WebQuest

You must be an expert on these types of symbols, but have you ever wondered about American symbols? We see these symbols all over too. They are seen on TV, at school, on the Internet and in books. Have you ever wondered why the American flag is red, white and blue? Do you know where we got the Statue of Liberty, or how the Liberty Bell got a crack in it?

Well, lucky for you, because you and your peers have just been appointed the title of Symbol Special Agents for the United States. Your mission is to learn as much as you can about different American symbols and be able to tell everyone you know, everything you learned. There are many people, including some parents, who don't know why the stripes of the flag are red and white. There are some people who don't know how the Eagle came to be the National bird. This is why YOU are going to become a Symbol Special Agent. Once your research is complete, you will be able to share your American symbol knowledge with EVERYONE!

During this task, you will be working together in small groups with your peers and also individually. In order for each group to become an expert on a symbol, the groups will be researching different American symbols using online resources. Each group will be focusing on just ONE symbol. Once groups have researched their symbol, they will present their findings to the class. In the end, you will know SO much about American symbols that you will even be able to create a new symbol for you school!

Step 1: First, you'll be assigned to a team with your peers. There will be five different teams.

Step 2: One person from each team needs to pick a symbol card out of a hat. This becomes your team's symbol.

Step 3: Now that you have your symbol, start researching it using the links provided below. Each person in the group will use the symbol graphic organizer from your teacher to keep track of the information you find individually. Try to find information telling you what your symbol means, when it became a symbol, and why it's important? There's more information out there than this, but those questions will give you a place to start. You won't be able to find all of your information in one day, but work hard to find as much interesting information as you can!

REMEMBER: As a Symbol Special Agent, you are becoming the expert on your symbol and will be presenting it to your classmates with your group!!!

Step 4: Now that you have gathered TONS of information about your symbol, get together with your group members and discuss what you've found. Is it the same information? Is it different? What did you find most interesting? Was there anything that surprised you?

Step 5: After you've discussed your information, decide (as a group), which information you think is most important for your classmates to learn about. You can deliver your presentation any way you choose. However, you must include these things:

* You must inform the class HOW and WHEN it became a symbol, WHY it is a symbol and WHAT it symbolizes.

Your presentation could be a poster, a skit, a story, a slide show, a video (created by you), a puppet show or any other idea. When planning your presentation, try to keep it around 5 minutes!

Step 6: Check with your teacher to make sure your presentation method is acceptable in class, and then get working! Check with your teacher to see how much time you have to work on creating your group presentation.

Step 7: Presentations! When presenting, keep your presentation length to about 5 minutes. When you are not presenting, use the presentation graphic organizer from your teacher to keep track of the other four symbols. Take good notes about the important information. Since you are a Symbol Special Agent, you are becoming an expert on all of them!

Step 8: After learning the history behind some of America's symbols, what they represent and why they were created, you now have a good understanding of symbols. Your final step is to create a new school symbol. What's your school's mascot? Are you the Tigers? Are you the Hawks? Are you the Wildcats? Your school mascot is a symbol of the school. Now that you are an expert on symbols, it is your job, as a Symbol Special Agent, to create a new symbol for your school. Think about what you would create and why. What would your symbol represent? This is an individual task. Your group work ended after the presentation.

* Write a brief description of your new school symbol. Include what it represents, why it's important and why you chose it. Use complete sentences. After you have written a rough draft of this, you may hand write it or type it on the computer.

* Your symbol and writing will not be presented, but they will be hung on the wall for everyone to see and read!

You will be graded individually on how well you followed directions, if you were on task, the quality of your research and on the creation of your individual school symbol. You will be graded as a group on how well you collaborated with teammates and on your group presentation. Look at the rubric below for more details.

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

Collaboration with Teammates

Usually argued with teammates. Never allowed anyone else to speak. Usually wanted to have things their way. Always relied on others to do the work. Sometimes argued with teammates. Rarely allowed others to speak. Often sided with friends instead of considering all views. Needed reminding to do work. Rarely argued with teammates. Listened, but shared ideas/opinions too. Usually considered all teammates views. Rarely needed reminding to do work.
Never argued with teammates. Listened well and shared ideas/opinions. Always helped team to reach a fair decision/compromise. Always did work without having to be reminded.

Followed Directions, On Task, Timeliness

Didn't follow directions. Put in little effort and was off task during class. Didn't finish work at all or on time. Followed some directions. Put in some effort and was on task somewhat during class. Finished some of the work, but not on time. Followed most directions. Put in effort and was on task most of the time. Finished most work on time. Followed all directions. Put in extreme amount of effort and was on task 100% of the time. Finished all work on time.

Research of Symbol

Showed little interest and/or effort in researching symbol. Did not collect any information that related to the symbol. Showed some interest and effort in researching. Collected very little information and only some related to the symbol. Lacked organization. Showed interest and effort in researching. Worked hard each day to collect basic information which mostly related to the symbol. Kept information organized. Showed great interest and effort in researching. Worked diligently each day to collect extensive, useful, and interesting information all related to the symbol. Kept information extremely organized.

Group Presentation of Symbol

Not everyone in the group presented. The visual lacked effort, or there was no visual. The presentation was missing more than two required parts: the How, When, Why and/or What of the symbol. Not everyone in the group presented. The visual wasn't complete. Included only two of the four required parts in the presentation: the How, When, Why and/or What of the symbol. Everyone in the group participated . There was a visual. Included at least three of the four required parts in the presentation: the How, When, Why and/or What of the symbol. Everyone in the group participated. There was a well designed, creative visual. All required parts were included: the How, When, Why and What of the symbol.

Creation of Own School Symbol Showed no interest or effort in creating own symbol or description. Neither one was complete. Creation of symbol wasn't complete and/or description wasn't complete. No final copy and/or lacked color. Symbol rough draft and final were complete. A brief description was typed and included all required parts. Symbol rough draft and final were complete, colorful and creative. A brief description was typed, and not only included all required parts, but expanded on ideas.

Conclusion