Peekskill Middle School Technology Curriculum

The middle school program in technology education is typically a student first formal introduction to technology.  Contents that provide students with computer skills and hands-on-real world experiences are essential to providing a foundation for further study.  Together with the content knowledge in math and science at this level, students begin to see interconnectedness of the disciplines as they are encountered in real life.  These units within the curriculum follow closely with the framework that is presented by the seven standards in the Math, Science, and Technology (MST) Learning Standards.

6^th Grade Units of Study (Half Computer Skills / Half Hands-On)

Getting to Know Technology - Students will research different technologies throughout mankind and discuss their impacts on society (positives, negatives, trade-offs).

·         Invention Poster (Presentation tools – Microsoft PowerPoint, Google          Presentation)

Information Systems  - Students will use information technology to retrieve, process and communicate information, and as a tool enhance learning.  Emphasis is placed on learning to use tools that will be most useful as student’s complete work for other classes.

·         Google Docs, Google Earth, Picasa, Paint.Net, SketchUp

Career Planning - Students will explore various career opportunities and will be exposed to the educational and personal qualities required for careers of their interests.

·         Career Brochure (Microsoft Publisher)

Tools, Resources & Technology Processes - Students will explore the various tools, identify resources, and apply technology processes to solve a problem.

·         Measurement, Design Process, Sketching

Design and Modeling - Students will explore the process involved in the design and modeling methods used to develop solutions to problems within given constraints.

·         Marble Maze

 

7^th Grade Units of Study  (All Hands-On)

Tools, Resources & Technology Processes - Students will explore the various tools, identify resources, and apply technology processes to solve a problem.

·         Measurement, Design Process, Sketching

Design and Modeling - Students will explore the process involved in the design and modeling methods used to develop solutions to problems within given constraints.

·         Engineering (Magnetic Levitation, West Point Bridge Builder, Bridge   Builder Design, Downhill Racer, Index Card Structure)

Flight – Students will be exposed to basic aeronautics.

·         Water Rockets, Paper Airplane Challenge

Robotics - Students will focus on several technical components of robotics including sensors, motors, gears, power sources and computer programming.

·         Race Car, Snail Car, Climber Car

8^th Grade Units of Study (All Computer Skills)

Computer Technology - Students will explore the architecture of the computer, understand computer terminology, and make consumer decisions on the purchase of a computer.

·         Dream Pc (Microsoft PowerPoint)

Communication/Video Technology - Students will be introduced to video processing, using software, cameras, exploring various editing and producing processes.

·         My Movie Maker Project (Windows Movie Maker)

Web Page Development - Students will be exposed to basic web page designs.

·         Personal / Business Website (Microsoft Frontpage/Expression)