Cisco setup

We are setting up this network. 1 3550 router, 3 3548 switches, 2 2940 switches, 1 2513 router. A web server,a printer server, a domain controller. This will have 6 VLANS. How do you initially get this started? The 3550 has a basic setup with ethernet 0/0 with an IP. The 3548’s have basic configurations. Wires = S-Thru from 3550 to 3548. C-Over from 3548-#1 to 3548-#2 and 3548-#2 to 3548-#3. We are students trying to learn. Anyone willing to give input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks from those of us learning.