WebQuest
A WebQuest for Middle School Instructional Technology
Designed by
Lori Weider
Introduction | Objectives | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
You have been assigned to do a project on endangered animals. Your teacher tells you that she wants you to include research done on the Internet. Because she is SO wonderful Ms. Weider saves the day by giving you the following web sites to use for your project. You must check the sites and decide if you will use them or not. A scavenger hunt sheet is provided to help you become familiar with the sites and make decisions about your project.
In this lesson students will learn about Internet research and have a greater understanding about the Internet. Students will work in groups of two and each group will receive a data sheet to record their findings.
Printable scavenger hunt data sheet
- Students will learn about getting information from the Internet.
- They will understand more about the Internet when the quest is completed.
The Task
- The class will be divided into groups of 2 or 3 depending on computer availability
- The will check the Internet web pages in the list below.
- For each web page they will answer the questions on their data sheet.
- After students complete the WebQuest the whole class will discuss their opinions about the web sites.
Internet Exploration
Begin to explore the Internet web sites below. You will complete a scavenger hunt sheet about what you have read at each web site. All the work will be kept in the team's quest folder.- Visit The Jackalope Conspiracy web site.
- Visit Bureau of Sasquatch Affairs web site.
- Visit Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus web site.
Read about the legend and the true stories contained in the top section of the web page.
Do you think this is a dangerous animal?
What do you think about the evidence and picture in the next section.
Read the "Interview With an Insider". What was the insider's job title when he worked for the government?
Read the welcome and mission statement. What is the purpose of the site?
Visit the Media
Portrayal of Sasquatch site.
How does media portray the Sasquatch?
What term does the media use for them?
What 2 movies are mentioned here?
Where can the tree octopus be found?
How do these animals display their emotions?
Why is this animal endangered?
What organization created this page?
Now decide... Should you use these web pages for your project?
Participate in the Think-Pair-Share discussion of your work. The class will share their findings.
Below is a rubric for quest tasks.
Each team will receive a team grade. The highest possible rubric score
is a 24 without extra credit.
| Minimum
Effort
1 |
Satisfactory
2 |
Excellent
3 |
Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet answer sheet |
|
|
|
|
| Think-Pair-Share discussion |
|
|
|
Conclusion
In a think-pair-share quest conclusion the class will discuss what they have learned. Also to be discussed:
- What makes a good web site?
- How do you choose good web sites for projects?
- Would you include information from these web sites in your project? Why or why not?
- What did you like about these sites?
- What did you not like?
- Did you find the web sites believable? Yes? No?
- Did the pictures make the information seem more believable?
- Did you ask yourself... Does this make sense?
- If something is on the Internet does that mean it is true and accurate?
Credits & References
The web sites used to create this webquest included:
- The Jackalope Conspiracy site and image.
- Bureau of Sasquatch Affairs
- Media Portrayal of Sasquatch
- Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
Last updated March 2006. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page