This is an easy project for introducing Web page composition. In it, kids create a simple page with data that changes every day.

Recommended Time

30 to 60 minutes

Goals

• To introduce or reinforce Web page-authoring software
• To reinforce Web navigation skills
• To introduce or reinforce the use of drawing software.

Materials and Equipment

• Computers with Internet connections
• Web page-authoring software
• Graphics software.

Before You Begin

You should be familiar with creating Web pages, and both you and your kids should have had an introduction to the Internet and using the World Wide Web.

Part 1: Pick a Subject

You will be building a site that kids will check for information every day to get them used to being online. This example focuses on the weather. Alternatively, you can pick a subject that relates to a theme you're working on or do a mapping activity to let the kids pick their own topic(s).

Just be sure that you select information that changes every day, such as local sports scores, front page headlines or stock prices. In addition, keep in mind that you want to be able to compare at least two related data points. This example uses the weather in Washington, DC, and New York City.

Part 2: Find the Data Sources

You can take two approaches to finding data sources:

1. Build a Web page yourself outside of class that has a handful of links to potential data sources; the kids can then select from those sources. For example, you could get weather data from USA Today, The International Herald Tribune, the Weather Channel or many other places. Be sure to provide a number of sources so that kids can explore and choose the ones they like best.

2. Have the kids visit a few online search engines and directories to find sources themselves. Then have them compose a list of at least five possible sources.

The first option is preferable because it will keep kids focused and create a permanent reference, especially if you're working with younger kids or if your class has not had much experience using the Web. Use the latter only if you want to use the project specifically as a vehicle for introducing older kids to Web navigation and finding Internet resources.

Part 3: Create the Graphics

You'll need some graphics for your Web pages, so this is a good time to introduce drawing software. Refer to the section on teaching about technology for more on introducing new software to kids.

Keep it simple, and just spend a few days on the basic tools. Have kids draw two pictures to represent your two data points (in this case, the White House and the Empire State Building represent the two weather cities). You could also have kids take illustrative photos or scan hard-copy pictures. Whichever option you use, be sure that you have at least briefly mentioned the two most popular file formats for Web graphics, GIFs and JPEGs.

Part 4: Create the Web Page

The Web authoring tools needed for this project are fairly simple, and you should be able to cover them in a single period. Extend the steps over more than one period if it suits your schedule better or if you are working with very young kids or inexperienced computer users.

This section presents the minimum tools and features you'll want to demonstrate for this activity, some of which you may have already covered in other applications or projects; you may want to introduce others as well. Refer to your software manuals and the program's HELP function for details on using these tools. With each tool or feature, be sure to model its use with the standard pair-share process and follow the guidelines for teaching about technology.

Step 1: The Basics

If your kids are relatively new to computers, introduce or review opening, saving and naming a file. Web pages should usually have a file extension of ".htm" or ".html."

Step 2: Text

Demonstrate how to enter and format text on the page by giving it a title, author and captions such as, "The weather today in Washington, DC, is…" Cover only simple text formatting, such as font, size and color, and let the kids discover the rest on their own. Demonstrate how to move between views to see what the page actually looks like.

Step 3: Links

Demonstrate how to create a link to the sites for your data. Also, show the class how to create a "mailto." Although mailtos are not truly important for simple pages like this, they are an important part of what makes a good Web site. It's good to get the kids in the habit of thinking about mailtos and other forms of online communication.

Step 4: Graphic Objects

Demonstrate how to place, size and move the graphics as well as how to delete them. If you like, you can also show the class how to change the page's background color and how to use the simple drawing tools like lines and shapes.