Introduction

This webquest was created during a Technology for Pacific Universities MAT 5th year program. The assignment was to create a webquest in the curricular area of Social Studies. I chose the subject of the 50 States and the grade level of 4th.

The task at hand is for students to be broken up into groups of four by you as the Director of all Alphabet Agents. Students are then to brainstorm a list of 3 or 4 states (besides their own) that they have interest in learning more about. You decide how each group can pick their state to research. They should spend the next three or four days depending on time, working through the webquests websites to find 26 fun facts about their state to be presented in final product. The final product can be a tradition style book, a poster or a powerpoint.

Learners

This Webquest is designed for 4th graders and can easily be incorporated in their State exploration. It is designed for Social Studies but could be easily adapted to include other areas as well. It also integrates art and presentation by requiring illustrations for each of the 26 alphabet facts. The idea of the alphabet book also integrates reading and writing into the project. This project is adaptable to other areas of study, like colonialism (the 13 colonies) or country reports. However the specifics and websites for research will need to be changed accordingly. Group size is also adaptable depending on the age and grade level of your students.

Before beginning this Alphabet task students should be introduced to good research practices as well as internet, lab and group participation expectations and requirements. This should not be the first time the students have used the computer lab or searched for research, but can enhance their ability to do so.

Curriculum Standards

Social Studies Standards Addressed

• Identify and locate major landforms, bodies of water, and climate found in the regions of the United States.
• Identify the type of economic activity as well as cities found in regions of the United States.

Technology Standards Addressed

• Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
• Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research.

This webquest also approaches community as students are assigned to work in groups in a cooporative way. The task encourages working together and group thinking skills as well.

Process

Step 1. As agents you will be assigned to groups of 4 by your director.

*As the director feel free to assign groups as you usually would in your classroom, find a reasonable balance of abilities as well as friends and those who may not normally work together.

Step 2. Groups of 4 will choose a State, other than your own. It may be smart to make a list of your top three choices so that if another group chooses the same one, you have options. Your director should help with this process.

*Draw names to have groups choose their choice of State, I suggest that student's should have multiple choices and not just one incase their are not chosen first or their State is chosen by another group.

Step 3. Begin the research process by using the websites listed below to gather your facts. It will be necessary for you to take notes as you find facts, and perhaps to reference the site in which you found them so that you may go back for clarification if it is needed. Take your time through your investigative process; it will take several days for you to find all 26 facts. In fact you may want to find more than 26 so that you have lots of options to represent your letters. Also you may want to start with facts that could represent less common letters like X, Z and Y and work your way back toward common letters such as R, S, T, L, N and E.

*It is appropriate for you to model expected behavior during research time as well as appropriate use of the lab or in class computers. Also this should not be the first time your students have used the internet for research purposes, if it is you should spend some time working through sites similar (or even one listed for this project) and the process in which to do so.

Use the following sites to collect your information:

1. www.infoplease.com/states.html
2. www.theus50.com
3. www.stateanimals.com/
4. www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/stateknow/skhome.html
5. www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es
6. www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/
7. www.census.gov/schools/facts/
8. www.nps.gov/

Step 4. Once you have collected your facts begin to distribute them throughout the letters they represent (if you haven't already). As you do this discuss in your group how you might put your information together in your Alphabet “book.” You may put together a traditional book, a PowerPoint, or a poster.

It must contain the following pieces:

1. A cover, cover slide or central picture on your poster that displays a picture of your state and it's name as well as the agents on this assignment.
2. 26 (one for each letter of the alphabet) facts about your state displayed in alphabetical order.
3. The following facts must be included somewhere in your fact “book” (for any letter of the alphabet that you see fit):
*State Capitol
*State Bird
*State Flower
5. Some sort of illustration for each and every fact, use color.
4. At the end of your report a final page that includes the websites used to find your facts. Sites should be listed by name and web address.
Please note: Sites should be listed by name and web address.

*It is up to you to discuss and model citation expectations if they differ from mine.

Step 5. As a group of agents you must work together to design the display of your facts, whether you have chosen a book, a poster or a powerpoint presentation. First you should discuss how much information you can fit on one page or one slide. I recommend that you do one fact per page, but if you can display them in another way that is clear to your Director and future agents that is acceptable. Remember to do your best to talk and walk through the layout of your entire project, make a decision and then begin putting your "book" together.

*At this time provide paper for drafting purposes. Also manage and oversea groups discussion of what their final product will look like. Please provide paper for the book (8 1/2 X 11), access to computers for the Powerpoint and poster board for the poster.

Variations: Depending on your class size and their ability to work in groups you may want to adjust the group size. This is a big task and long term project so it is understandable if adjustments are needed. If your class is studying colonies or countries the same project can be done however with new websites to find information. Students could work as individuals to compile one fact book on your own state as well. This may be a great way to ease in to the process of the webquest.

Resources Needed

Resources needed to successfully complete this task:

• Computer access for your entire class to do their research
• Blank paper for rough drafts of final layout
• Art media supplies (pens, pencils, scissors, glue sticks etc.)
• Examples of each potential design.

This task is designed to be overseen by you as the classroom teacher as well as any other instructional aids or support systems that are regularly in place. Parental support is always a plus if it is available.

Evaluation

Success of this project can be measured in several different ways, one of course will be the use of the assessment rubric provided. The second will be how students react and participate throughout the project and thirdly will be the eagerness of the students to work on and present their products.

Students should be assessed as a group in the all areas except that of Participation, in that case students should each receive an individual score.

Conclusion

I hope you find this a fun and innovative way for your students to find ou more about the United States. Encourage them to share their findings with groups, you may want to provide presentation time or simply have the final products displayed throughout the classroom.

Credits & References

• Thanks to http://www.bedandbreakfastcenter.com/images/map_3.gif for providing the map of the United States at the top of this page.
• Thanks to The Webquest Layout Page for the layout of this Webquest.