I designed a webquest introducing students
to the Internet as a tool to expand the knowledge of my third grade class
as a part of their Social Studies curriculum. Each year we are to
learn about our own
"Community." The objective is to
apply available technology to extend one's capabilities and experiences
beyond the current text.
Background:
The theme for Third Grade Social Studies is the " Community." I researched Internet sites that would increase the student's awareness and knowledge of the community; Springfield, Illinois. Springfield is a capitol city that is rich with historic relevance. This project will be a valuable resource to all of the Third Grade teachers in Springfield, and other classrooms throughout the state involved in researching their state capital. This project will provide information over and about previous lessons about Springfield, Illinois.
Implementation:
Many Third Grade classrooms (including mine) have only one Internet connection. Considering this, I decided to use a Webquest format. Due to the large number of students in the normal classroom, it will be necessary to divide the students into groups. While one group would be completing their Webquest (see below), the other groups will work on other activities relevant to the study of Springfield. For optimum affectiveness, an aide or parent must be available to help at the Webquest site, or help with the other groups. This project would require a minimum of two weeks, working everyday for forty-five minutes. Part of this time will be for the Webquest and group work, and part of the time will be for designing the class presentation.
Concurrently, I have designed plans for the other student groups to be working on while one group is using the Internet. Students could be divided into teams of five. These may be adapted to fit your own school resources.
Group 1: Map work-
This group will use a CD-ROM such as "Streets
98" to look up the map on Springfield, Illinois. Their tasks will
include locating their school on the map. Next, they would locate
their own address on the map. They would trace their route to school
each day. If "Streets 98" or a comparable mapping system is
not available, a City of Springfield map could be used as a substitute.
Each student could have a copy of the map and could trace the routes and
locations with colored pencils. Additional sites could also be found;
as the mall, the capitol building, Lincoln's home, the Convention Center...
Group 2: Laser disc- A. Lincoln-"Here
I Have Lived"
This group will watch this laser disc
and take notes on important facts about Lincoln. The group will write
questions for the next group and then answer questions created by the previous
group.
Group 3: Library Research-
There are several books available about
Springfield and Abraham Lincoln. Additionally, there are pamphlets
and brochures about the Lincoln Sites. Students can use these materials
to learn about Springfield. They will have a "Book Log" to keep track
of the resources they read about, and facts that they learned.
See the Resources below for specific titles.
Group 4: Make a travel Brochure-
Each group or individual will design a
travel brochure describing Springfield, Illinois. Samples of brochures
will be available for students to look at. Pictures may be
drawn, or copied, or cut from the newspaper for inclusion in the brochure.
The State Journal Register arrives weekly
in our classroom.
Group 5 : Webquest
I have used the webquest format.
Please check it out!
The websites I used are also included
at the end.
Evaluation
I have made an evaluation rubric to go with the Webquest. This rubric will be used each day to evaluate all of the groups.
The final project for each Webquest group is to make a presentation on Kidpix Slideshow. I have chosen this option for my class, because we are familiar with this medium. Other hyperstudio, or Power Point final projects are appropriate substitutes.
Extensions:
My class will correspond by e-mail with another class in another Springfield. They will relay information that they learned about Springfield, and request information about the other class's city.
In the future, I will establish a videolink with Mayor Karen Hasara. Having been a teacher, she is very cooperative and came to our class to talk about Springfield and her role as mayor.
Culmination:
After this project,
I am going to plan a field trip day! We will take a trip to Lincoln's
Home and Lincoln's Tomb, as well as the Capitol Building. Many of
my students have never toured these places.
Sources:
Web
links
http://www.springfield-illinois.com
http://www.springfield.il.us
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilsangam/schist.htm
http://www.gscc.org/marketdata/quality_of_life.htm
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/index.html
http://www.springfield.il.us/CITY_GOV/L_Links.htm
http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/index.html
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alhome.html
http://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/alincoln.html
http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=16
http://www.netins.net/showcase/creative/lincoln.html
http://www.abraham-lincoln.net/page21.html
http://www.carillon-rees.org
http://www.springfield.il.us/CITY_GOV/REC_DEPT/Rec_dept.htm
Other
technology
Laserdisc player
Digital camera
Other
training devices
Laser disc -
A.Lincoln "Here I Have Lived" copyright 1991, Springfield School
District 186, Springfield, IL
Bial, Raymond. Where
Lincoln Walked, Walker and Company, New York. l998.
Blashfield, Jean
F. Awesome Almanac Illinois, B&B Publ. Fontana.WI. 1993.
Campbell, Bruce
A. The Sangamon Saga, Phillips Bros. Springfield, IL 1976.
Mann, Curtis and
et. al. Springfield Entertainment, A Pictoral History.
Bradley Publishing, St. Louis,
1996.
Marsh, Carol. Illinois
Timeline: A Chronology of Our State's History, Mystery, Trivia, Legend,
Lore, &
More. Gallopade Publ. Group, 1996.
Murphy, Michael
P. et. al. Greater Springfield Building on the Legacy, Windsor
Publications, 1993.
Russo, Edward, Prairie
of Promise Springfield and Sangamon County. Windsor Publications,
Woodland Hills, California. 1983.