TEACHER SET UP Before class, find a minimum of three websites that relate to or directly address the problem selected by the class. The list of sites should include at least one government agency and one non-profit group. Complete the Information Collector for each website to use as a guide.

ANTICIPATE by projecting the Anticipation Overhead and reading Sarah’s story with the class.  Ask students to think of one pro and one con for each resource. 

DISTRIBUTE the anticipation half-sheet Civic Action and the Internet and review instructions.

ASSIGN questions 1-5 and the brainstorming activity to the class and review answers.

DISTRIBUTE one Navigating the Web reading page to each student.

READ through Navigating the Web with the class. You can have an actual website on an overhead/projector if you want to show these website elements in a more dynamic way and address any variations on the basic elements.

DISTRIBUTE three Information Collector graphic organizers to each student.

DISPLAY the Information Collector overhead and explain that they will be looking at real websites that deal with the class problem. They will be completing one of these organizers for each website you assign them.

EXPLORE the first website with the class, modeling how student should fill out the Information Collector. (Students should fill in their first sheet with you.)

INSTRUCT students to repeat this process for the other websites you have pre-selected using mixed-ability pairs.

CLOSE the lesson by reviewing the results of each website as a class.