the capital of your state or Chambers Of Commerce in the state.
You may create documents in a word processing program containing needed information for your brochure and then cut and paste into the brochure.

Microsoft Excel and Chart Wizard

/ Decide on 5 cities in your state. Make a chart to use in your brochure with the Chart Wizard. You will insert this as a picture file.

Scanner

/ Scan photographs, pictures, and maps to insert into brochure

Digital Camera

/ You and your partner will take turns taking your picture pointing to the state you will research.

Color Printer

/ You will need to print draft and final brochures.

Magazines and Books

/ Gather information, map(s), and pictures in reference to the state

A folder with pockets and brads

/ This will help you keep everything organized in one place.

Formatted diskette or your network folder

/ Your teacher can help you make a folder with the name of your state. All research data can be stored in this folder for use in your brochure.

Your Job

• Choose one state to research

٠ Look at brochures provided by your teacher to help you make decisions about your own.

٠ Gather pertinent information in criteria checklist using Internet sites, books, magazines,

etc. Save this in your state folder.

٠ Design your own letterhead and write a letter to a Chamber of Commerce, the capital of

that state, or another address offering information

٠ Find appropriate graphics, pictures, and maps using Internet sites, books, magazines, etc.

Save these in your state folder.

٠ Prepare a draft layout of your brochure on a sheet of paper penciling in the

information that will be included on the brochure.

٠ Create word processing documents of text to be inserted into brochure or insert

information directly into the brochure template.

• Create a chart of the population of the 5 largest cities in the state using the chart wizard in a spreadsheet program

٠ Scan desired pictures and save in your folder to be inserted into brochure

٠ Take a digital picture of you and your partner by the state of your choice.

٠ Insert all gathered data into brochure in either Publisher or a word processing program of

your choice.

٠ Spell check and proof document

٠ Make necessary changes to brochure

٠ Print out a draft and proof again. Make sure all text, graphics, and pictures fit the paper.

٠ Make any necessary placement changes

٠ Print out a final brochure

Your final brochure should be an interesting and attractive publication full of information about your favorite state. This brochure could be used to persuade others to visit. Use the student checklist as a guide for this project.

Stay On Track(Assessment Component)

WHERE IN THE USA IS…

Checklist of Requirements

Student Name ______

Date Due______Date Completed ______

HAVE I INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING?

/ Yes / No

1. Brochure title using Word Art

1. Short Paragraph of the history of my state

1. Points of interests as a bulleted list

1. Short Paragraph stating “Why” I want to research this state

1. A letter requesting information

1. Use of Digital Camera, Scanner, Internet Resources

1. A picture with me pointing to my state on a United States map

1. A bulleted list of at least five general information facts

1. A map of the state

1. A chart of the population of 5 cities in that state

1. Information on at least two historical figures

1. A bulleted list of special events and dates

1. Demographic information in complete sentences

1. At least one website for more information about my state

1. Create my own logo

1. List credits of resources I used

1. Use three font sizes

1. Use three font colors

1. Use border art at least once

.

Resources

Online Resources:

50 States

United States Geography

USA State Flags, Facts, Songs, Maps, Symbols

Color Landform Atlas of the United States

United States – General Search

Net State.Com – Symbols and more

The United States Research Informational Site

United States Climate Page

Where Are the Endangered Species? (by state)

The Official U.S. Time

Know the Pledge of Allegiance

National Parks Service: ParkNet

View State Flags For:

The Presidents of the United States of America

Post Cards Form.com

State and County Demographic and Economic Profiles

Native American Population as a Percentage of Total Population

Off line

Current encyclopedia or an encyclopedia on CD Rom

El Camino Real CD by NM State Tourism

Chambers of Commerce from various states

American Grub Eats for Kids From All Fifty States, by Lynn Kuntz and Jan Fleming.

State Smart!, by John H. Thompson (Over 130 ready to use puzzle activities based on geography and history of the 50 United States.

My State--- Schneider, Steven 1966 Evan

More California U.S. Maps and Crosswords--- Finch, Spencer 1999 Scholastic

New York Regions of the USA--- Mailbox Magazine 1994 Education Center

Outline Maps of U.S. State and Regions--- by Phillip Runquist ISBN 0-486-28856-X

Stuck on the USA - Fascinating Fact About the 50 States! ISBN 0-44840179-7

An Educational Coloring Book of State Birds ---Spizzirri Publishing Company, Inc.

ISBN 0-86545-050-1

USA Brain Teasers--- Teacher Created Materials, Inc. ISBN 1-57690-224-2

Travel Activities--- by Kathie Billingslea Smith, MJ Studios Inc. ISBN 1-57122-168-9

"It Happened in America True Stories From the FiftyStates"--- Lila Perl

"Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times"--- David Rubel

Vocabulary

American / atlas / brochure / capital
Chamber of Commerce / climate / Commonwealth / continental
county / country / demographic / economic
geography / interstate / intrastate / landforms
Nationalism / Patriotism / symbols / territory

Credits

1. Use the citation page provided to record any pictures, images, maps, charts or other graphics you used from other sources.
2. Say thanks to anyone who provided resources or help.