The Early Explorers

Teachers' Page

The Ozline website has a good introduction to wequests by Tom March.  There is also an online template available.

AIMS

The aims of this webquest are that fifth/sixth class children will:

• do research and improve their research skills using a variety of sources including internet, books and CD Roms. 
• read and interpret the information.
• be critical of content, cross reference facts where possible and check for different viewpoints.  
• learn to work co-operatively in groups.
• learn to download information, cut and paste and save pictures found.
• improve knowledge of history and geography.
• use creative writing skills and word-processing programs to produce attractive books on the Early Explorers for the school library.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Introduction Page introduces the children to the project.  The Task Page outlines the task in detail.  The Process Page explains to the children how to organise their project and the Resource Page gives internet resources for each explorer.  There are nine pictures of explorers on the resource page and clicking on any one of them will show a page of web links for that particular explorer.   The Evaluation Page deals with assessment.  There are two assessment forms for the children.  One is a group form directly related to the end product and the other is an individual form, relating to individual performance, to be filled in privately by individual students to allow them to reflect on their personal contribution. 

RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THIS WEBQUEST

• Nine floppy disks labelled with the names of the nine explorers on the Resource Page. 

• Nine folders - one per explorer/group

• Internet connection

• Relevant CDRoms and reference books

• Word-processing and publishing packages

• Printer

• Method of binding finished product

SKILLS REQUIRED

This webquest presumes some knowledge of basic internet skills (downloading and saving information and pictures; and cut and paste) and wordprocessing skills. 

EVALUATION

There are four teacher evaluation sheets that you may find helpful in assessing your students' work.  The first deals with Teamwork; the second with the contribution of Individual students; the third with the Research Process and the fourth with observing the project as a whole.   As stated above, there are two assessment forms for the children with links from the Evaluation page.  One is a group form directly related to the end product and the other is an individual form, relating to individual performance, to be filled in privately by individual students to allow them to reflect on their personal contribution. 

CONCLUSION

I hope you and your students enjoyed this webquest and found it beneficial.

for Teacher Evaluation Sheets

for Group Evaluation Checklist

for Individual Evaluation Checklist

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©Kay McCarthy January 2002