ICT at key stages 1 and 2    (Year 2)

• Show the children examples of work created by older children using a word processor. Ask the class to discuss how the work is different from handwritten work, eg it is easy to read, there are no spelling mistakes, the corrections cannot be seen, the author can't be identified just by looking at it. Discuss which is easier to read. Discuss who reads their work, eg teachers, peers, parents.

• Discuss how labels describe what things are. Ask the class to brainstorm in order to choose objects in the classroom that could be labelled. Ask the children to take it in turns to type a label, which has been set at a suitably large font size. Ask them to correct any mistakes as they type, using the backspace key.

• Read out sentences to the children but leave out the pauses between words. Discuss with the children if they understood what was read and if it sounded odd.
• Demonstrate to the class how to use the spacebar to create a space and how to use the shift key to make a capital letter. Give the children an opportunity to write a simple sentence and ask them to type the sentence.

• Enter a poem with repeated rhyme as a piece of prose with no line breaks. Discuss the difference between the way poetry and prose are presented and demonstrate how to use the return/enter key to make line breaks. Divide the class into pairs and ask them to insert line breaks in the poem. Print out the children's work and compare it with the original version.

• Demonstrate how to turn a string of ten items from a shopping list into a horizontal list by using the return/enter key.

• Print out a set of pictures with empty speech bubbles. Discuss how speech bubbles can be used to illustrate direct speech. Remind the class how to enter text and demonstrate the use of the shift key. Divide the children into pairs and give each pair a picture. Ask the children to discuss what might be being said, and use the word processor to type the speech. Ask the children to print their work, cut it out and stick it onto the speech bubbles.

• Enter an extract from a familiar children's book but replace the full stops with the word 'and'. Discuss the extract with the class and explain that the repeated use of 'and' makes it repetitive and difficult to read. Demonstrate how to delete an 'and', insert a full stop and change the following letter to upper case. Divide the class into pairs and ask them to edit the prepared text. Ask them to print out their work and compare it with the original version.

• Explain to the class that they will be using the techniques they have learnt to produce their own books. Ask the class to recall what they have learnt so far.
• Show the class a picture book, or use masking tape to cover the text in a familiar story. Ask the children to produce the text for a page of the story. Remind them about: the importance of readability; when to and when not to use the return/enter key; checking and correcting spelling; using full stops and capital letters. Ask the children to prepare their text on screen.