Group Number: Recorder:_________________

Christmas Customs

Websearch 1

Here are 2 good websites about Christmas:

1. http://___________________________________________

2. http://___________________________________________

Choose one. Type in the address. Press return. Which number did you choose? ___

Explore the website. Read and write all you can about Christmas in this country. When you find a page you like, ask permission to print it.

1. Christmas Tree______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2. Tree decorations_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Christmas food and recipes_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

4. Santa Claus_________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

5. Advent Calendar_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

6. Christmas Carols_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

7. Other interesting information____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Materials/Resources: Website addresses already checked and vetted by the teacher, a copy of the attached work sheet for each group.

1. While half the class is working on this Internet-based lesson, the others can continue to work on the wordprocessing tasks outlined in Lesson 1.(See 2nd-4th)

2. The teacher revises the most important terms related to the Internet – Internet, World Wide Web, surfing, browser, address and links.

3. The pupils are divided into small groups of 3 to 5 and each group works at one Internet-connected computer.

4. Each group is given 2 addresses of safe, educational, informative and attractive websites, previously chosen and examined by the teacher.**LD children take part with a group and do the clicking for the group.

5. The pupils will be instructed to choose one address and to find out and record all they possibly can about Christmas in French-, German- or Italian-speaking countries.**LD children could be taking by teacher alone and asked for the differences they see in the different sites - descriptive questioning.

6. The pupils are advised to make sure that they explore the entire website by scrolling and by using the navigational buttons and icons.**LD children by frequent clicking practice gain experience on links.

7. The pupils can, with teacher’s permission, print out any interesting pages from the sites.

8. The pupils are instructed to complete the work sheets (see attachment), with one member of each group acting as recorder.

A notice board display can be constructed using a selection of the more interesting Christmas customs discovered on the websites.

Materials/Resources: A copy of the attached work sheet (Websearch 2) for each group.

Group Number: Recorder:________________

Christmas Customs

Websearch 2

Chosen Topic: ______________________________________

Open the Internet browser.
Type the following address and press return: http://www.altavista.com
Type a search word in the dialog box. Click on the button beside it, marked ‘Search’.
What word did you type?
Visit some of the websites returned.
Try making your search more specific?

Try Christmas+customs

“Christmas customs” +the name of the country you are studying

Continue to investigate the websites and record your findings below.

______________________________________________________________

Add 2 good sites to a new Favourites folder.

What names did you give the 2 sites?

_______________________/____________________

What name did you give to the Favourites folder?

___________________________________

1. While half the class are working on this Internet-based lesson, the others can continue to work on the wordprocessing tasks outlined in Lesson 1. (See 2nd-4th)

2. The teacher revises the most important terms from the previous lesson – World Wide Web, surfing, browser, address, links.**LD children asked to point our a LINK

3. The pupils are divided into small groups of 3 to 5 and each group works at one Internet-connected computer. **LD children involved in a group

4. Each group is given one of the following topics to research: (i) Christmas Tree, (ii) Christmas recipes (iii) Santa Claus (iv) Christmas Carols (v) Christmas Calendar and (vi) Other aspects of Christmas – crib, decorations, presents, etc.

5. The teacher demonstrates how to access a search engine (e.g. http://www.altavista.com)

6. The teacher then explains the need for using different strategies to improve the search results: (i) Christmas then (ii) “Christmas tree” then (iii) “Christmas tree” +Germany.

7. The teacher demonstrates the need to browse quickly through the initial search results before studying one site in detail. **LD children in a group of their own under teacher supervision browse a site and comment.

8. The teacher elicits the need for, and shows the pupils the mechanics of, adding a web page to a favourites folder.

9. The pupils will be instructed to find out and record all the information they can find on their given topic.

10. The pupils are advised to make sure that they explore the entire website by scrolling and by using the navigational buttons and icons.

11. The pupils can, with teacher’s permission, print out any interesting pages from the sites.

12. The pupils are instructed to complete the work sheets (see attachment), with one member of each group acting as recorder

A notice board display can be constructed using a selection of the more interesting Christmas customs discovered on the websites.
Ask pupils to carry out identical searches using three or four different search engines:

Ask them to browse some of the returned websites and discuss the merits and demerits of each search engine.
The children can do some follow-up writing highlighting the differences and similarities of our Christmas customs and those from French-, German- or Italian-speaking countries.

2. Click on File, click Page setup, then click the tab marked Paper size. In the box marked Orientation, click the box beside Landscape. Now remember to click on OK.

* Landscape means that your page is turned on its side. Usually you would use the Portrait view, but cards look better in Landscape view.

4. You will need to use the right side of your page as the front of the card. Click the Align Right button. (Hint: It is near the U underline button.)

5. Now you can type in a nicely coloured greeting for the top of your card. Click on Insert, Picture. Follow the arrow out from Picture and go down to Word Art. Click on Word Art. Pick the style you like best, click on it and then click OK. Now type in a short greeting. When you are finished typing click OK.

6. Now you need to see how your work looks, so click on the Print Preview button. (Hint: Print Preview is the button with the white page and magnifying glass on it.) Are you happy with your work? Remember that you can move it down a bit or make it bigger. When you are happy with it, just click and the "handles" around the words will disappear.

7. Now you are ready to insert a Christmas picture. Click on Insert, Picture, and follow the arrow to the words Clip Art. Click on the words Clip Art. Scroll through the categories on the left and choose Special Occasions. Choose one of the many Christmas pictures and click on Insert. Now your picture is on the card.

8. Go to Print Preview again and check how your card looks. Press Esc on the keyboard to exit Print Preview and, if necessary, use the spacebar to move your picture. You can also change the size of your picture using the “handles” (i.e. the 8 little boxes around the picture).