Internet Exploring
By Alice Stanek and Kathy BadgerINTRODUCTION
You do not need a passport today with the travels you will encounter. Which would you like to do: travel to a zoo, revisit the past, or explore the present. While you are doing all of this, you can be very creative.
TASK1. You will be creating word searches to share with classmates.
2. You will be forming opinions based on current events and trying to persuade others to your way of thinking.
3. You will be observing zoo animals in a zoo atmosphere.
4. You will be viewing the sinking of the Titanic and exploring the lives of the people aboard.
PROCESSRead through the activities and choose one. After you have completed your activity, be sure that you obtain an evaluation form and complete it.
Activity 1-Searching the TitanicGo to the web site "Encyclopedia Titanica" at http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/phind/
You can do this by hitting the Ctrl key and the letter "o". That will give the Open box. Then type in the URL address. Click the Open button.To the left of the screen is a site index. Click on the "Passenger" or "Crew" list. You will be given another choice. Make the other choice. For the letter selection use the first letter of your last name. Select a name from the list that appears. Read the biography that appears and answer the following questions.
1. What is the name of the person
2. What is the age?
3. Was the person married or single?
4. Did the person survive?
Within the article are there any hyperlinks? If so, select one and answer the following questions.
5. What is the link?
6. If it is a person, how were the two related? And did the person survive?
7. If it is not a person, what connection did the link have to the biography?Go back to the index. Select "Lifeboats." Choose a lifeboat number and make a list of 20 names of both passengers and crew.
Go the web site "The Puzzlemaker" http://www.puzzlemaker.com/ Remember how to type in the URL? If not, refer to the beginning of this activity.
You should now be at the Puzzlemaker site. (You will able to amaze your friends with an assortment of puzzles when this portion of the activity is completed.) Click on the "Helpful Hints" link and read them. Now just follow these simple directions to make your word search.
1. Scroll down to "Word Search." Read the summary. Select this puzzle type by clicking on it.
2. Keeping in mind you are using the list made from the Titanic survivors, name your puzzle. Print the title in the appropriate box.
3. By pass the size and other options.
4. Go to the box titled "Enter the Words." Read these directions very carefully. How should each name be separated so they can appear in the search?
5. Using the last names of the people on your list, create your word search.
6. Print your word search.Don't forget to complete the web site evaluation form.
Activity 2-Who's watching you?Ready for a little TV? On the Internet? Sure. Go to the "Discovery Channel Online" at
http://www.discovery.com/ You can do this by hitting the Ctrl key and the letter "o". That will open the box in which you type the URL. Then click on the Open button.At the left side of the screen is the index of the site. Scroll down to the button marked "Animal Cam." Click on it. You will have a choice of animals to view. Select one and read about the animal and the camera operation. In a short paragraph write what you feel about viewing these mammals with a hidden camera.
Let's go to a different camera. Go to the web site at http://www.earthcam.com/times-sq.htm Remember how to do this with the Ctrl key and the letter "o"? What is the name of this web site? What do you see in the image at this site? In a short paragraph write what you feel about viewing these mammals with a hidden camera. Have your feelings, opinions, changed?
Make sure you obtain and complete the web site evaluation.
Activity 3-Current Events
Part I1. Go to the web site http://www.CNN.com/ You can do this by clicking the Ctrl button and the "o" button. That will give the open box. Type in the URL address. Click on the Open button.
2. Write your answers to these questions.
3. What are the main headlines for the day?
4. After reading an article, which article did you find to be the most interesting?
5. Why was this article interesting to you?
6. Did you form an opinion from the article?
7. Write a paragraph persuading the class of your opinion
8. Write down 10 key words from the article you chose.Part II
1. Go to the web site http://www.excite.com/ Click on the Ctrl button and the "o" button. In the open window type in the URL address. Click on the Open button.
2. Find the "Daily Excite Poll" on the Home page of Excite news listed in "Today on Excite".
3. Read and answer the poll.
4. Click on "Vote Now".
5. What were your voting results compared to other instant results?
6. On the Instant Results page, there is "Read All About It" in the bottom left hand corner. Click on the article in blue and read it
7. Write your answers to these questions.
8. Did you answer the opinion question according to what the article states?
9. At the bottom of the article there are "Related Stories" or "More Top Stories" on the right side of your screen. Choose one article and read the story.
10. List 10 key words from this article you just read.Part III
1. Go to the web site http://puzzlemaker.com/ Click on the Ctrl button and the "o" button. In the open box type the URL address. Click on the Open button.
2. Scroll your screen down until you choose a word puzzle that interests you.
3. Click on the blue words of the puzzle you chose.
4. Enter a title to your puzzle.
5. Scroll down until you get to "Enter the Words".
6. Next, enter your 20 words that you chose from your articles that you read.
7. Click on "Create your puzzle".
8. Print your puzzle.
EVALUATIONOur written observations will be graded using a rubric.
CONCLUSIONThrough this exercise, you, the student, will learn to search the Internet with confidence. You should have a better understanding of the working of web sites.
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