Teaching about the Internet: an Activity for 6th Grade

One of my most favorite topics to teach is the Internet. Many, including adults, think that the Internet and the World Wide Web are two of the same. I typically begin discriminating between the two as young as Kindergarten when they begin to slowly navigate around the World Wide Web via the Internet. It is rather a hard concept for younger students to learn and I love teaching the analogy that the Internet is like the shopping mall, and inside this shopping mall you would find stores like the World Wide Web, email, Instant Messaging, FTP and Newsgroups (amongst others.)

In 6th grade we get “connected” to and learn how many users connect to the Internet around the world. This activity is really fun and I would love to share it with you!

What you need: 

• Yarn 
• Popsicle sticks 
• These flags here- Please note that this is a Word Document that you can go back and edit when new stats are @ http://www.internetworldstats.com/top20.htm 
• Glue, tape and laminate to protect those flags! 
• Optional: See props in photo below. 

What you do:

Props for teaching 6th Graders the Internet

• Prep: Cut out each flag, laminate and attach them to the popsicle stick for durability. 
• Introduce the Internet and its definitions. I typically use a PowerPoint to do this, or you can find many resources online (such as http://www.internet101.org/). 
• If your computer lab permits, have your students disperse themselves throughout the room. I started with the states within the U.S. with the students closest together in the center of the room. Hand the first student a state flag (I did smallest amount of users to largest) and ask him/her to read aloud the state and number of Internet users. Then give that student the end of the yarn. 
• Go to the next student and hand them the next state flag. Have them read aloud the state and the number of people connected to the Internet. “Connect” this student to the first user (string the piece of yarn to them with the first person still holding on). If you need to, please request that students are careful not to tangle themselves within the yarn as it can be a strangling matter! 
• Continue this process until all the state flags are distributed. Make sure to “connect” the students to each other with the yarn. The yarn helps them understand how everyone is connected to one another. 
• Then move onto the countries, making the same connections. Once everyone is connected, I made props (shown in the photo above) and tossed them onto the ‘connected’ Internet to illustrate how these elements (World Wide Web, FTP, Newsgroups, Instant Messaging and email) are a part of the Internet. 
• Collect all materials and discuss. 

I would love to know how your lesson goes!

Free Online December Holiday Games for Kids

 Enjoy these free online December Holiday Game sites for kids! December is a very cultural rich month covering Kwanzaa, Christmas and Hanukkah. Take time with your class and explore these different traditions by playing online games.

Hanukkah Web sites

Primary Games

The Kidz Page

Christmas Web sites

Kaboose

Northpole.com

Primary Games Christmas

Billy Bear 4 Kids

Kwanzaa Web sites

Primary Games- Kwanzaa 

The Kidz Page- Kwanzaa

3rd Grade- Learning the Internet with Worksheets and PowerPoint

Grade:  3

Major Topic: Typing- Parts of the Internet

Week/Weeks: 3-4 classes

NETS for Students:

3. Research and Information Fluency

• Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. 

5. Digital Citizenship

• Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

6. Technology Operations and Concepts  

• Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. 

Materials:

Learning the Internet Worksheet

• Intro to the Internet PowerPoint includes link to the Internet for Kids Class at end of ppt!
• Parts of the Internet Work Sheet
• Learning the Internet Worksheet
• Internet (preferably Internet Explorer) 
• Whiteboard and projector 
• Computer

Activity:

1. Introduction to the Internet PowerPoint on Day 1. Go through the terms- have the students take notes if deemed worthy. Make sure to have the students type in the link http://www.bcls.lib.nj.us/Classes/Intforkids/ located at the end of the PowerPoint and take the class Internet for Kids.

2. Day 2- demonstrate the different parts of the Internet (Forward button, back button, reload button, address bar, etc.) and have the students complete the Parts of the Internet Work Sheet.

3. Day 3- to have your students practice typing in URL's and to learn how to look for answers, complete  the Learning the Internet Worksheet.

Optional: Have them study and create an online quiz using one of these sites:

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/

http://quizstar.4teachers.org/

http://www.classmarker.com/

Teaching Kindergartners about the Internet

Teaching Kindergartners about the Internet may be a challenging task, or one that comes more naturally, depending if they are allowed to use the computer at home. In a typical class you may find that it is usually a mixed pot of pro's and newbies. This lesson will give your novice Internet users a chance to explore while you giving you a chance to help the beginners practice. This is also great for their fine-motor skills.

Objective: Internet
Classes: 2-3

NETS Standards:

5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts

Materials:

• Projector
• Electronic Whiteboard
• Computer
• Internet
• ABCya! Kindergarten Elementary Pages

Preparation:

• It may be easier to have the Website http://www.abcya.com/kindergarten_computers.htm  on each of your Kindergartner's computers.

Motivation:

• Have the ABCya! Website presented at the front of the computer room. ***Tip*** I usually keep the monitor off until they are ready to work!

Activity:

1. Discuss with your class the parts of the Internet. Demonstrate as you explain. They may look a little different depending on your Internet Browser.
Cover the following:

• Address Bar- Where you put the URL of the Web site you want to visit. Everyplace on the Internet has an address, just like each of you have a house address.
• Refresh Button: Makes a page reload.
• Stop Button: Stops a page from loading.

• Forward and Back button allows you to navigate between Web pages.
• Also show them how to scroll using the scroll bar.

• Minimum, Maximum and the Close Button (the Red X as it is typically called).

2. Lesson #1-Have your students turn on their monitors to the ABCYa Web site. Instruct them to scroll down and click onto the Counting Fish  Demonstrate if needed- instructions are provided.

http://www.abcya.com/counting_fish.htm

 This is a great intro lesson which is basic points and clicks of the mouse.

3. Lesson #2  Uppercase and Lowercase Letter Matching Game. Demonstrate if needed- instructions are provided.

http://www.abcya.com/uppercase_lowercase_letter_matching.htm

This lesson is great to teach them how to click - hold - and drag the letters into place. Allow them to play until the lesson is complete. If a few finish quickly, have them move onto to lesson #3.

4. Lesson #3- Kid's Coloring and Drawing Activity Have them explore all the different functions of this digital drawing tool, which has more bells and whistles than the Microsoft Paint Program.

http://www.abcya.com/abcya_paint.htm

This app is great to help with their fine motor skills as well as their creativity!

If they do not all finish within the class, allow them to explore the next class as well. This will help you assess which students will need more help, who can be the helpers, and what areas your class will need to practice more.

Learning the Internet for Second Grade with worksheets

Major Topic: URL’s and search engines

Week/Weeks: 2-3 classes

NETS for Students:

3. Research and Information Fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:

a.	Plan strategies to guide inquiry.
b.	Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
c.	Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
d.	Process data and report results.

6. Technology Operations and Concepts   Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:  

a.	Understand and use technology systems.

Materials:

• Whiteboard and projector
• Computer with Microsoft PowerPoint or a .ppt reader on it
• Basic Internet for 2^nd Grade PowerPoint
• URL Checklist Worksheet
• Internet Search Engine Worksheet

 

Motivation:

• Have the PowerPoint, Basic Internet for 2^nd Grade, open on the electronic Whiteboard at the front of the room.

Activity Day 1:

• Discuss PowerPoint Basic Internet for 2^nd Grade together as a class.
• Discuss with the students how to open a Web Browser (such as Internet Explorer).
• Allow them to return to the computers and have them practice opening and closing the Internet Web Browser.
• Regroup after a few moments. Demonstrate how to type a URL into the Web address bar.

• Distribute URL Checklist Worksheet and have them work independently at their computers. Once they have reached the Web site, have them raise their hands and check off, stamp, etc. the appropriate area on the worksheet.

Activity Day 2:

• Finish URL Checklist Worksheet if needed.
• After URL Checklist Worksheet is completed, show the second grade class how to get to and use www.factmonster.com
• Distribute Internet Search Engine Worksheet- work on answer #1 together.
• Allow the remainder of the class for the students to find the answers to questions 2 and 3. Use the beginning of another class if needed.

Tech Talk: The Internet vs. The World Wide Web

Do your students continuously interchange the terms "Internet" and "World Wide Web"? They are not synonymous! Teach your students the difference between the two! Great informational sites include:

1. Webopedia
2. How Stuff Works
3. Diffen

Quick project ideas:

• Use Inspiration or Kidspiration Software to visually map out the differences between the two.
• Use PowerPoint to create a slideshow. Divide the class into two- one half will create facts about the Internet and the other about the World Wide Web.
• Create a Spreadsheet or Word Document listing the differences between the Internet and World Wide Web.