Digitizing History

A lesson plan that introduces students to the design and format of webpages and then asks students to create their own webpages about historical events.  Involves understanding technical texts, researching history, and creating multi-media presentations. A lesson students would enjoy while also learning how to create webpages.

Weblink address (URL): 
Digitizing History

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Students will:

  • learn the basics of organizing a Web site;
  • understand what makes an effective Web site;
  • organize, refine, and present information about a historical time period in different forms, including images, sounds and text; and
  • work collaboratively as a Web design team, either in small groups or as a class.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials Needed:

  • A Web site creation software program geared for young students, such as Serifs WebPlus. Most programs will have tutorials to get you going quickly. Serif provides several online resources as well as a CD of lesson suggestions, worksheets, and other materials to all educational users.
  • Discuss with your IT manager the best way to make and have access to a shared drive or folder for students to store all the source files needed for the project, including text documents, digital photos, scans of student drawings, and other graphics, animated GIFs, video clips, and sounds files.
  • A schedule for accessing the computers in your classroom.

References

Contributors: 
Tonya Malone
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation