"THE MENAGERIE"
LESSON DESIGN
by Philip Holt




Template designed by Pamela J. Buffington, Ph.D. Used with permission..   All rights reserved. November, 1999.

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL / TOPIC
 GOALS:
1) The students will learn the basic components of using Netscape Composer. They will be able to enter text; links; graphics; and horizontal bars.
2) The students will be required to research information (theme:pets) using reference materials online and in the library/media center.
3) This web page activity will meet the following Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks Standards:
Communicate the process of technological design. (5276).
Learning the steps involved in using Netscape Composer. 
Use tools, materials, and machines safely and effectively. (5284). 
Using the Internet, CD ROMs, computer, and scanner to effectively put together a web page document.
Identify, describe, and apply knowledge of the structure of the English language and standard English conventions for sentence structure, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
The written portion of the web page must conform with all English language conventions.
Investigate and describe processes by which organisms that have two parents receive a full set of genetic instructions by way of the parents' reproduction cells specifying individual traits from each parent. Offspring exhibit traits from each parent. (5241).
The section on heredity, requires that the students identify any dominant and/or recessive traits of the animal.
Make oral presentations that demonstrate appropriate consideration of audience, purpose, and the information to be conveyed. Present similar content for various purposes and to different audiences (peers, parents, younger students), showing appropriate changes in delivery (gestures, vocabulary, pace, visuals). (2203)
The students will present their completed web page to an audience of parents and friends.

TASK ANALYSIS:
1) The students will need to be introduced to the following components/capabilities of Netscape Composer:

- entering text
- formatting
- entering links
- adding/customizing graphics (pictures)
- horizontal lines
2) Students will need to use Internet sites and the library/media center to gather information about their topic/subject.
3) Standard english conventions will be followed in all the written portions of this project
LEARNERS AND CONTEXTS
 This lesson will involve sixth grade students.  They will need direction by the teacher and will also be able to peer tutor each other to help complete the project. 
INSTRUCTIONAL /PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this project the student will be able to demonstrate that she/he:
1)Can  describe the characteristics and uses of the web authoring program Netscape Composer.
2)Can identify characteristics of good and poor web page design.
3)Can present a completed web page to an audience. 
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY
For this assignment each student will be creating a web page using Netscape Composer (a feature found in Netscape Communicator). The topic will be their pet or a pet that they are familiar with. All the writing portions of this assignment should be written in correct paragraph form, proofread and edited carefully (a friend should peer edit it). Each web page will be required to consist of the following components:
  • A picture of their pet, or of its breed, that will appear at the top of their web page (they will be shown how to scan a picture into a document).
  • A narrative. This should be at least a two paragraph section that explains how they got their pet and tells an interesting story about him or her.
  • A paragraph that discusses their pet's heredity. We have completed a science unit that included the topic of heredity and how dominant and recessive genes impact organisms. In this section, tell about the pet's genetic background (what breed/breeds their pet is) and how that has influenced the physical appearance of their pet. This should be at least one paragraph in length. This is a good section to include a link.
  • A paragraph that tells about the historical background and/or geographic origins of the breed/breeds of their pet. This is a good section to include a link.
  • A minimum of two links to the World Wide Web. These must have a logical basis for being part of their web page.
This is a long term assignment, which will be completed, in the next four weeks. It is very ambitious and with everyone's cooperation it will be successful. The students are expected to do all the written portions of this web page by themselves but  will be able to help each other in learning how to use Netscape Composer. They will be given time in Language Arts class, as well as time to use the computers in the Lab and in the classroom. They will also be expected to research their topic at home and to give this their best effort. When the project is completed, each student will use the LCD projector to present their web page to parents and friends.
 
 

_X  Reflective      _X_Constructive          _X_ Authentic        _X_Active       _X_ Cooperative

ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
The students web page projects will be evaluated for:
1) The written content of their narrative, heredity, and history/geographic origins components and how they conform with all English language conventions.
2) The inclusion of the following web page components:
  • at least two logically chosen links
  • picture
  • bolded titles
  • visually appealing color use
  • visually appealing text choice
  • return links 
RESOURCES / MATERIALS NEEDED
Students will need access to the following:
  • the World Wide Web
  • Reference materials online and in the library/media center
  • computers in the classroom and computer lab
  • Netscape Communicator & Composer
  • a digital scanner 
All rights reserved. November, 1999. Philip Holt


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