Classroom Activities for Teaching Computer Skills to Kindergartens

Victoria Ross

Victoria Ross began her career as a freelance writer in 2010 and has been published on Popeater, Gadling and AOL Travel. Ross holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in communication from the University of Illinois at Springfield. 

Children are exposed to technology as preschoolers and usually need only refreshers regarding basic computer parts and keyboarding by the time they reach kindergarten. Fun and educational computer activities allow kindergarteners to socialize, improve classmate relations, learn about modern communication and hone problem-solving skills.

1. Class Information and Graphing Skills

   • Using software such as Microsoft Excel, Spex Classic or SmartDraw, the class can chart growth, nutritional information, and learning over the course of a month, quarter or school year. Students working with teachers or a small group can keep track of letters learned, words read or math skills obtained and chart that progress daily. Another fun activity may be charting height and growth over the course of the school year. This can be done as a class and is the same idea as marking height on the walls. Students should work under teacher supervision to enter the information into the chart or spreadsheet to check for accuracy.

   Holiday Cards and Special Occasions

   • Students can use ClarisWorks or a similar program geared toward basic letter writing to compose a yearly letter around the holidays or to document activities completed during the school year. E-cards can also be sent to parents or other caregivers around any holiday such as Christmas, Hanukkah or Valentine's Day. Children should work in groups with specific direction such as the teacher giving the wording for the card or letter. Each child in a group can also be in charge of a certain step in the process. If the classroom has drawing software, let students work in pairs or teams to create the card design.

   Art and Coloring Pages

   • Microsoft Paint and other programs like Kid Pix allows a child to create art and coloring pages for use in the classroom. If decorative items are necessary for the room, have the students create them on the computer using these programs. For example, if pictures of fruits or vegetables are needed for a bulletin board tracking fruit and vegetable consumption, have the students draw those items on the computer and then print them off and color them. Random coloring pages for downtime can also be created and printed.

   Daily Activity Ideas

   • Calendar time is a part of the kindergarten curriculum that can be enhanced using the Internet and computer technology. Ask a student or small group of students to use a weather site such as weather.com or weatherwizkids.com to report on weather in the area. Use this information to add weather indicators to a bulletin board or track on a chart in the classroom. Different children can be responsible for research and charting each day or week. Daily or weekly classroom chore information can also be stored on a basic spreadsheet accessible to children. Daily schedules can also be checked upon arrival to the classroom so each child knows the day's agenda.