"Ignore the current barriers. They are destined to fall. Instead, develop a clear vision of how technology will really make a difference in areas like family literacy, lifetime skills, authentic assessment, and new roles for teachers."
-Alan November

Interactive Technology Literacy Activities

Two important components of technology literacy activities are the software and related off-computer materials. A variety of software is available with storybooks and rhyming features. Stories in software may relate to real-life experiences, contain repetitive phrases, or have rhyming as their focus.

Stories for Young Children

Related to Real-Life Experiences

Indigo out for a walk. Very young children benefit most from books and activities that are meaningful for them. Stories about everyday routines, such as eating, taking a bath, or getting ready for bed, will be enjoyable and familiar. Books and software in this category usually have simple pictures with no words or a short sentence on each page.

Amanda's Stories and the Baby Bear series are examples of simple stories about everyday events. Amanda's Stories is a wordless program. Each Baby Bear story is a 3-page story with simple sentences.

	View Stories Related to Real-Life Experiences PDF

Repetitive and Predictable Stories

Molly from Storytime Time. Software that contains repeating lines or rhymes in a storybook format help young children remembers words and want to repeat them. Stories with repeating text or theme provide clues for children to use in predicting what is coming next. Many storybook programs have the option of rereading text on the screen. Children can then hear the words repeated as often as they like.

Examples of software containing repetition or predictable stories include Storytime Tales, Old MacDonald's Farm, and Circletime Tales. Storytime Tales has three stories: Bobby, Bobby, What Did you Do?, about washing oneself; Molly's Dirty Duds, about washing clothes, and Forgetful and Friends, about a bear making a cake.

	View Stories with Repetition and Predictable Stories PDF

With Rhyme or Rhythm

Rhymes provide children with ways to play with words, an important step in language and literacy development. A variety of software programs are available that center around a popular song or rhyme. Children enjoy singing along or repeating the rhyme with a program. Animation and vivid graphics in each program help to capture the children's attention.

Monkey Jumping on the Bed. Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Five Green and Speckled Frogs, Eensy and Friends, and Fall Fun are programs based on traditional children's songs. The songs in Eensy and Friends are "Eensy Weensy Spider," "Five Little Ducks," and "Mary Wore Her Red Dress." Fall Fun contains the song, "Five Little Pumpkins." Familiar nursery rhymes, such as Humpty Dumpty, Little Miss Muffet, and Hey Diddle Diddle are included in an Intellipics overlay. My Action Book is a rendition "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush." Switch Basics is another software program that is based on simple stories and also helps children develop single-switch skills.

	View Stories with Rhyme or Rhythm PDF

Factors to Consider

Teachers and families need to consider how a particular piece of software will be used in the classroom or home. What will the children learn through the activities? Are there materials that are pre-made or can be created to enhance activities? A Technology Literacy Integration Plan can assist teachers in developing activities that will provide successful learning experiences for children. The Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood has developed a Technology Literacy Integration Plan that focuses on the following factors:

Objectives
Language Arts Standards Addressed
Introductory, Computer, and Extended Activities
Materials Needed
Adaptations
Evaluation

	View Stories Technology Literacy Integration Plan PDF

Literacy Curriculum Activities

Activities with Commercial Software

Broderick Making Green Eggs. Many children's software titles provide opportunities for children to develop literacy skills without drilling isolated skills. Children can create and illustrate related stories. As they create these stories, children learn about the patterns found in stories, such as characters, settings, problems, and resolution which are key elements in developing an understanding of the concepts of story. When children create graphs or charts, they are using literacy skills to visually present the results.

Examples of integrated literacy curriculum activities follow. These activities were created by staff at the Center for Best Practices. We thank them for graciously sharing their activities.

	Sammy's Science House Activity PDF
	Sammy Related Books PDF
	Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle Activitiy PDF
	Castle Related Books PDF
	Green Eggs and Ham Activity PDF
	Green Eggs and Ham Related Books PDF
	Kid Pix Deluxe 4 Activity PDF
	Stellaluna Activity PDF
	Stellaluna Related Books PDF

Off-Computer Materials

An essential component of computer activities is reinforcing the same concepts through other activities in the center or home. Oftentimes with storybook software this involves reading the same type of book in the reading center. Since children benefit from manipulation of books and figures related to story characters, off-computer materials can be designed to coordinate with the content presented on the computer.

Pictures of images from software can be taken used screen capturing programs, such as Grab or SnagIt, printed, and laminated to provide sturdy materials for children to explore.

These materials can also be used with Velcro® on boards covered with special material, Tempo, which allows Velcro® to easily attach and be removed. Besides individual figures and characters from commercial software, off-computer activities can be designed around customized programs. For example, books created in HyperStudio, can be printed in various forms. Since children in this age group need sturdy books, the images from the computer screens can be printed and attached to heavy paper or cardboard and laminated for durability. Cloth books are unique types of books that are recommended for very young children. Storybooks created on the computer can be printed onto special paper, and ironed onto cloth to create books for little hands to manipulate. The advantage of the technology is that these books can be created from digital pictures taken of family members or from the child's environment.

Special Printer Products

Many products are available to create literacy links throughout the classroom. From simple card stock to add durability to labels, folder games, and classroom books; to puzzles, decals, mouse pads, and more.

These products can be used to create labels throughout the classroom, items for family nights, and theme-related objects, as well as classroom books. Each product has directions and if print is on the image may need to be flipped so it prints correctly. Follow the instructions and always print a test copy on plain paper to avoid ruining the more expensive paper.

Transfer Materials

One product is transfer fabric or t-shirt transfers. Two types of transfers are available. One is a direct transfer of the image the fabric. The other transfer is to a fusible material that is attached to the t-shirt, canvas bag, or other material. Mousepads and puzzles are two of the items that can be created using transfers. Some teachers take a class picture and make t-shirts for children to wear on special field trips for easy identification.

Decals, Bumper Stickers, and Print and Stick Paper

The only limitation in using these types of specialty papers is the imagination. Labels, signs, and posters are just a few of the items that can be created.

Print and Shrink Crafts

Props for the dramatic play area and manipulatives are a few of the things that can be made using shrink paper. This activity does require the use of an oven, so should not necessarily be considered a classroom activity. Children's drawings, images printed from software can be printed on the film, allowed to dry, and then baked. Photo frames, ornaments, and bookmarks can be made.

Magnets

Magnetic paper can be used for teachers to make calling cards to give to families at open houses, so they can easily contact teachers when needed. Teachers can list their phone numbers, e-mail, and website address. Children can design photo frames with Kid Pix Deluxe 4 for the refrigerator at home. Create sorting and matching games from software to be used on a metal tray or metal furniture.

Many of these papers can be found at local discount and office supply stores. Avery Office Products also has a wide selection of specialty papers from which to choose.