The Community School District Six Laptop Project (New York, NY) was created in order to increase access to technology for families in a low-income area with a large immigrant population. As part of the project, the sixth-grade students in this study received IBM ThinkPads. Trends that appear in the literature on integrating technology into the curriculum are first discussed. Changes that occurred with the introduction of the laptops into this particular sixth-grade classroom are then described, followed by a case study of a unit on ancient Egypt taught in both laptop and non-laptop settings. The "Create-a-Character" project required students to work in two groups: the first group did not have access to any computer technology, while the second had constant access to their laptops. Findings from both groups are discussed in terms of collaboration, the writing process, research skills and critical evaluation of information, and presentations. Results of the study suggest that laptops enable change in the management of the classroom and in the design of instructional activities and assignments. (Contains 39 references.) (AEF)