Children's Literature

When David Macaulay revised his book The Way Things Work, making it The New Ways Things Work, he added a completely new chapter, "The Digital Domain." Share with students the opening of this new chapter, pages 314-315, where he explains the conversion of information into binary numbers. Then have students read page 334 where Macaulay explains bar codes. It may be useful to have both this page and pages 314 and 315 on overheads. Have students make a series of drawings that show how a bar code works.

Mathematics

Set up penpals with a classroom elsewhere in the United States or another country. Have students write letters and mail them to their penpals. Compare the length of time it takes for a letter to arrive at its destination via the post office vs. the length of time it takes for an e-mail. Figure out the difference using percentages.

Social Studies

Plan a vacation for your family including pictures of where you will be going and the directions for getting there. Or pick a favorite place in the world and travel there on your computer in just a few minutes and for free!

Technology Education

The Internet and other digital information technologies have made the world a smaller place because they give us access to people and places without having to leave our homes or offices. It is possible to visit the top of the Earth's mountains (Mount Washington Observatory) or spend some time on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay Aquarium) while you sit at your desk. You can visit destinations where you might like to vacation before making reservations. You can see the places that you've read about in books. Online sites, such as Google Earth, can take you into the heavens to view a place of interest, or you can zoom in to see your own neighborhood and backyard!

Using a world map and common pins, ask your students to develop a list of five far away places that they would like to visit. Explain Internet search techniques to your students. The students will then search for pictures and information related to the places they selected. If possible print out pictures and label the sites visited. Students should explain something about the place they visited and why they wanted to visit. Use the common pins to mark the map as students present their visits to the class.

Wellness

We can sit at the computer and e-mail a letter without walking to the mailbox. We can get instantaneous details of our favorite baseball team without traveling to the ballpark. And we can have "instant" conversations with our friends without bicycling to their houses for a visit. Computer technology has made it easier and faster than ever to gather information. But what would happen if we walked to the mailbox or rode our bikes to visit a friend? We could gather information and be physically active as well.