This activity is designed for a fifth grade classroom.  However, it can also be easily used in a third or forth grade class because it aligns with several objectives in the Standard Course of Study with these grade levels as well.

Objectives that this lesson meets for the fifth grade Standard Course of Study include:
Language Arts Curriculum  -  1.01, 1.04, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 5.01, 5.07, and 5.08
Information Skills Curriculum  -  4.09, 4.10, 5.02, 5.04, and 5.05
Computer Skills Curriculum  -  2.4 and 3.7

Materials Needed:
*Digital Camera (if these are unavailable you can take a picture with a regular camera and scan it)
*Computers for each group or individual
*Ordinary objects that the students will preferably have no idea what their original function is
*Disks to save the created projects on
*A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!

For this lesson each student (or group) will be asked to choose an object and write a short news piece about the object and its uses.  However, creativity comes into play here in that the uses of the objects must be something different than what each is normally used for.  After each group has brainstormed a list of ideas for their object, the students will create a web page by writing news pieces on their object and including images captured with a digital camera.  These news stories will then be posted on the Internet as web pages.

LAUNCH
1. Show the class how to use the digital camera.
2. Demonstrate to the class how to use the computers (Netscape Navigator, etc.).
3. Divide the class into groups and have each group pick an object from a pile of objects that you have provided.
4. Have the groups brainstorm possible uses for their object.  Have the students keep in mind that the use that they pick for their object has to be something different than what it is really used for.

EXPLORE
1. Use the digital camera and have the students take a picture of them and their object.
2. Have each group write out their news story.  Have them state what the object is, who can use it, and what it is used for.  Suggest that they pretend to interview the inventor of the object, put the history of similar objects in it, or interview potential buyers of the object.
3. Have each group create a web page that includes the picture that they took with the digital camera and the article that they wrote describing the device.
4. Post the finished web pages on the Internet with a class description of what and how this project was done.
5. Have a discussion with the class in which you talk about things that they learned etc. from this project.

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