Unit 1 · Stage 4

Building a Page Hierarchy

Your page already has a main title and section headings. Now you will use smaller headings to build sub-sections inside your page, so readers and screen readers can follow the structure. Play in the editor, or press 👀 Type it with me for a guide. (pause on a highlighted word to see what it does)

1 The heading ladder

HTML has six heading levels, from <h1> down to <h6>. Think of them as a ladder: <h1> is the page title, <h2> is a major section, <h3> is a sub-section inside that, and <h4> is a smaller detail inside the sub-section.

What this code means

<h3> ... </h3>: A sub-section heading. It sits under an <h2> and breaks a big section into smaller topics, like History and Today inside one nation's story.
<h4> ... </h4>: A smaller heading, one step below <h3>. Use it for a detail inside a sub-section, like a spotlight on one nation.

💡 The golden rule: never skip levels. Go h1, then h2, then h3, then h4 in order. Jumping from h1 straight to h3 confuses screen readers, which announce headings to people who cannot see the page, and search engines, which use the levels to understand your page.

🤔 Quick check before you go on

Which heading is smaller: h2 or h4? Type it, then press Submit to unlock the next steps.

2 Add an About section for the Sioux and Dakota Nations

Under the Quick Facts list, add a new <h2> section about the Sioux and Dakota Nations. Inside it, use <h3> for the sub-topics History and Today, then a smaller <h4> to spotlight one nation.

The shape you are building

<h2> then <h3>: The <h2> names the whole section. Each <h3> under it is a sub-topic that belongs to that section.
<h4> inside: The <h4> sits below the <h3> level for one small detail, here a spotlight on a single nation.

✍️ Add this section on the lines just above the closing </body> tag. Not sure of the shape? Use the example below, then press ▶ Run.

<h2>About the Sioux and Dakota Nations</h2>
<h3>Their History</h3>
<p>The Sioux and Dakota nations have lived in the Northern Plains since time immemorial.</p>
<h3>Today</h3>
<p>All three nations govern their own lands and protect their treaty rights and sovereignty.</p>
<h4>Spotlight: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe</h4>
<p>In Sioux and Morton Counties, this nation became known worldwide for protecting clean water and sacred lands.</p>

3 Add an About section for the MHA Nation and Anishinaabe

Do the same for the MHA Nation and Anishinaabe: an <h2> section with two <h3> sub-topics, one for their History and one for Today.

✍️ Add this section just above the closing </body> tag, right after your Sioux and Dakota section. Use the example below if you need it, then press ▶ Run.

<h2>About the MHA Nation and Anishinaabe</h2>
<h3>Their History</h3>
<p>The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara united as the MHA Nation at Fort Berthold.</p>
<h3>Today</h3>
<p>The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa are Anishinaabe people in Rolette County.</p>

4 Why the hierarchy matters

Look at your page now. The <h1> is the title, the <h2> tags are the major chapters, the <h3> tags are sub-topics inside them, and the <h4> is one small detail. This is exactly how a real textbook or encyclopedia is organized.

💡 A clear heading ladder is not just for looks. Screen readers let people jump from heading to heading, so a page that goes h1, h2, h3, h4 in order is far easier to navigate than one that skips around.

5 Make it your own

Research one Sioux or Dakota nation and add your own <h4> spotlight under the Sioux and Dakota section, with a short paragraph about what you learned.

<h4>Spotlight: Spirit Lake Nation</h4>
<p>Spirit Lake Nation is a Dakota nation known for its work in language revitalization and education.</p>

✓ Finish this stage

To complete Stage 4, your page needs at least two <h3> sub-headings and at least one <h4> spotlight. Press Check my work when you are ready. This opens Stage 5 and lets your teacher see that you finished.

YOUR CODE

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