Free Lesson Plan
Free Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 7, 8
Subject(s):
Computer Science
Duration: 2 weeks
Description: Students use the program SimCity to create a city. Afterwards, students use PowerPoint to create an election campaign to get themselves elected as mayor of their SimCity!
Goals: National Educational Technology Standards for Students :
Standard 3: Technology Productivity Tools – Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
Standard 4: Technology Communication Tools – Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
Objectives:
Students will be able to use SimCity to create a “functioning” city.
Students will be able to use PowerPoint to create a 7-slide election campaign presentation.
Materials:
computers with Internet access
SimCity (any version, or SimTown)
Microsoft PowerPoint
digital camera (optional)
Project Rubric
Project Rubric in .pdf format; requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click the icon to obtain the free Reader.
Procedure:
Introduce students to SimCity, a city simulation program. Use the first class session to instruct students on the “basics” for setting up a city (water pipes, power plants, residential and industrial zones, etc.). During the next 3-5 class sessions, students form their own SimCity.
When all of the cities have been constructed, introduce the class to the basic components of PowerPoint (this may take 1-2 class sessions). Focus on how to create a new slide, how to format backgrounds, how to add clip art and animation, and how to incorporate sound effects and transitions. Students should have 7 slides in their slide show. [ Authors Note: I usually build the first slide with the students. The first slide might say, Elect ______ for mayor! — inserting the students name.]
As for content, students may want to consider the following questions when creating their slide show:
What