Site Building Plan Worksheet Site Blueprint Plan
Digital Publication Infrastructure v1.0
Builder:
Date:
1. Core Identity
Site Title
Tagline / Mission
Architecture Note: Your site title should be short and memorable. The tagline helps readers understand what your site is about in 10 words or less.
2. Page Architecture Map
Sketch your hierarchy. Map out your Home Page and at least 4 category pages using boxes and lines.
3. Visual Theme
Primary Color
Describe or color in
Secondary Color
Describe or color in
Font Choice
Serif
Sans-Serif
Display
Phase 1 Framework Goals
Account Initialized
Navigation Functional
Theme Cohesive
Pages Added
Platform Tutorial Slides Building the Framework
Constructing Your Digital Publication
SYSTEM: v1.0 // ARCHITECTURE
Today's Blueprint
Mission Objective
Construct the bones of your digital site before we add any content.
1
Plan Site Architecture
2
Setup Global Navigation
3
Establish Visual Identity
What is Site Architecture?
Hierarchy
Organizing pages from most important to most specific.
Navigation
Helping users find exactly what they need without getting lost.
Framework
The invisible structure that holds all your future content.
Navigation Rules
Crucial!
Keep it Simple
3-6 main categories is the "Golden Number" for menus.
Be Predictable
Use standard names like "Home", "Articles", "About", and "Contact".
Global Design
The menu must look the same on every single page.
Step-by-Step Construction
01
Initialize
Sign in and select a "Blank" or "Minimal" template. No content yet!
02
Page Setup
Add your 4-5 core pages based on your Blueprint Plan.
03
Navigation
Connect your pages to the main Header Menu.
04
Theme
Pick fonts and colors that match your publication's vibe.
Establishing a Theme
A "Unified Theme" means your readers never feel like they've left your site when they switch pages.
Colors
Stick to 2-3 main colors. Use them for buttons, headers, and backgrounds.
Fonts
One font for big headings, one font for reading text. That's it!
Team Workflow
A
The Architect: Sets up the page structure.
B
The Designer: Manages theme colors and fonts.
C
The Editor: Double checks navigation and spelling.
Mission Start
Complete your Site Blueprint Plan then begin your digital construction.
Time Limit: 25 Minutes
Site Framework Project Guide Site Framework Project
Digital Publication Construction Guide
Project Team
Site Name
Objective
Follow these technical steps to build the skeletal structure of your website. Today is about construction , not content . You are building the house; you are not moving the furniture in yet!
1
Initial Setup & Initialization
Log In & Start
Sign into the platform using your class account. Choose "Create New Site" and select the Blank Canvas or Portfolio category.
Set Your Name
Give your project its official title. Make sure the site URL is something simple and professional (e.g., TheDailyPlanet-Digital ).
2
The Page Skeleton
Add Core Pages
Create at least 4 new pages from your Blueprint Plan. Leave them empty for now!
Establish Hierarchy
If you have sub-pages, drag them under the main pages in the "Pages" manager to create a dropdown effect.
3
Navigation & Style
Global Menu Hookup
Ensure your "Header" widget is set to Global . Link every page you created to this menu.
Style Injector
Go to "Site Styles". Select your primary and secondary colors. Choose your heading and body fonts.
Inspection Report (Success Criteria)
Architecture
All planned pages are present and organized.
Navigation
Menu is visible and functional on every page.
Cohesion
Theme colors and fonts are applied globally.
Site Building Teacher Guide Building the Framework
Teacher Instructional Guide
45 Minutes | 6th Grade
Lesson Summary
In this session, students transition from concept to creation. They will use digital publishing tools to build the "skeleton" of their site. The focus is strictly on architecture—pages, menus, and themes—rather than content writing. By the end of the lesson, teams will have a functional website framework ready for future content injection.
Key Vocabulary
Architecture: The structural design of a website.Navigation: The system of menus that helps users move through a site.Global Header: A section that remains constant on every page.Visual Cohesion: Consistent use of colors and fonts.
Instructional Arc
10m
Concept: Site Architecture
Use the Platform Tutorial Slides to introduce the concept of digital blueprints. Discuss why simple navigation is better for user experience.
Discussion Prompt: "Think about a website you hate using. Why is it hard to find things? What would you change about its menu?"
10m
The Blueprint Phase
Distribute the Site Blueprint Plan Worksheet . Students work in teams to finalize their site name, tagline, and page map before touching the computers.
Circulate and ensure teams have at least 4 distinct pages planned.
20m
Digital Construction
Students use the Site Framework Project Guide to build their sites. This is a technical checklist phase.
Page Creation: Are all pages added?
Menu Hookup: Does the menu work on all pages?
Theme Injection: Are the colors and fonts consistent?
05m
Framework Inspection
Quick peer-check. Teams swap computers and click through each other's menus to ensure they aren't broken.
Success Strategies
Common Pitfalls
Students often want to start writing articles immediately. Remind them that if the "house" isn't built (pages and menus), the content won't have a place to live. Enforce the "No Content Yet" rule.
Differentiation
Advanced: Challenge teams to create nested sub-menus (e.g., "Articles > Sports > Basketball").Support: Provide a pre-selected theme for teams struggling with color choices.
