Futurekids, Computer Mastery Solutions

FUTUREKIDS, an international team of troubleshooters whose defining characteristic is their facility with computers, is commissioned by a variety of international organisations that need help with some very important missions.

In Operation Futurekids, the students apply their knowledge of computers in 10 technology areas:

applied technology, databases, desktop publishing, graphics, multimedia, operating environments, programming, spreadsheets, telecommunications and word processing

Skills in these areas will be required to complete projects as the children explore the computer, manage wildlife, organize a fair, analyze currency and assemble a time-capsule presentation.

Unit 1:
In Mission Log On, the students use desktop publishing technology to solve puzzles and mysteries while learning about computers.
In the process, they learn to combine text and graphics effectively to create projects including a crossword puzzle, a computer rules sign, a colour-coded puzzle, a cover for their printed work and a congratulatory card.
Featured Objectives:

Enter text
Add images
Move graphics frames and text frames
Delete graphics frames and text frames
Resize graphics frames and text frames
Use the Zoom function
Access and navigate graphics libraries
Change text colour, size, font and style
Create a border around a page

Unit 2:
In Mission World Wildlife, the students are introduced to basic database skills as they help plan the opening of a zoo.
In the process, the children complete a map of the zoo, organize pictures of animals and arrange colorful patterns on snakes. They also analyze and interpret attributes of zoo workers, unusual creatures and zoo souvenirs by sorting, grouping and ordering data.
The students do research on the Internet and use a multimedia encyclopedia to learn more about animals and zoos.
Featured Objectives:

Discriminate attributes
Arrange data by grouping
Compare and contrast attributes
Enter data
Classify objects by attributes
Arrange data in repeating sequence patterns
Arrange data by ordering
Analyse and interpret data

Unit 3:
In Mission World’s Fair, the pupils use their wordprocessing and graphics skills to help create materials for a world’s fair. The children learn graphics skills such as inserting images, selecting colours, applying patterns and using tools to make shapes, lines and paint effects. Some of the projects include generating a map, designing a flag and making an identification badge.
In addition, the students chronicle adventures at the fair by creating a book about a visit. In doing so, they use advanced graphics techniques and learn wordprocessing skills such as changing text font, colour, style and size.
Featured Objectives:

Enter text
Change text colour, size, font and style
Select and use different colours
Use tools to create shapes and lines
Insert a graphic image
Resize and reposition an object
Flip an object
Layer objects
Duplicate an object, etc..

Unit 4:
In Mission World Currency, the students develop spreadsheet skills as they help a store that sells toys from around the world.
The children first learn the basic parts of a spreadsheet, including rows, columns and cells. While practicing cell recognition, they discover that the store sells toys, decorate a picture and organize toys in a grid. Then the pupils use spreadsheets to total currency collected by the store and to calculate the number of toys in the store and the quantity of toys sold.
In addition, the students communicate with the store owners by sending and receiving e-mail messages.
Featured Objectives:

Add to a number
Identify columns and rows
Find a cell by its column and row position
Use the Calculator
Enter and modify data
Plot charts
Use a spreadsheet to perform mathematical operations

Unit 5:
In Mission Time Capsule, the students create multimedia presentations for a time capsule to show future generations what children enjoy today.
The pupils complete a book about favourite places by adding multimedia elements such as sound, music, text and graphics. They also create multimedia scenes by animating images and text, adding sound and music, inserting backgrounds and using graphics tools to create images. Finally, a slide-show presentation of the favourite places is generated.
Featured Objectives:

Create pages and slides
Add text
Insert images
Add sound
Change the background color
Add a background image
Use graphics tools to create images
Animate images and text
Create hot spots

	Unit 1: In Mission Log On, the students use desktop publishing technology to solve puzzles and mysteries while learning about computers. In the process, they learn to combine text and graphics effectively to create projects including a crossword puzzle, a computer rules sign, a colour-coded puzzle, a cover for their printed work and a congratulatory card. Featured Objectives: Enter text Add images Move graphics frames and text frames Delete graphics frames and text frames Resize graphics frames and text frames Use the Zoom function Access and navigate graphics libraries Change text colour, size, font and style Create a border around a page
	Unit 2: In Mission World Wildlife, the students are introduced to basic database skills as they help plan the opening of a zoo. In the process, the children complete a map of the zoo, organize pictures of animals and arrange colorful patterns on snakes. They also analyze and interpret attributes of zoo workers, unusual creatures and zoo souvenirs by sorting, grouping and ordering data. The students do research on the Internet and use a multimedia encyclopedia to learn more about animals and zoos. Featured Objectives: Discriminate attributes Arrange data by grouping Compare and contrast attributes Enter data Classify objects by attributes Arrange data in repeating sequence patterns Arrange data by ordering Analyse and interpret data
	Unit 3: In Mission World’s Fair, the pupils use their wordprocessing and graphics skills to help create materials for a world’s fair. The children learn graphics skills such as inserting images, selecting colours, applying patterns and using tools to make shapes, lines and paint effects. Some of the projects include generating a map, designing a flag and making an identification badge. In addition, the students chronicle adventures at the fair by creating a book about a visit. In doing so, they use advanced graphics techniques and learn wordprocessing skills such as changing text font, colour, style and size. Featured Objectives: Enter text Change text colour, size, font and style Select and use different colours Use tools to create shapes and lines Insert a graphic image Resize and reposition an object Flip an object Layer objects Duplicate an object, etc..
	Unit 4: In Mission World Currency, the students develop spreadsheet skills as they help a store that sells toys from around the world. The children first learn the basic parts of a spreadsheet, including rows, columns and cells. While practicing cell recognition, they discover that the store sells toys, decorate a picture and organize toys in a grid. Then the pupils use spreadsheets to total currency collected by the store and to calculate the number of toys in the store and the quantity of toys sold. In addition, the students communicate with the store owners by sending and receiving e-mail messages. Featured Objectives: Add to a number Identify columns and rows Find a cell by its column and row position Use the Calculator Enter and modify data Plot charts Use a spreadsheet to perform mathematical operations
	Unit 5: In Mission Time Capsule, the students create multimedia presentations for a time capsule to show future generations what children enjoy today. The pupils complete a book about favourite places by adding multimedia elements such as sound, music, text and graphics. They also create multimedia scenes by animating images and text, adding sound and music, inserting backgrounds and using graphics tools to create images. Finally, a slide-show presentation of the favourite places is generated. Featured Objectives: Create pages and slides Add text Insert images Add sound Change the background color Add a background image Use graphics tools to create images Animate images and text Create hot spots