Technology is important even as early as elementary school. Use technology-oriented lesson plans with your second graders to get them interested in technology and to give them an idea of what the future might hold.

PowerPoint Slides
Show the students how to make a five-slide PowerPoint presentation. Use the functions for adding background to each slide and show them how to import photos. Divide the class into groups of five students and give each group a theme or idea. Each student takes a turn making a slide with a sentence about the theme and with a picture. The teacher can aid in putting backgrounds on the slides. After the slides are complete, groups should present their slideshow to the class.

Story Creation and Illustration
Have each student write a one-paragraph story by hand. Emphasize the need for a story to have a beginning, middle and end. The teacher should check the student's stories and direct students to edit them as needed. In a computer lab, have the students use a word processing program to type their story. After the story is typed, they can use the "import" feature with clip art to put an illustration into their story.

Class Video
Bring a camera to class and allow students to take turns using it. Students could interview each other about the importance of recycling. Then, have students get video of any recycling lessons you do, or any projects that students do regarding recycling throughout the year. Using Windows Movie Editor software, the teacher can edit the video and add pictures, graphics and music. Show the video at the end of the year and present each student with a copy on a CD or DVD. As they watch the teacher do parts of the editing process, students learn about video editing.