Welcome To The Web

“Welcome to the Web” is an interactive set of web pages which can be used to teach children (and adults) about the Internet. They can be used in the classroom / computer room, and children are welcome to explore them as they wish (although they have been designed to use in sequence).

The resources are in split into seven sections:

1. The Beginning – explains how to use the site.
2. Getting Started Online – teaches children about the basic concepts involved in the Internet (World Wide Web, Hyperlinks, Back button etc). This introductory lesson also gives valuable practice in visiting and navigating around websites.
3. Staying Safe – encourages pupils to keep themselves safe online by following the SMART rules. Also tests their understanding using interactive activities and fun quizzes.
4. Using Your Browser – helps people to learn more about their web browsers… what are the different features, and how are they used?
5. Searching Online – teaches children how to search effectively and keep themselves safe when doing so. Also identifies search engines which are particularly suitable for children to use.
6. Trying Top Tricks – finding information on the net is great, but it is also important to know how that information can be used. This section explains printing, using the Find tool to locate specific information within web pages, copying and pasting text, and saving images from the web. Also includes information about copyright and why it is important to credit others when you use their work.
7. The Welcome to the Web Challenge – When the children have completed all of the sections of Welcome to the Web, they can complete this exciting challenge. It requires them to use all of the skills which they have learnt to catch the creator of a destructive computer virus!

When visitors complete the challenge, they are able to print a personalised certificate to show their competence in using the Internet.

Each section (except the Challenge) has worksheets which, although not compulsory, can be used to direct children’s attention to important parts of the resources and to test their knowledge. The worksheets can be downloaded when you start each section. Teachers can download the entire set of worksheets below.

The answers are not included with the worksheets. It would be advisable that any teachers wishing to use the resources with children, use them before the lesson (and thus work out the answers for themselves beforehand!).

The Welcome to the Web resources can be found at:

www.w2tw.uk

The Welcome to the Web resources have taken a very long time to create. I would love to hear your comments about them, and if you have used them in school at all. Did the children enjoy them? What did they learn?

Comments can be sent to [email protected].

Additional Resources:

• Chris Thomas has created an additional worksheet which children can use when working through Section 2 of the site. See the ‘Surfing the Web’ sheet below.
• Monique Cote has created a ‘Jeopardy’-style game based on the concepts in Welcome to the Web. When you play the Powerpoint presentation, a board of money choices appears. Click on one of the choices to view a question. When the students have chosen their answer, clicking on the spider rectangle will reveal the answer. You can then click on the large arrow to go back to the money choices. A printable game card is also available, so you can record which questions have been answered.
• Monique has also created a Kahoot quiz that you can use with your students.
• Jane Harvey has submitted an additional set of questions to help children review what they have learned in the ‘Staying Safe Online’ section.
• Kari Milton has created a badge that students can earn by completing the Welcome to the Web challenge. They have to share a photo of their evidence sheet, their certificate and a reflection of what they enjoyed and learned from the process. Kari’s badge can be viewed on the Badgelist site. Could you try a similar activity with your students?

Downloads: