WebQuest

So You Want to be a Tour Guide in Washington D.C.
Teacher Page

A Web Quest for 1st Grade Social Studies

Christy Ramsey
cramsey@franklincollege.edu

Introduction

This web quest was designed to go with a month long unit over Washington D.C. The students are doing a culminating activity where they will give a tour of the Mall in Washington D.C. to parents that will come in for our day. This is a great start to get the student's going.

The students will work individually while at the computer, but will be doing the same monument as seven other students. The students can help each other find the necessary items for their worksheet together.

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Learners

This web quest was designed for first grade social studies with the incorporation of literacy and math. This lesson is easily adapted to a higher grade probably up to fifth grade with more details and information that the students need to find.

Before actually doing this web quest student's will need some background knowledge. We will be discussing the monuments that the students are researching and even feeling part of the stone that the monument was made from. We will discuss why the monument was made, who it was named after, how big it is, and why people like to visit this monument. This makes it easier for the students who will be doing this project.

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Curriculum Standards

Social Studies Standards address in Indiana for first grade:

1.4.2-Identify services that people do for each other.
1.4.3-Compare and contrast different jobs people do to earn income.
1.5.3-Give examples of how people show concern respect each other, behave responsibly in a group and resolve differences peacefully.

We will also be covering citizenship and responsibility with this web quest.

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Process

Listed below are the steps that the students will follow for the web quest. In blue are some thoughts and ideas for the teacher.

1.) First you will get into your groups of 7 according to your monument. You could have students actually do this work as a group with a recorder, thinker, etc. This is the easiest way with a group of 21 for the students to work together, as well as alone.
2.) Next you will get a worksheet and then head to the computer lab with Mrs. Casey. It would obviously be hard for first grade students to work on this. It would be best if a teacher or assistant could guide the students through the entire web quest step by step.
3.) Click on the monument that you have: You could have the students use any of the monuments or buildings in Washington D.C. This is the choice of the teacher's.

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument
Jefferson Memorial

4.) Now look for the information that is listed on your worksheet.
Students need to fill in the blanks of a worksheet provided by the teacher. The worksheet deals with answers to the previous questions above that we have already looked at.
5.) Carefully fill in the answers using your best handwriting.
Stressing handwriting is a great way to integrate the student's lessons. This is something that we are always working on in my classroom.
6.) If someone in your group has a question you may help them or if you do not know raise your hand and Mrs. Casey or I will be there to help you.
Sometimes students learn better from other students. This is a great way for the students to work together, yet still be helpful to each other.

*Remember that your hand writing looks nice and your information is correct!

Variations

Most classrooms do not have enough computers to do this as a group, however if students could work on this individually and then come together at the end it could easily be done in the classroom. Also, if time will not allow for this web quest it would make a great extension for student's who move quickly and get done with assignments and tests.

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Resources Needed

Materials needed to successfully complete this web quest include:
Computer resources:

So You Want to be a Tour Guide in Washington D.C. Web quest
Internet links for the monuments for students to work with.

Classroom Resources:

Worksheet from the teacher
Pencil

This lesson could be done with only one teacher present, but to make it easier for the student's and the teacher it would work best if there was an assistant or classroom helper to help work with the students.

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Evaluation

Students will be evaluated by many items. Each section of the rubric is worth four points, making with five sections making the web quest worth 16 points. This will be given to the students and thoroughly explained to them for their own use.

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

Correct information about monument

Information about monument is incorrect or not accurate.
Information was lacking and not completely correct about the monument.
Most information is correct, but a two or less incorrect facts were given.
All information is correct and has given great information.
/4

Written work

Worksheet is not legiable, letter not written correctly, more than 10 words misspelled.
Handwriting is a little sloppy, most letters written correctly less than 10 misspelled words.
Handwriting is neat most letters are formed correctly, less than 5 misspelled words.
Handwriting is neat letters are correctly written and one or less spelling errors.
/4

Working with the group

Student worked solo and excluded self from group.
Student communicated with the group, but did not share information.
Student communicated with group and shared most information.
Student's shared answers, information and helped with group.
/4

Following Directions

Did not follow web quest did items out of order and incorrectly
Missed more than one step or misread more than one direction of the web quest.
Missed only one step during the web quest or read directions wrong.
Completed all steps of the web quest from start to finish.
/4

*For additional resource on creating rubrics visit rubrics.html

Conclusion

With the end of the task students should be familiar with their monument and be able to give our classroom parents a tour around our class made Mall of Washington D.C. Students should be able to be great tour guides to our parents and tell them some different facts that they did not know. This will also help the students with confidence to tour guide in front of parents that they do not know.

Credits & References

I would like to thank Vicki Mast, Marianna Fallon, and my classmates for help and ideas with this web quest.

Internet Resources:

www.buzzle.com(graphics)
www.kestan.com/travel/dc/monument(graphics)
www.fotosearch.com(graphics)

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Disclaimer

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The Web Quest Page