High tech kids in the elementary classroom

As we get more sophisticated in our use of computers at work and at home, so do our kids at school. <br><br>News on Six reporter Rick Wells stopped by Jenks East Elementary Friday and shows us who is

Friday, November 15th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

As we get more sophisticated in our use of computers at work and at home, so do our kids at school.

News on Six reporter Rick Wells stopped by Jenks East Elementary Friday and shows us who is using power point presentations, and writing stories on laptops.

Captain John Smith, Jamestown, Virginia, "is this you and your followers coming to Rhode Island to meet the Indians?" These fourth graders from Jenks East elementary are rehearsing their power point history presentations. They've used computers to scan pictures from books or saved them from the Internet and create a slide show.

They have researched lives of the historical people in the pictures and will present their research in the form of mini newscasts with a reporter interviewing the famous characters, like Capt John Smith. â€œI felt scared when the Indians were about to kill me. Luckily a little girl named Pocahontas saved me."

Their teacher Lynn Peacher says using the computers and the mini newscast format gives the students a fun way to learn a little history. "It really does make them think and take what they learn and make it personal." They will present their power point newscasts to the other students, in about a week. Meanwhile across the campus in Laura Burns all day kindergarten, students are using some brand new I-book laptops. "I have one who's producing his own book already, using sounds and letters to do words."

Some of her students have computers at home but many do not. She has five students who speak very little English and these laptops are helping them learn. â€œI have a child who came in who's not sure of the letters in his name yet and he's learning the letters in his alphabet."

The laptops were purchased with bond money, each kindergarten classroom has two and each student gets a little time on them every day.

Justin and Adian are writing a story about a dog chasing a leaf and two turkeys. When the story is finished they'll use the computer to create the pictures.