Major Project Final Report

Kim Baker

Summer 2001

This project is a set of web pages, divided into grades 3, 4, and 5 which will serve as an internet resource for teachers. The pages will be linked to my school homepage. 

My original plan was to create 5 links for third grade, 5 for fourth grade, and 5 for fifth grade. In searching for websites, I came across so many excellent links that I ended up with between 10-15 links for each grade level. To organize these, I subdivided them into 4 major subject areas: math, language arts, science, and social studies. Upon receiving CTER feedback, I added a "rationale" section to my project which explains the rationale I used in discriminating between third grade links, fourth grade links, and fifth grade links (see below). While I believe this is a helpful explanation, my hope is that students, teachers, and parents will continue to explore all the links as many could easily fit each grade level. 

Rationale

Since my links were geared towards students, I wanted to also make use of the many excellent websites for teachers. I originally thought I would insert another page of teacher links. Instead, I chose to have a "link of the day" javascript  on my page. Users simply click on the link of the day to visit one of thirty-one excellent sites for teachers. 

The first problem I encountered with this project was  due to my own inexperience. I had never created a web page before. I used Microsoft Frontpage, and with the help of the user's manual, I navigated my way through completing a web for the first time. My first mistake was trying to create one from scratch instead of utilizing the template feature the program offers. I also started by creating a web page instead of a web site. I'm still not completely sure I know the difference between the two. The second difficulty I came across was in renaming my web pages. In using the template, web pages are available with their own names (i.e., "business contacts", etc.). To rename these to fit my project, I had to use the navigation view to ensure that the pages were under the "home" page. I also deleted many of the pages. The last problem I had was in finding links. I had the most trouble in finding language arts links for fourth and fifth grades. Many of the websites I came across were for teachers, not students. I had success in looking up novel titles for each grade level. I also had some difficulty in finding websites for third grade in social studies. Much of the social studies material is written at a fifth grade reading level. I was able to find 3 websites that were written close to a third grade reading level, through kidsclick.com. This web site lists grade levels next to each link. 

To maintain the web pages, I plan to check the links, either myself, or perhaps my students could check them, once every grading period. I am also creating a personal web page which will have curriculum information, our class schedule, etc. included in it. I'd like to use my personal web page open house night. I will link my project page to my personal web page. To invite parents to visit my project page, I plan to introduce a "bonus assignment" for a scavenger hunt. Students will go through the web pages with their parents to find answers to different questions. This was an excellent suggestion given to me from a CTER student. The next step for this website is to create links for K-2 teachers, parents, and students. I expect to have difficulty in finding websites that are written at these reading levels. I plan to visit other school's web pages to learn how they have dealt with this issue. 

Major Project