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 Dakota

Under the Quick Facts list, add a new <h2> section about the Dakota people. 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 Dakota People</h2>
<h3>Their History</h3>
<p>The Dakota people have lived in Minnesota for thousands of years.</p>
<h3>Today</h3>
<p>The 4 Dakota communities govern their own lands and keep their language and culture strong.</p>
<h4>Spotlight: Shakopee Mdewakanton</h4>
<p>In Scott County, this community is a leader in environmental sustainability.</p>

3 Add an About section for the Anishinaabe

Do the same for the Anishinaabe people: an <h2> section with three <h3> sub-topics, one of them about their language.

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

<h2>About the Anishinaabe People</h2>
<h3>Their History</h3>
<p>The Anishinaabe have lived in the Great Lakes region for thousands of years.</p>
<h3>Their Language</h3>
<p>Ojibwemowin, the Ojibwe language, is being revitalized in Minnesota today.</p>
<h3>Today</h3>
<p>The 7 Anishinaabe bands run their own schools, health services, and cultural programs.</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 Anishinaabe nation and add your own <h4> spotlight under the Anishinaabe section, with a short paragraph about what you learned.

<h4>Spotlight: White Earth Nation</h4>
<p>White Earth Nation is the largest Ojibwe community in Minnesota.</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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