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Back to Previous Page Teacher's Page for The Gam Saan Adventure Are You Willing to Risk it? This WebQuest addresses the following fourth grade History-Social Science Content Standards for California Public Schools:4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850's.
This WebQuest addresses the following fourth grade Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills:Chronological and Spatial Thinking:
Research, Evidence, and Point of View:
This WebQuest addresses the following Grade 4 California Reading/ Language Arts Content Standards:1.2 Create multiple-paragraph compositions
Classroom Management Notes:Time Frame:I have estimated that this WebQuest will take approximately four days to complete. A "day" can range from one social studies period (as in Day One when students are introduced to the WebQuest, teams, and role assignments) to a social studies/language arts double block of time. Additionally, whether you have one computer hooked up to the Internet or access to a lab will determine how long it takes your students to complete their Internet research. If you would like to have your teams share their essays aloud to the class, this could take place on a fifth day. Internet Research:Ideally, you will be able to bring your students to a computer lab so that they can get their research done in a single block of time. If a lab is not available, to you, however, you can set up a day in which individuals or teams of students are using whatever computer(s) you have available to you throughout the whole day. It is possible, for example, to have your computer in use at all times. A student may miss storytime or silent reading that one day in order for you to make sure that all students have time to get their research completed. Composition Writing Hints:Since writing a multiple paragraph composition is the end-product of this WebQuest, it would be helpful if your students have done this before. Click here for hints on writing a multiple paragraph composition. These hints can be printed up and handed out to your students as well. Because each team will be writing one multiple paragraph composition, you can discuss with your students how that will be accomplished. Some teams may find it helpful to have each team member write one paragraph. Other teams will find it easier to have one student recording while the others dictate their thoughts together. Remind your students that while they need to come to a concensus opinion before writing their composition, they can still honor all opinions in the final composition (i.e. "While we felt that finding gold would be a dream come true, and while some of us really wanted to have the chance to find gold, we decided in the end that the chance of finding gold was so small that it was not worth the risks."). What to print up ahead of time:You will need to print up the following sheets from the WebQuest: 1) Student Role Sheets (Who Member, What Member, Why Member, How Member, Where Member) 2) Student Recording Sheets (for students to record their team information) 3) Teacher Rubric for Composition 4) Teacher Rubric for Group Work 4) Peer Rubric Evaluation:I find it helpful to tell the students ahead of time that you will be evaluating them on their composition as well as their group work. Show them the rubrics so that they know to which criteria they will be held accountable. As you wander the room while they are working, take notes on their group work. Who is being a cooperative member? Who is off-task? You can then use these notes when you use the Teacher Rubric for Group Work. |