Webquest

Provide the Webquest location (URL) : http://www.teamstraus.com/Native%20American%20Webquest.htm

Introduction:
How do you survive a rainy day or a snow storm? What would you do if you ran out of your favorite snack or milk for your cereal? What would happen if the roof of your house blew off during a wind storm? What would happen if your favorite sweater shrunk in the wash? The answers to these questions are simple in today's world. But what if the only tool or resource available to you was your mind. Are you a survivor? 
Native Americans were the original survivors. Without television, computers and video games, they found ways to entertain each other. Without grocery stores, they hunted, farmed or fished for their meals. Depending on the climate of their location, they created shelters. Without malls and stores, clothing was created by hand from materials in their environment. Native Americans developed their shelters, clothing and food using their intelligence and hard work.

strength:  speaks in simple terms to children and expresses the objective in ways they can understand. Makes a connection that children can relate to.  shows a map and explains the different areas of the country and how people needed to use resources in different ways depending on where they live. 

weakness:  i did not find a weakness in the introduction.   They kept it short and simple 

A task that is doable and interesting:

 Your task with your team is to travel back in time and learn how to be a survivor. You and your team have been assigned to travel back to a specific region. You will observe the climate and environment of your assigned region. You will be asked to share facts about the shelter, clothing, food and culture of the Native Americans who lived in your assigned region. Upon your return to the present day and location, you will need to report through a power point presentation on the survival skills of Native Americans, focusing particularly on how the environment helped determine the way of life.

strength:  will teach children not only about how different people survived in different climates, but gives them a chance to do the research on their own and to utilize technology by creating a powerpoint. gives students key questions to answer to guide them on their quest.  lists websites and links where children can find the information they are looking for (plenty of references).


weakness:  may not be exactly 'interesting', but it adheres to the GLCEs which is the point of the assignment


A process:
1.  Gather data from the Internet (see links provided) and books (school library time will be used).
2.  Create a graphic organizer (list, web, chart, etc.) to help separate the information that you are collecting.  Please note that your rough notes will be handed in with your final product.  Please be sure to document where you got all information (for example: write down the addresses of websites, the publishing information of books).
3.  Create a PowerPoint presentation on your region that focuses on the 5 key areas above and answers the key questions above (computer lab time will be given).
4.  Prepare an oral presentation to accompany your team's power point presentation.  Your group must be practiced, speak clearly and loudly, and maintain eye contact.  All group members must participate in both aspects of the team challenge.

strength:  lists simple steps so children know exactly what they need to do.  

weakness:  does not offer an example for children to look at; may need to have one created by teacher

EVALUATION: site has a rubric posted
strength:  offers a detailed rubric for children and teacher to follow for assessment.offers a detailed rubric for children and teacher to follow for assessment. simple to follow


weakness:  as with any rubric, the grading is relative



A conclusion that brings closure to the quest, reminds the learners about what they've learned...Overall thoughts.
Native Americans were truly the first survivors. They created everything needed to survive in the regions where they lived. Shelter was built to suit the climate. Food was grown or hunted dependent on the climate and region. Clothes were created from materials and animals from their environment. Every tribe had different cultures and impacted their region in different ways.
How were the different regions alike? How were they different? Which region do you think survival was easiest? Most difficult? If you could travel back in time, in which region would you choose to survive and why?

strength:  ties it all together in a way that makes sense to child and teacher by providing questions for discussion

weakness:  does not offer further extensions

Is this a webquest you think you could use without modification in your classroom? What might you have to change?the only modification I think I might make is that this could be an individual assignment rather than a group (depending on the dynamic of the class). i also would have them make illustrations to share during their presentations.  We could take it one step further and make it an interactive whiteboard project.