Plan Ahead

When integrating the Internet into your classroom, it's important to plan ahead. Start by getting organized. What hardware and software do you need? When and where will you have access to the Internet? Design a project that's realistic and makes effective use of the websites. Lay out your plan on paper. Consider creating a handout or web page that will help students get organized.
The Internet is for everyone. Anyone can grow a carrot, but be realistic about what can and can't be done. For example, you can even do wonderful things with preschool resources at sites such as the Arthur Site at PBS.
 

PBS Kids

A&E

Animal Planet

A&E Biography

Arthur

Carmen Sandiego

CBS Kidzone

Charlie Horse Music Pizza

Children's BBC

Children's Television Workshop

CNN Newsroom

CourtTV

Discovery Channel

Discovery News Online

Disney Television

Family Channel

FOX Kids

Ghostwriter

History Channel

Kratt's Creatures

Lamb Chop

Bill Nye: The Science Guy

Magic School Bus

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

Newton's Apple

Nickelodeon

NOVA Online

Reading Rainbow

Rosie O'Donnell Show

Scientific American Frontiers

Sci-Fi Channel

Sesame Street

TBS

Teletubbies

Theodore Tugboat

Weather Channel

Wishbone

YTV - Canadian

Vietnam Site at PBS
Explore educational and instructional television sites. Pick one that might be useful in your classroom.

Be prepared. Tulip time only comes once a year. You don't want to miss it! Your students need to be prepared to use the Internet. They need entry skills, experiences, and vocabulary to successful. For example, don't just jump into the Human Body site. Be sure that students know where they are going and why. What will they do once they get to a particular page? Do they have the prerequisite skills to use the page effectively?

 
Don't kid yourself. You don't save time or money when you use the Internet. However, you can excite students and enrich the learning through expanded resources. For example, the Documenting the South site provides an array of narratives, journals, and diaries that can be history alive for students.
 
Plan ahead. It takes years to grow grapes. Participate in a project the first year. The second year consider joining a team. By the third year or semester, you may be ready to go out on your own. For example, use the Shape Up site the first semester. Join with another school and compare calculations the second year. By the third time, you're ready to design your own experiment.
 
Think focus. Plants (or kids) can't move in a pot. The pot restricts their movement. On the other hand, limited movement can also be an advantage if you want your students to focus in on a particular topic or issue. For example, start with the National Gallery of Art. Then if students need more information on a particular artist or artwork, give them additional resources.
 
Think seasons! Explore fun holiday, this day in history, and special month sites. Check out the History and News page for ideas.
 
What could you do on a daily basis in your classroom? For example, you could have a child each day select a quote of the day or a famous event in history. Explore the History and News links.

Pick good lessons. As you plan consider: what do you plant, when? Be sure to match the grade level, activity type, interests, and outcomes to your student needs. Explore Lesson Plans and KinderArt for some excellent examples of age-appropriate activities.

 
Developed by Annette Lamb, 4/99.