A Tour of Cave Dwellings

A WebQuest for 3rd Grade Social Studies & Science

Designed by Ms. Hogue

khogue@gmail.com

 Montezuma's Castle

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

You've been asked by world archelogist to help explore and document cave dwellings and the people that lived there from around the world. Each group will pick a location and explore it and then present your findings to the class. 

Task

To create a presentation that will inform people about the cave dwelling you explored. Where is it? What was it used for? Who were the people who lived there? When did they live there? The presentation should be interesting and professional.

Process

  1. First, explore these sites to get an overview of the cave dwellings.
    1. India
      Deccan Traps
      Ajanta Caves
       Ajanta Caves Art
    2. Colorado
      Mesa Verde Check out the photo gallery
      Mesa Verde Photographs
      Mesa Verde National Park
    3. New Mexico
      Gila Cliff Dwellings National Park
      Photos from Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico
      Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument 
                    Montezuma's Castle
    1. Turkey
      Cave Dwellings of Cappadocia
      Recent Photo of Cappadocia
      Older Photo of Cappadocia
      Cappadocia
    2. China
      Cave Dwelling in Shaanxi
      Facts about Chinese Sheltered Dwellings
      Cave Dwelling Story
      Cave Dweilling Information
    3. Arizona  
      Anasazi Cave Dwelling Information
      Tonto National Monument
      Anasazi Information
      Pictures of Arizona Cave Dwellings (at the bottom of the website)
    4. Spain
      Cave Houses of Southern Spain
      Cave Homes and Houses in Spain

  1. Within your team, decide which cave dwelling you want to explore and think of the questions that need to be answered like: Where is it? Who lived there? What was it used for? When was it inhabited? What sort of rock is it formed in? What are the advantages of living in a cave rather than a house?
  2. Now, divide up the task of answering the questions.
  3. Discuss together as a team your findings.
  4. Prepare your presentation as a group. You may use powerpoint, do a skit, a poster or however else you would like to present it. Make sure you include pictures of the cave dwellings.
  5. Present your findings to the class in your presentation.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated on your research process, the presentation and how well you work as a group. Make sure you answer the following questions about your cave dweling: Where is it? Who lived there? What was it used for? When was it inhabited? What sort of rock is it formed in? What are the advantages of living in a cave rather than a house?

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

 

Quality of the research

 

 It seems the student did minimal research and is unsure and confused about the information.
 There is evidence of limited research and the students seems unsure of the information. It seems that student has done some research and knows the information.
 It is obvious that the student has spent a lot of time researching and knows the information.

 

Amount of Details Presented
(Did they answer all the questions)

 

 Student presents little detail and does not show an understanding of the topic.
 Student presents some detail showing an understanding of the topic.
 Student presents details showing a clear understanding of the topic.
Student presents many details showing a clear understanding of the topic.

 

Teamwork

 

 The student did little work and had trouble working as a team.
Multiple conflicts.
 The student has done some work,  had some trouble working as a team.
Some conflict.
 The students has done their share of the work, but there was some trouble working as a team.
Minimal conflict.
 The student has done their share of the work and has gotten along well with the teammates. No conflicts.

 

Presentation

 

 The presentation was not very informative. The presentation was  informative. The presentation was unique, creative and informative. The presentation was extremely unique, creative and informative.

Conclusion

Hopefully in doing this webquest you have learned something about cave dwellings, a variety of cultures, geography and minerals. You have also had a chance to work as a research team, which is a skill you will use again and again.

If you have found yourself intrigued by cave dwellings and the people who lived there you may want to checkout books in the library about cave dwellings, the countries they are in or the people who lived there. Remember if something has really caught your interest you can explore it outside of school. Ask your teacher or librarian to help you find out more about topics that really interests you.

Credits & References

Thanks to Mark Bailey for introducing us to Webquests. I also want to thank Cari Hastings who provided the starting point for this webquest.

Images are from the National Park Service Digital Image Archives, which has great photos from numerous national parks.

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