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Lesson Plan #: AELP-EDT0203
Submitted by: Staci Nazareth
Email: nazarets@saline.k12.mi.us

Date:
October 26, 2001


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. [ Author’s Note: I usually build the first slide with the students. The first slide might say, Elect ______ for mayor! — inserting the student’s name.]

    As for content, students may want to consider the following questions when creating their slide show:

    • What qualities do you have that would make you a good mayor?
    • What have you done for your town in the past? (students can make this up)
    • What will you plan to do in the future?

    Teachers may want to spend a class session on how to search for free clip art on the Internet and how to add the clip art to a slide show. (Some sample Internet sites are provide below.) Also, if access to a digital camera is available, then students can include pictures of themselves in their slide show. Once all of the PowerPoint presentations are finished, students can share their slide shows with the rest of the class. Students can share their feedback on what they liked about the slide shows — both the technical aspects and the campaign content. Assessment: Use the Project Rubric (see Materials ) to assess students’ PowerPoint presentations.

    Useful Internet Resources:
    * SimCity
    Contains a free online SimCity game based on the classic version.
    http://www.simcity.com/

    * Microsoft PowerPoint Tutorials
    http://www.microsoft.com/education/?ID=pptTutorial

    * Clipart.com
    http://www.clipart.com

    * Barry’s Clipart Server
    http://www.barrysclipart.com

    * Technology Foundation Standards for All Students
    http://cnets.iste.org/sfors.htm