For the Birds

1. For the Birds What makes a bird a bird? Kindergarten

2. Introduction Kindergarten students investigated the differences between people and birds. They learned about 26 new birds and wrote about many of them. The small owl with the big name, the xenoglaux, was the most popular bird to write about. The blue jay was the most popular bird to type about.

3. Introduction The students were also introduced to word processing. They learned how to open and save a document. They chose one of the birds from our lesson and typed four sentences about them. We also learned about how to use the space bar, the backspace, delete and enter keys.

4. Introduction For many it was the first time typing. My favorite part is that you can sometimes see, from sentence to sentence, how the students gradually learn about creating spaces, capital letters and punctuation on the computer. Mostly the students learned how to type from each other. Initially I showed a few students how to use the space bar or where to find the punctuation, but they quickly showed their friends when they had the opportunity. Below are the students’ typing examples, copied directly from their own document. Enjoy!

5. Objectives • Students will be able to … • create content-based representations through pictures and words using sentence starters and model sentences. • describe parts of a bird using visual representations. • use basic word-processing skills, such as typing, and opening and saving a document

6. Abeyalat I see a booy. The bird has a nest. Birds have wings. Birds have beaks.

7. Cairo Isee ax en og la ut bi rdtre Thebir dh as an es t Bird shavew in gs Birds have beaks

8. Daniel I see a puffin. The bird has a nest. Birds have wings. Birds have beaks.

9. Danny I see a booy the booy have a nest And the booy have have wings The booy have a beak.

10. Diya I see a jay. I see a xenoglaux the bird has a nest birds have wings birds have beaks..i see a jay

11. Emily iI see a jay. The has a nest. Birds have wings birds have beaks.

12. Fabien I see a jay and he is a bird. The bird has a nest. Bird have wings. Birds have beaks.

13. Gordon I see a jay and . the bird has a nest. Birds have wings. Birds have beaks.

14. Hajar ethI see a bird. The bird has a nest. birds have wings. thebirdhas beaks

15. Jacky I csee a jay thedirh has ahest birdshave birdshavebeaks

16. Jessica I know birds has a nest I see a duck I know jay has a nest I know jay lay in the nest I know jay lay eggs i know raven lay eggs to

17. John I sse a jay The jay has ne st The jay has wings The jay has a beak Jas lay eggs

18. Kevin I see a raven The bird has a nest Birds have wings. Birds have beaks.

19. Liana I see a cartnl. the bird has a nest birds havewings birds h ave beaks

20. Mohammed I see a booby. Thebird has a nest. Birds have wings. Birds have beaks.

21. Natasha I see a raven. T the btrb has a Nest. Birbs have wings. Birbs have bea k s.

22. Nicholas I see a xenoglaux . thebirdhasanest. Birdshavewings. Birds have beaks.

23. Sabrina I see a booby. The bird has a nest. Birds have wings. Birds have beaks.

24. Saihaan I see a boob y. I see a jae. The bird has a nest I see cdl Birds have wings. birds have beaks.

25. Sarah I saee a jay thebird nest .birdshave wings. Birds have wings. Birds have beaks.

26. Tina Birdshavewings. Thebirdhasanest iseebirds have wings Birds have beaks

27. Vanshika I see a booby m I no booy have vics the booby has a nest the booy have beaks