Computer-based Lesson Plan: Baking a Family Pie by Jim Lively

Title:                  Baking a Family Pie

Learner Level:  ELA - Level 1 and up; GED - ABE 2 and up 

Pre-Instruction:

Students will have received instruction in basic computer functions and will know how to create an elementary spreadsheet in MS Excel, insert and manipulate photographs in a document, save the work, use MS Paint, and use a scanner to digitize and save photograph files.

Duration: 1 hour preparation; 90 minutes assembly 

Materials:

Each student will collect the names, current ages, and dates of birth of family members, as well as a photograph of each family member and a family photograph, if available.

Objectives:

(1) Put into practice knowledge of computer basics and certain program applications;

(2) Create an artifact that can be displayed in a family, community, or workplace setting.

Procedure:

Students will create an MS Excel spreadsheet illustrating family information, in this case, name and current age of each family member. From the spreadsheet, each student will create a pie chart to illustrate the information. Into each piece of the pie will be inserted a corresponding photograph and a text box containing the member's name and date of birth.              

            

Above, or to the left or right, of the pie, as the student chooses, the family photograph will be inserted. Students will save their work.

 

Students will integrate their work into MS Paint to draw and color a wavy crust around the exterior of the pie. At the top of the page, a text box will be created to contain the student's name and project date. Students are then free to further decorate the page as they wish, i.e. border, graphics, MS Paint brush or spray paint tools, etc. The final product will be saved, then printed and laminated for framing or use as placemats.

Evaluation:

Each student will present his/her completed project to the class and give an oral report of the experience with the project.