I want to make a site with a whiteboard mind map. Clicking the title would open a poem, and clicking the branches would lead to short videos. I might draw the whiteboard by hand and photograph it.
I have five weeks, alongside other coursework and making the creative content. Is this realistic as a first website, and where should I start?
Yes, this is a reasonable first project if you keep the site itself simple. You can use HTML for the pages and links, and CSS for the layout. You don't need a framework or a backend just to show a poem and some videos.
Start with a basic page that links to the poem and one video. Once that works, build out the mind map and add the rest of the content. That gives you something usable early, even if the visual design takes longer than expected.
A photo of the physical whiteboard can work. Put it inside a container and position links over the parts people should click. Test the positioning at different screen sizes, since fixed pixel coordinates can drift away from the drawing when the image scales.
Another option is an SVG mind map with ordinary links on its nodes. It scales cleanly and gives you more control over individual branches. Either way, include a plain list of the same links below the image for keyboard users, small screens, and anyone who finds the clickable areas hard to spot.
Keep an eye on the videos. Several short clips can still add up to a lot of data, especially if you upload the original files. Compress them and check that they still look and sound good. You can use HTML video elements, or consider hosting the clips elsewhere if your course rules allow it.
Check how the project needs to be submitted before you spend time on hosting. A site that opens on your computer is different from one available online. If it needs to be public, allow time to publish and test it, and check the hosting costs and file limits, particularly for video.
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Make sure the links have descriptive text or accessible names, so someone using a screen reader knows where each one goes.