Guidelines for Use of Resources
Grades Seven through Twelve
The ideas included in the Curriculum Center are designed to get your
classes started with Internet activities targeting the theme, "The
50 States of the United States." The suggested Internet sites are
valuable reference sources and will lead your students to additional ideas
that will enrich learning and to other sites that feature information on
the United States.
Use the activities as models and change as you wish to fit your students
and your course of studies.
Check for additional information in Web Sites
& Descriptions. The descriptions will give you a head start on
learning what is on the suggested sites. While all have useful information
to incorporate in some way into your teaching, some have lesson plans and
ideas that may be very helpful to you. When you link beyond these sites,
make sure to check the content before using it with your students.
Introduction to Lessons
A good way to begin "The 50 States of the United States" would
be to see what the students already know. Go to the game sites for identifying
state flags and state capitals and let them check their knowledge. Give
them a list of state trivia answers such as Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Blueberry
Muffin, state mushroom, Blue Hen Chicken, state rock, etc. and see if they
can find the questions using the state database sites. For more state fun
as motivation, you might want to take your students to the Massachusetts
lobster site so that they can learn (if they don't know) how to properly
eat a lobster.
Just about all of the sites in this curricular theme are appropriate
for this age group. Only a few, such as the some of the children's sections
on state sites, are targeted for younger children. Some of the sites are
better used with students in Grades 9-12, but you'll have to check for
what is acceptable for your students, their ages, and abilities.
You may want to bookmark the suggested sites to make sites quicker and
easier to access during class periods. Add sites from Web Sites & Descriptions
for your bookmarks as well as sites you know of and appreciate using. Captured
sites might also be used to make sure you are able to access sites within
the time period available. Set standards for use of the Internet or follow
guidelines specified by your school or school district.
For students who are just beginning with telecommunications and the
World Wide Web, use classroom computer projection or computer lab instruction
to introduce them to bookmarks and effective and safe use of telecommunications.
Take them to one of the sites on the suggested list, explore the site with
them, and show them how to link to other sites and resources. Show them
how to "save" and "print" information to use later
in their work, in addition to how to use file transfer options.
Documenting Information
Emphasize the need for and documenting of information, graphics, sounds,
and ideas obtained from telecommunications and other sources. For younger
students in this age group, you might want to give examples of content
and how to document this content. With the older students, following instructions
from sources such as the MLA and APA manuscript guides might be advisable.
Safety Note
Always check the sites for content that will be appropriate for your
students. Keep in mind that links and content change frequently.
