A to Zap!

Computer Based-Lesson Plan

Created by: Katie O'Donnell

Introduction

This lesson was created to integrate with a unit on Telephone Skills. The units goals and objectives are part of a functional life skills curriculum for autistic students, although the material and concepts can be modified for regular education classes. It incorporates A to Zap's! telephone screen. This part of the program fits in well because it reinforces the skills needed to dial a telephone number. The software is a great addition to help students understand the use of a telephone.

The lesson is written around the use of three centers and only one computer, although it could be modified to use multiple computers at one time. I will break the lesson down into three centers: the Telephone Center, the Phone Number Center, and the Computer Center. All of these centers focus on the students knowing their phone number and how to dial it on a telephone. All three of these centers incorporate different learning styles, auditory, visual, and kinesthetic, which is beneficial to all students, especially autistic children, to help them succeed in the classroom.

Pre-assessment

The students have been working on a functional life skills program. The previous lessons have introduced the students to what a telephone is and reasons why we would use one. The culminating activity will consist of the students independently dialing their phone number and using the correct steps, 1. Have the phone number written down 2. Pick up the receiver 3. Dial the number 4. Hang up the receiver when finished.

Objectives

  1. Given a play telephone, the students will correctly dial their phone number 3 out of 5 times.
  2. Using the computer program A to Zap!, the students will complete the telephone activity by correctly clicking on the numbers of the phone numbers given 3 out of 5 times.
  3. When asked, the students will correctly write and recite their telephone number 3 out of 3 times.

Materials

Computer Software: A to Zap! by Sunburst , toy telephone, macaroni, glue, paper, dry erase board/ markers

Procedure (Instructional Arrangements/Initiation)

I will write a telephone number on the board and I will say that I need to call a friend and these are four things I need to do 1. Have the phone number written down 2.pick up the receiver 3. dial the number and 4. Hang up the receiver when I am finished. I will demonstrate this for the students and let them try. Next I will demonstrate how to use the computer program. After this initiation I will break the students into three groups/centers. The centers are the Telephone Center, using a telephone (not connected), the Phone Center, writing and reciting their phone numbers and the Computer Center, using the software A to Zap! I will be teaching at the Telephone Center and be responsible for the objectives, materials and lesson development for all centers.

Lesson Development

  1. The teacher will write a phone number on the board.
  2. The teacher will write the three steps on the board (1. Have the phone number written down 2. Pick up the receiver 3. Dial the number and 4. Hang up the receiver when finished).
  3. The teacher will demonstrate how to dial a phone number.
  4. Have a few students try to dial a number.
  5. The teacher will demonstrate how to use the computer program.
  6. The teacher will break the students into three groups/center.
  7. Each student will rotate through all three centers.
  8. Telephone Center: students will practice the four steps involved with dialing a phone number.
  9. Phone Number Center: students will practice writing and reciting their phone numbers. They will also take macaroni and glue it over their phone number and when it is dry they can trace their phone number as they say it aloud.
  10. Computer Center: students will click on T for telephone on the main screen for A to Zap! and will practice dialing the numbers that are given. (The teacher has the option of putting the students phone number in the program so the students can practice dialing their own number).

Closure

The teacher will bring all the students back together again and review what was done in the three different centers. The teacher will discuss the importance of knowing your phone number, how to dial it on a telephone and ways a telephone is used in everyday life.

 

Evaluation

The teacher will observe to see if the students are dialing the numbers correctly and using the telephone in the correct manner. The teacher can also ask the students to write and recite their phone numbers and observe them using the computer program to see if they understand the concepts of matching numbers and one to one correspondence when dialing a phone number.

Software Evaluation - A to Zap!

 Last revised: January 24, 2003