Year 6 Computer club ideas

[DJ-Jonesy]

I have been asked by a primary school that we support to run the after school computer club for year 6's. Now i have no idea on what to teach or get them to do so any ideas would be greatly appricated.

 

They are all boys in year 6 all with computer expierence and of course all wanting to know how to Hack, download music, pics ect... but i can excatly teach them that?

 

Was thinking of getting them to play with all computer parts.

 

any ideas?

 

Dan

[K.C.Leblanc]

It might be worth having a look at Gamemaker.

 

I found version 6 works better then newer version on our setup.

 

Old Game Maker Versions - YoYoGames Wiki

 

If you've got photoshop of something similar you could also mess about with photos, teach them how to make the headteacher's face green perhaps.

Edited September 22, 2011 by K.C.Leblanc

[GREED]

How about get them to take PCs apart and that, much as you suggested have a play with the PC components...

[DJ-Jonesy]

Game making sounds fun, will look into that more. first week was yesterday and gave them 2 old computers to take apart they seemed to really enjoy that

[LosOjos]

Agree with all of the above and would also add showing them how to make a basic webpage, maybe even on an actual free hosting site somewhere so they can show it off to their friends

[Jawloms]

We suggested once that some of our students take old computers apart and Mr Health and Safety said we can't (this is what HE said, so don't shoot me down in flames!) as capacitors can hold charge for years and you don't want anyone getting zapped. I don't know whether I'd actually see it as a problem myself, and I'd have thought if it's a PC you know you're never going to use again you could dump it in a full bath to get round it, I'm just letting you know what we came across.......

[LosOjos]

We suggested once that some of our students take old computers apart and Mr Health and Safety said we can't (this is what HE said, so don't shoot me down in flames!) as capacitors can hold charge for years and you don't want anyone getting zapped. I don't know whether I'd actually see it as a problem myself, and I'd have thought if it's a PC you know you're never going to use again you could dump it in a full bath to get round it, I'm just letting you know what we came across.......

 

I'd have told Mr. H&S that when he finds an electronics expert who thinks that the tiny charge in the capacitors inside a computer can do anybody the slightest harm, I'll stop. The only part that has the potential to hold enough power to harm anyone is the PSU, which unless you dis-assemble it or poke something metal inside it, won't hurt you anyway. I'd have agreed to discard the PSU's before the kids play with them just to get him off my back.

[lionsl2005]

Currently i am teaching them ( year 5/6) how to edit videos on move maker. seems to enjoying. web site on my list as well for next term.

[NikChillin]

There is always Alice, free software which they c an use to make animations, adding sounds and pictures too. There is also a KS2/3/4/5 competition each year run by Manchester university. Something to strive for

[sonofsanta]

You can probably get a couple of hours of entertainment out of Ribbon Hero on Office 2007/10 as well - it's given the ICT teachers here an easy start to term with KS3, at least, as you can more or less leave them to it!

 

+1 for a Photoshop/Fireworks project, or at least a photo editing project - a good one is putting their own faces into film posters, you get some really good results from that. Not sure what would be good, simple image manipulation software for it though.

 

Claymation films as well, perhaps? Never done it and don't know how long it takes, but could be a good class project.

 

EDIT: if you want to do programming, look at Scratch - my 10 year old daughter loved it, at least before her attention wandered as it always does

[pooley]

I've just started a club for 5/6 and we are starting with Microsoft Kodu Microsoft FUSE Labs | Kodu Game Lab the kids love it

[SimpleSi]

I do Scratch (get the group to design and code up a game with you at the front on IWB and them coming up and doing bits/adding suggestions.

 

I aso do Stop-Animation as well and planning to do some green screening

 

Si

[DJ-Jonesy]

Some fantastic ideas what i was thinking was helping them to make a movie. We have some of the Flip cams and we got movie maker ect... so could record there own films then one eveing show to the parents, teachers what they have done?

[LisaW]

Another vote for Scratch - my year 6s pick it up very quickly. There are some good pdfs of ideas on the website. Also planning to try Prezi with them next half term.

[tumbleweed]

I aso do Stop-Animation as well and planning to do some green screening

 

Si

 

Just add LEGO !

Some great Youtube stuff, including some definitely NSFW

[Jamman960]

We've had our pupils building pc's a couple of times, we mostly had our Y7's doing it but it might be ok with Y6's towards the end of a year.

 

We basically set aside around 1k for parts & licences(3 pcs) and got them to choose the cases then ordered all the bits in and gradually had them building the whole thing in 2's or 3's. We had them using anti-static wrist bands and generaly being very careful with the bits. In the end the school had 3 additional pc's that'd be put into teachers classrooms and the kids knew a little more about how computers worked and how they're assembled.

 

you could also get them re-assembling retired pc's if funds don't allow for new parts to be brought or you don't need the extra pc's

 

James

[eean]

Use Paint.net (a brilliant free photo editor perfect for primary schools) to make Julian Opie style self portraits - as featured on the The Best of Blur album cover.

This chap has a full video guide:

How to make Julian Opie Style Portraits in*Paint.net - Art and Imaging - Glenn Malcolm&#39s Primary ICT pages - The Ed Tech Lounge

 

Pivot stick figure animator will keep them busy for a few weeks too.

[CESIL]

I downloaded Wings 3D and Sculptris (the 3D painting is great) for our Y6 Computer Club and they loved them both...

 

...we also had some success creating 3D objects in Wings and then playing with them in Sculptris...

 

Oh and another one I intend to try some time is one of my favourites...Bryce 7 now from DAZ studios...

[SimpleSi]

I downloaded Wings 3D a... for our Y6 Computer Club /QUOTE]

Y6 Computer Club????

Seems a bit advanced

or have I got the wrong Wings 3D

 

Si

[speckytecky]

When I had the privilege of running a KS2 Computer Club I was lucky enough to have access to the Sherston Megadeal software with it's own range of superb ICT programmes such as Crystal Rainforest and Mission Control. I used to set half the club time for work on those programmes and showing them examples of better faster use of Microsoft Office packages along with things like keyboard shortcuts then gave them the option of some free time but limiting it to safe games from the excellent Friv4School range - Friv4School being a 250 web based games package selected by a former ICT Teacher who got fed up with his students trying to access non educational games so put together his superb site.

[CESIL]

Seems a bit advanced

or have I got the wrong Wings 3D

 

Nope, that's the one...I just started them off with something a bit easier than realistic 3D sheep!

[Edu-IT]

With regards to Prezi, how do you get around the registration aspect? Does the desktop version prompt for each kid to have their own login or..?

[garoc]

Agree with all of the above and would also add showing them how to make a basic webpage, maybe even on an actual free hosting site somewhere so they can show it off to their friends

 

Weebly - Create a free website and a free blog Set up a class, add pupils, give them their logon details...and away they go!

Edited March 13, 2012 by garoc

[Albatross]

How about using Garageband to create songs or mix pre-existing loops? Or using photoshop to edit out or edit-in funny/cool things onto famous pictures? You'd have to make sure no inappropriate things were being done in the second suggestion.