Computing · Year 3

Active learning ideas

Websites and Web Pages

Active learning works for this topic because students need to see how websites are structured, not just hear about it. Clicking, tracing, and designing let them experience the connections between pages firsthand. This builds lasting understanding about how information is organized online.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS2: Computing - The Internet
• KS2: Computing - Information Technology

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Stations Rotation
• 30 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Website Dissection

Project a simple website like your school homepage. Students label elements on shared worksheets: homepage, hyperlinks, navigation bar. Discuss as a class how clicking a link moves to a new page, then trace a path together from home to a sub-page.

Explain how hyperlinks connect different web pages.

Facilitation Tip

During Website Dissection, model aloud how you trace a path from the homepage to a sub-page, naming each stop to make the structure visible for students.

What to look for

Provide students with a printed screenshot of a simple website (e.g., a local park or museum). Ask them to circle the homepage, underline two hyperlinks, and draw an arrow showing where one hyperlink would lead. Then, ask: 'What is the job of the homepage?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Stations Rotation
• 35 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Hyperlink Hunt

Provide tablets with child-safe sites. Groups follow teacher-set paths using hyperlinks, noting what each page shows and how navigation works. Groups report back one discovery, such as a menu leading to class pages.

Compare the purpose of a homepage to other pages on a website.

Facilitation Tip

For the Hyperlink Hunt, provide a printed screenshot of a child-friendly site so students can annotate it directly with colored pencils or highlighters.

What to look for

Display a familiar child-friendly news website on the projector. Ask students to raise their hand and identify the homepage. Then, ask them to point out a link that would take them to a different page and explain what kind of content they expect to find there.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Stations Rotation
• 40 min · Pairs

Pairs: Navigation Path Design

Pairs sketch a school website: homepage with links to 'About Us', 'Classes', 'Events'. Draw arrows for hyperlinks and label page purposes. Pairs present their path, explaining user flow from home to a specific page.

Design a simple navigation path for a website about our school.

Facilitation Tip

When students design Navigation Paths, give them sticky notes to represent hyperlinks so they can physically move the notes to test different routes.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are designing a website for our school. What would be on the homepage, and what other pages would you link to from it? How would you make it easy for someone to find information about clubs or the school play?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Stations Rotation
• 25 min · Individual

Individual: Homepage Mockup

Students draw their ideal school homepage with 4-5 navigation links to imagined pages. Label each link's destination and purpose. Share one feature with a partner for feedback on clarity.

Explain how hyperlinks connect different web pages.

Facilitation Tip

Have students create Homepage Mockups with labeled sections so they practice explaining why certain elements belong on the homepage versus sub-pages.

What to look for

Provide students with a printed screenshot of a simple website (e.g., a local park or museum). Ask them to circle the homepage, underline two hyperlinks, and draw an arrow showing where one hyperlink would lead. Then, ask: 'What is the job of the homepage?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers approach this topic by moving from concrete to abstract, starting with familiar sites and printed materials before moving to digital tools. Avoid assuming students intuitively understand hyperlinks; model and practice clicking different types of links together. Research shows that hands-on tracing and drawing help students internalize site structures more effectively than passive observation.

Successful learning looks like students correctly identifying homepages, hyperlinks, and navigation paths on simple websites. They should explain the purpose of each element in their own words and apply these ideas when designing their own mockup. Clear communication about site structure shows true comprehension.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Website Dissection, watch for students who assume the homepage contains all the information. Redirect them by asking, 'Where would you find details about the school play if it’s not here on the homepage?'

  During Website Dissection, use the printed map analogy: point out that the homepage is like a city map showing landmarks and routes, while sub-pages are the detailed street views. Have students trace a path from the homepage icon to a specific sub-page and back.

• During Hyperlink Hunt, watch for students who think hyperlinks only look like buttons or images. Redirect by saying, 'Look closely at the text links in the article. What happens when you click them?'

  During Hyperlink Hunt, give each small group a printed screenshot and colored markers. Ask them to circle every hyperlink they find, including underlined text, icons, and images, and label whether it’s a text link or image link.

• During Homepage Mockup, watch for students who overload the homepage with too many details. Redirect by asking, 'Would you put every book in the library on the front door? What should visitors see first?'

  During Homepage Mockup, provide a template with clear sections for navigation, featured content, and a brief overview. Have students present their mockups in pairs and explain which elements belong on the homepage and which should go on sub-pages.

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Methods used in this brief

• Stations Rotation