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Projects are a popular way to connect with classrooms around the world. They can also bring authentic, real-world materials, issues, and debates into your classroom. Projects are also a great way to connect with parents and community members. Many teachers regularly post student projects on their class pages.

A classroom websites and project pages don't need to be complex or flashy. The key is taking a child-centered approach. Explore Mr. Leahy's Class. Since the late 1990s, he's been sharing student projects on his classroom page. His students share projects from art, math, science, reading, writing, social studies, health, and many other areas.

try itFind lots of examples of student-produced projects at ThinkQuest. Check out the many project examples across content areas in the Library.

Let's explore projects across subject areas.

Art

Art is a popular topic for Internet projects. You'll find lots of examples of student art work. In some cases, the artwork was done in pencil, marker, or paints, then scanned into the computer. Sculptures, puppets, paper folding, dioramas, and other three dimensional projects can be shown by using a digital camera picture or digitizing a still picture from a videotape. It's a good idea to include a small thumbnail picture on an index page. Then interested users can click on the thumbnail for an enlarged picture. Students might also wish to include descriptions with their projects. It's also fun for students to collaborate on art projects over the Internet. For example, one class could draw pictures and post them on the Internet. Another class could then write stories to go with the pictures.

The Internet is also a great way for students to demonstrate their art skills. For example, a student could write step-by-step instructions for creating a tie dyed shirt or batik wall hanging. The instructions could be illustrated with digital photographs or illustrations.

Combine student projects with links. For example, ask students to write about an artist, style, or piece of artwork, then link to a site or sites for additional information. There are many museum sites that contain famous works of art and information about popular artists. You might have students critique a piece of artwork found on the web, then share their critique with others. Students could create and share their rating system with students at another school.

Glen Allen Elementary School provides example of artwork across grade levels. Also check out the Art Teacher Web Pages from Incredible @rt Department.

try it As you explore art project websites, look for the following elements:

Music

You'll also find music projects on the Internet. Get your students involved with developing original musical compositions. These can be posted on the Internet and shared with students at other schools. Students can also work on informational projects related to types of music or composers. They can incorporate links to dozens of great music sites. Ask students to review popular music and share their critiques on the Internet. Check out Mississippi Writers and Musician, a resource that was originally created and developed by Starkville High School students.

Check out the Texas School Music Project.

try itAs you explore music project websites, look for the following elements:

Social Studies

Social studies topics are a natural for Internet projects. With up-to-the minute data and reports, students can easily keep on top of popular issues and topics. Consider developing a current events page that students keep updated with popular, timely topics. Internet is also a super way to get students to share their concerns and ideas regarding current events and issues on a global level.

Use the many chats and forums for social issues discussions and debates. Join with other schools in the development of a project that might have a significant social impact.

Use Internet as a way to share information collected from interviews. For example, oral history projects are currently a popular social studies activity. Post the text along with photographs on a web page. Experts are another good resource for interviews. Local officials and politicians are always happy to provide information for this type of project.

Involve students in real-world issues and topics. Ask them to develop a research question and create a survey or poll. The students can post their results on the Internet. These results can be shared and combined with the data from other schools. Topics such as political campaigns, environmental issues, and global events are good for this type of project.

Traditional reports can be brought alive through the use of the Internet. Ask students to link their reports to existing web resources or combine their projects with students from other sites. Develop pages that use a museum floorplan, timeline, or map as an organizational structure.

Also, think about teacher-produced projects. Check out Kids and History.

try itExplore student social studies projects. As you explore project websites, look for the following elements:

Math and Science

Sharing is the key to effective math and science projects on the Internet. Have your children develop story problems for other students to solve. Develop a project that involves data collection around the world. As a global group, come up with conclusions and make recommendations. Post the results of science projects and lab experiments.

Get students involved with accessing and analyzing information they find on the Internet. Ask them to compare and contrast information and resources and draw conclusions based on their findings. This is a great way to bring math alive for students. Analyze baseball statistics, stock market data, or interest rates. Explore shifts in world population data, endangered species populations, or global warming.

The Terrific Tessellations project involved fourth graders in the development of tessellations using ClarisWorks. At Heronsgate Middle School students participate in many cool projects. For example, children share their simulated space exploration using video clips of their Lego project.

try itExplore student math and science projects. As you explore project websites, look for the following elements:

English and Language Arts

English, literature, reading, and writing are all areas of literacy that can be enhanced through the development of Internet projects. Use the Internet to explore information about authors, then ask students to share their favorite book or new book idea by emailing an author. Develop a book buddy activity where students across the country pair with other students to read and share books, develop critical reviews, or write poetry.

Use the Internet to post creative writing projects, journals, articles, and other original writing. The Web English Teacher is a great websie by teacher, Carla Beard.

Explore student literacy projects. As you explore project websites, look for the following elements:

Interdisciplinary

Cross-discipline projects are easy with the Internet. Focus on popular topics in the news or world events such as the WWII Commemorations or the Olympics. Ask students to share unique experiences such as life after a natural disaster or living with war. Share your local area with other classrooms through the creation of virtual field trips and pen pal projects.

try itGo the Cool Project and Center Pages from Teacher Tap and explore examples of classroom pages.

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