Webquests &
Internet Scavenger Hunts
Webquests
A WebQuest is an activity that presents groups of students with a challenging task, scenario, or problem to solve. Want to know more about WebQuests? Visit the WebQuest Page http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html.
MusicLand Theme Park - http://www.itdc.sbcss.k12.ca.us/curriculum/musicland.html - Classes in grades 5-8 work in teams to create the different genre lands within the MusicLand Theme Park. Students learn about musical theater, Early Jazz (Ragtime, Dixieland, and the Blues), New Jazz (Roaring '20's, Swing, and Be-bop), Rock and Roll, Country & Folk, and Pop music. The teams design an area within the park that illustrates not only the music, but how that music fits within a historical context.
Literary Fan Club - http://www.itdc.sbcss.k12.ca.us/curriculum/literaryfanclub.html - Most students understand the idea of a fan club, where a rock star or athlete or actor is appreciated for his or her talents. Why not apply that same concept to authors? Students work in groups to research their favorite authors and create and market a fan club for that author. (For Middle School, High School)
Dolphin-Safe Tuna? - http://www.richmond.edu/%7Eed344/webquests/dolphins/ - Elementary students place themselves in the roles of Tuna Fishermen, Dolp
hin Activists, and Supporters of Dolphin Protection Legislation to explore the issues surrounding dolphin-safe tuna. Then, they use this information to create a plan for ocean fishing.
Banned Book Quest http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq52/banned.htm - High school students look at different perspectives on censorship in schools, particularly the potential of books being banned by local school boards. Placed in the role of Concerned Citizen, School Library Media Specialist, Lawyer, or Public Librarian, these committees then develop a recommendation for the board.
Global Warming http://students.itec.sfsu.edu/ITEC815/antaramian/ - Government Representative of Developed Nations, Environmental Impact Specialists, Climate Expert Scientists, Government Representative of Newly Industrialized and Industrializing Nations meet at a United Nations conference to decide what steps, if any, should be taken to slow global warming. (For High School)
Web Quests - http://www.EduHound.com- has a main page category link to lots of web quests, and links to sites to help you create your own.
Web Quest Homepage - http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/matrix.html
Pilgrim Quest - http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/kimbrough/pilgrimlife/
China Quest - http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/China/ChinaQuest.html
Internet Scavenger Hunts
Internet scavenger hunts are a great way to harness the web for education. Thematic hunts can explore web resources, reinforce curriculum, review for testing, or be a meaningful part of an instructional unit activity day. These hunts reinforce reading for facts. http://home.earthlink.net/~ohora/ext/internethunts.html offers 19 hunts on a variety of subjects including history, literature, science. Here are some internet scavenger hunts appropriate for 4th -6th graders:
Colonial America - reviews facts on American colonial life and history http://home.earthlink.net/~ohora/ext/colony.html
Revolutionary Americans - traces interesting facts about important people of the day http://home.earthlink.net/~ohora/ext/colpeople.html
Outstanding African Americans http://home.earthlink.net/~ohora/ext/africanam.html
