Purpose:
- Students will demonstrate proper keyboarding techniques while completing team challenges.
- Work in groups to complete fun Patriotic-Themed Activities that improve typing speed and accuracy.
- Students will receive a digital firework display for each activity completed.
Procedure:
- Divide students into teams of 3-5 students. Provide a physical or digital copy of patriotic themed challenges that teams must complete to earn a Firework.
- Allow a specified amount of time (20-30 minutes) for students to complete as many tasks as possible.
- Each time a task is completed a judge (the teacher or a teacher assistant) must verify the task is complete. The students will keep track of completed challenges on the handout.
- Every time a challenge is completed and verified a firework will be displayed using the classroom projector screen (just press play, then pause before the next firework)
- When time is up, all groups will count up the number of completed tasks. The combined number of fireworks will be the number of seconds of fireworks Grand Finale the students get at the end of class.
Variations:
- For younger audiences, provide shorter tasks and sentences that are age and ability appropriate.
- Challenge students to add an additional challenge that will be offered to the next period class.
- Determine a class typing goal that, when reached, unlocks a special digital fireworks show or other reward for the class
- Provide a special reward to the group who receives the most points.
- Choose a patriotic word and make only those letters visible on your Learning Lights Keyboard. A neighboring team can guess the word for an additional firework.
Time & Materials:
- A Fireworks Team Challenges worksheet for each group
- A collaborative workspace such as Google Docs where content can be created and shared.
- Digital Fireworks Videos ready to view on classroom projector screen
- Patriotic Music (if desired)
Time Allotment: 50-60 minutes