Computer/Technology
Mr. Brian Hurd
bhurd@molschool.org
I started teaching at Mary of Lourdes Middle School in the 2002-03 school year, and have been teaching all the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Social Studies classes since. In the 2006-07 school years I started teaching Computer classes, and now teach all the 6th through 8th grade classes. I bring what I’ve learned through my travels back into the classroom and have visited all 50 states and 58 countries. I have been teaching 6-8th grade Spanish using Rosetta Stone online too. I am also the Lead Teacher at the Middle School.
Curriculum
6th and 7th Grade
ArcGIS online competition
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Students choose to work alone or with a partner to create a storymap of a geographical concept related to Minnesota
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Work with teacher and a GIS expert from Morrison County to complete the project
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Learn about computer research and where to find reliable sources
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Use Language Arts skills to write descriptions to match maps/images
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The top five projects are submitted to the state competition, and a chance at an honorable mention or advancement to national competition
Animoto
Thinglink
Haiku Deck
Prezi
Piktochart
Google Docs
Google Slides
Keyboarding
Practice for NWEA tests
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8th Grade
History Day presentation
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Create a documentary or website alone or with a partner (student choice)
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Choose a topic based on annual theme
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Work with teacher and an expert from the Minnesota Historical Society to complete project
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Learn computer research skills and where to find reliable sources
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Use Language Arts skills to write a script, process paper, and bibliography
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Learn to differentiate between primary and secondary sources, and how to site them
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Conduct interviews (with people involved in the event, authors, professors, etc.)
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Present projects on a college campus at the regional event for a chance to advance to state competition
Animoto
Thinglink
Haiku Deck
Prezi
Piktochart
Google Docs
Google Slides
Keyboarding
Practice for NWEA tests
Reinforce concepts for core classes (examples include typing assignments for Language Arts and using the Ilike2learn site to study geography for Social Studies)
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