Using Publisher 2007 in the Classroom
Posted by Darla on March 2, 2009 in Language Arts
Publisher is one of the Microsoft Office tools that can be overlooked as an educational resource for the classroom. As students create newsletters, brochures, posters, charts, certificates and postcards they practice the skills of gathering facts, organizing information, and communicating with others. For the next student based research project try using one of the tools from Publisher. You will inspire and motivate students to learn as they find information, explore designing ideas, become aware of the audiences’ perspectives and become conscious of their progress. By using Publisher in the classroom a wider range of students with different learning styles will be reached. Students that don’t do well with paper and pencil will have an alternative way to show their understanding and demonstrate what they have learned, plus have an equal opportunity to produce a professional looking product they may not otherwise be able to create.
As you integrate technology in your classroom you will observe the student’s desire to learn, willingness to write and sense of accomplishment increase. Included below is an Edmonds Brochure activity to walk yourself through. Plus, click on “More” to read some ready to use lesson plans. You can use them as they are or use the ideas to stimulate other technology-based projects.
Edmonds City/Brochure
Included is an example of how to create a brochure of a city that informs, educates and persuades it readers to visit.
Example of a completed brochure of Edmonds Brochure
Directions for Getting Started
Information for the brochure: Text and Pictures
More Examples of how Publisher is used in the classroom
Olympics/Brochure
Students will research past Olympic games for event highlights, athletes, host city and country, and emblem and medal designs for the games. With the information they will create a brochure that informs and educates the readers about Olympic games around the world. This would be a great activity since the 2010 Winter Olympic in Vancouver BC.
Road Trip/Postcards
Students plan a two week road trip to various cities in Washington and research information about the location, miles driven, interesting sights and pictures. Using Publisher postcards the students will share the interesting information about that each city. This lesson plan uses Microsoft MapPoint to find the miles driven but you can accomplish the same task by using MapQuest.
Food/Flyer
Students pick a recipe that is special to their family, research online about the ingredients and interesting information, and create a flyer. The class will assemble all of the fliers into a classroom cookbook to share with their families and peers.
Jazz Newsletter
Students will study the life of a jazz musician, plus how jazz contributed to the culture and history of the United States. They will create a newsletter to share the information they found online at PBS and US Encarta.
Water Useage/Brochure
Students record the amount of water they use on a Saturday, (showers, dishwashing, brushing teeth, etc.) and compare their family results and those reported by their perers in the classroom. As a class they discuss how to conserve water and individually compile the information into a brochure.