Surfing for ABC's
Lesson Plan

Subject/Theme: Learning How to Surf the Internet
Grade Level: Kindergarten - First Grade
Teacher: Tammy Payton

Introduction to the Lesson Plan

This was a summer school project that involved 26 children. The children were divided into two groups with each group meeting for two hours. The children paid a $10 registration fee which covered the expenses for the class that included a video tape of what the children were learning. Each child received a video tape at the end of this two week-long class. One to two parents volunteered to help monitor the children during this summer session.

There were three objectives covered in the video tape:

1. The children demonstrated the beginning sounds of each letter of the alphabet using pictures and objects.
   
2. The children demonstrated how to navigate on the Internet using search tools and the browser.
3. Parents would be introduced to the benefits and navigational tools for the Internet.

Children need time to explore new learning tools before they can use them. They need to understand what a tool can do before they are "restricted" to a narrow use or formal use of that tool. If a child is pushed too quickly to use a tool before they've been given time to explore, they'll "take time" to play! Give a child a set of unifex cubes or any kind of math manipulatives that they've never used. The first thing a child does is "play" with that tool. If they've not had time to explore and play with that tool, they focus on the tool rather than on the math concept they are trying to learn.

If you've ever used "Math Their Way" manipulatives, they say that a child needs at least 2-4 weeks exploring those manipulatives before you begin assigning "games" to learn math concepts. See their website for a description of their program: Math Their Way.

The Internet is the another kind of learning tool. Children need time to discover how browsers work and what information they can find on the Internet. By beginning with a familiar concept (the alphabet) that needs little research or discovery on the children's part, the child can focus on learning how to use the Internet and navigate the Internet. Critical thinking skills as well as researching skills can be developed by using this simple approach on discovering the Internet.

The Internet can be a safe, informative place for a child to discover the world around them. Teach children to use appropriate search tools that are designed for their use. These search tools will open the WWW world to them in a safe and fun way. When they search for topics, they'll find topics appropriate for them. There are search tools that are designed for school age children's use. Three examples are:

Yahooligans

This is the search engine the summer school children learned to use. This is a GREAT tool for primary age children to use.

Little Explorers

This is a picture dictionary with over 500 links to pictures and games. This site offers an exceptional resource for teachers and primary age students.

Ask Jeeves for Kids

Write a question and Jeeves will find appropriate Internet sites that will answer it.

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Lesson Plan: Surfing for ABC's

Objectives:

Students will learn safety rules for using the Internet.
Students will learn how to use a search engine.
Students will learn how to navigate on the Internet.
Students will research the beginning sounds for each letter of the alphabet.
Students will produce a video tape of what they learned.
Students will begin to develop their researching skills.
Students will begin to develop critical thinking skills.


Classroom Materials

butcher paper, magazines, magic markers, glue, and scissors

Each letter in the alphabet should be traced on a 4' by 4' piece of butcher paper and cut out.


Computers that are connected to the Internet

Software for browsing the Internet is loaded on each computer


Acceptable Use Policy

Each student and student's parent should sign and return the "AUP" before the student is allowed to use the Internet


Permission Form to Publish Their Work on the Internet

Each student and student's parent should sign and return a permission slip stating that the student's work and/or picture maybe published on the Internet before their work is published. Follow this link to see an example of "Student Permission to Publish."

Schedule of What Letter will be Video Taped on Which Day

The students will be responsible for bringing in items from home that begin with the letter(s) of the day


Video Equipment

Camera, tapes, microphones used for recording each letter of the alphabet


Zap Shot Camera

any camera that will take "digitized" pictures of the students for each letter of the alphabet so that these images maybe published on the Internet


Video Set

A designated area is "designed" with a surfing theme. Children bring in items from home that will help create a surfing theme background such as beach towels, picnic baskets, beach umbrella, noodles, or beach toys.


Parent Volunteer Help

For every five students on the Internet, have one parent volunteer helper. Because of the age of the children, a low adult/student ratio is needed.


Rules for Surfing Safely on the Internet

1. I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parent's work address, or name and location of my school without my parent's permission.
   
2. If I joined a game or chat group on the Internet, with my parent's permission, I will never tell anyone my password to that game or chat group.
   
3. I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
   
4. I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents.
   
5. I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
   
6. I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable.
   
7. I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online.
   

Research WWW Sites on Internet Safety

Go to our webpage, Safely Surfing the Internet, which is dedicated to this topic


Instructional Procedure

1. Prepare four handouts:
   
   • Welcome Page that tells children to wear their "surfing clothes" and bring in items to decorate their "video set"
     
   • Schedule Page that assigns letter(s) that will be video taped on which day. Children will be responsible for bringing in items from home that begin with the letter(s) of the day
     
   • Permission to Publish Page that is signed by the parent and student which gives permission for their photograph and/or written project to be published on the Internet. Assure parents that their child's first name only will be used to credit their work. This will ensure privacy for their child.
     
   • Pledge to Surf Safely which lists the seven rules for on-line safety. This should be signed by the student once they understand these rules.

2. Acceptable Use Policy-be sure that this has been signed by student and parent and returned to school.

3. On the first day, introduce the seven rules for on-line safety. Review the hand-outs they'll receive at the end of class. Talk about the objectives of the class. Demonstrate basic navigating skills needed to find information on the Internet such as:
   
   • Where to write the address on the browser
   • How to reload the page if all of the graphics didn't download
   • How to bookmark a site they like
   • How to go back to a site they've been to before
   • Show them what the hypertext words do

4. Explain to the children that the Internet is like a huge bookstore or library. Within bookstores and libraries there are sections that are for "ADULTS ONLY." If they come to a site that's for adults only, tell the teacher (or parent) that they found a site that is for adults only. Then "back out" of that site. There are thousands of sites created with children in mind. Find those sites that are created for them.

5. On the second day, set up the "video set" using items that the children brought with them.

6. Assign a letter(s) for the children to find magazine pictures that begin with that sound. Cut them out and glue them on the appropriate letter then phonetically write the name under the glued picture.

7. Video tape the letter(s) of the day while the children are working on the magazine pictures. Use 3-5 children to demonstrate what articles were brought to class with that beginning sound. Take a "zap shot" (digitized picture) of the children displaying their articles brought to school for that beginning sound. This picture will be displayed on the Internet.

8. Allow children to "surf the WWW" to find sites that begin with the beginning sounds of the day. Use Yahooligans search engine to find topics that begin with the letter(s) of the day. Record the websites found by the children. This will be included on the published web project.

9. Assign a letter to each child. Have them brainstorm all of the words they can think of that begin with that letter of the alphabet. This will be published on the Internet.

10. Encourage the children to use critical thinking skills when choosing a favorite site they've found. Ask them why they like this site and why they think other children will enjoy looking at this site.

11. Repeat this schedule daily until all of the letters of the alphabet have been video taped.

12. When the alphabet has been recorded, video the children working at the computers. Illustrate on video how to navigate on the Internet, what you can find on the Internet, and what are the benefits from using the Internet.

13. Include in the video:
    • Search engine addresses appropriate for school age children.
      
    • How parents can get connected with the Internet.
      
    • What the school's website address is.
      

Expected Results/Evaluation Instrument:

1. Children can find a given topic using the Yahooligans search engine.
2. Children can explain what are the benefits for using the Internet.
3. Children can demonstrate how to navigate on the Internet.
4. Children can explain what are the rules for on-line safety.

Published Project

Visit our web page "Surfing for ABC's" to see what the children discovered on the Internet!

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last updated May 5, 1998 *­* pages created August 9, 1996
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