
This is an example of what you could be receiving each
month via e-mail when you subscribe to WebQuest Direct. The WebQuest Direct
Newsletter lists 10 of the best newly reviewed WebQuests for the month as
well as 10 reviewed online educational resources. Each WebQuest review is complete with
all the details required for you to assess its suitability for your students.
This is a fully functional example of a newsletter with
active links so that you can see the benefits of this great service for yourself!
Web Quests Discovered
1. Conflict
Yellowstone Wolves
2. Advance Australia Fairly?
3. Everybody Knows That Ghosts Aren't Real...
4. Who was Edith Houghland?
5. Explore the Universe WebQuest
6. Art for Sale
7. Home of the Future
8. Genetically Engineered Food
9. Anglo Saxon Settlement
10.Living with Disaster
Educational Sites:
1. Ecology Hot List
2. Library
of Congress (US) - African American Identity in the Gilded Age, 1877-1915
3. Logical Fallacies in
Scientific Writing - for Years 11 & 12
4. ABC Teach
5. Teach-nology
6. Teaching with the web
7. Mrs.Alphabet
8. LearningPage.Com
9. The High School Hub
10. David
Levin's Learning@Web.Sites
Web Quests Discovered
1. Title:
Conflict
Yellowstone Wolves
URL: http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/mtr/ConflictYellowstoneWolf.ht...
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: HSIE / SOSE
Grade Levels: Secondary
Location: U.S.A.
Description:
Conflict Yellowstone Wolves is a real-life
inquiry-oriented activity that challenges students to solve a current complex problem.
Students will interact
with experts, study past history, and develop a solution to the heated debate on
reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park. The project concludes with the
students writing and sending a letter to the editor or government official.
2.
Title: Advance Australia Fairly?
URL: http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/federation/html/advance_aus/in...
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: HSIE / SOSE; Language (LOTE)
Grade Levels: Primary
Location: Australia
Description:
This is an Australian Federation webquest designed for students in Years 5-6 (or
Years 6-7 in Queensland) where students will learn about the values and beliefs held by
Australians in the 1890s and how these influenced the process of Federation. The big
question is "What do you know about the contribution different ethnic groups and
individuals make to Australian society today?" The webquest will also enable students
to consider their own assumptions about other cultures and races and to look at the way we
manage the migration of people into Australia.
3. Title: Everybody
knows that ghosts aren't real...
URL: http://web.mala.bc.ca/webquests3/ghosts/Intro.html
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: English & Language Arts; Special Education
Grade Levels: Primary; Middle
Location: Canada
Description:
Designed for students in Year 7 but
can be used in upper primary classes for gifted and talented students who can complete
self- directed tasks. Students have to decide whether to become a ghost hunter or a
paranormal scientist. They have to write a ghost story that is as believable as they can
make it, then read ghost stories and compare these stories to each other and to their own;
build a concept map about their beliefs; write a newspaper article supporting their
educated opinion and include a photograph of a "ghost" with a digital camera.
4. Title: Who was Edith Houghland?
URL: http://www.webquestuk.org.uk/Completed%20Quests/Edith%20Houghl...
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: English & Language Arts; HSIE / SOSE; Science
Grade Levels: Middle
Location: U.K.
Description:
This webquest, developed in Britain,
is based on a photographic evidence of Edith Houghland's suitcase, a suitcase she was
using when she died in 1908. Students are asked to investigate this evidence and give a
report on the life of Edith in Victorian times. Although primarily a History source
webquest, teachers of Forensic Science could also used this webquest to introduce students
to evidence collecting.
5. Title: Explore the Universe WebQuest
URL: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webuniversepa.html
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: Science; Technology
Grade Levels: Middle
Location: U.S.A.
Description:
Students investigate the American space research
program.They will compare and contrast theories on how the universe began and write a
position statement justifying one theory, create a children's book or a new planet.
In-depth research in one area will then culminate in a wide range of presentations from a variety of
subject areas. These include models, pamphlets, blueprints and maths activities.
6. Title: Art for Sale
URL: http://www.itdc.sbcss.k12.ca.us/curriculum/artforsale.html
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: The Arts; HSIE / SOSE;
Technology
Grade Levels: Middle; Secondary
Location: U.S.A.
Description:
This quest is for students who are in year 5 (although
it could easily be used up to Year 10) and studying a visual arts course. Students have
been given the task of finding three artworks, reflecting the religious and social beliefs
and attitude of the people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of the Americas. This webquest
asks students to take on a role, either an historian, art critic, graphic designer, and
broker. Although this web quest is predominately based on the arts, it also involves IT and history.
7. Title:
Home of the Future
URL: http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/mgillow/energy.htm
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: Science
Grade Levels: Middle
Location: Australia
Description:
This webquest is designed for
students in Years 5-8 studying environmental issues from an Australian viewpoint. The big
question is "What should Australia do about its greenhouse gas emissions?" and
although this is a global issue, students are encourage to "Think Globally, Act
Locally". There are four roles in this webquest: scientist, sceptic, environmentalist
and architect. Students have to investigate and then debate their findings. A real world
feedback is to write to the Alternative Technology Association in Australia.
8. Title: Genetically
Engineered Food
URL: http://stcharles.k12.la.us/hahnville/webquest/butlerv/butlervm...
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: HSIE / SOSE; Religious
Education & Values; Science
Grade Levels: Secondary
Location: U.S.A.
Description:
Students are given a selection of science-based
websites that demonstrate several points of view. They must decide if the information is
supported by fact or opinion. After their research, they must form a position from the
point of view of their player and defend it with factual information.They are given a
selection of websites that demonstrate several points of view. Students must decide if the
information is supported by fact or opinion. After their research, they must form a
position from the point of view of their player and defend it with factual information.The
students must learn the value of consensus within a group. A web quest for students
studying biology, geography or ethics and values in Years 9 - 12.
9. Title: Anglo Saxon Settlement
URL: http://www.webquestuk.org.uk/Completed%20Quests/Saxons%20Worcs...
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: HSIE / SOSE
Grade Levels: Primary
Location: U.K.
Description:
Designed for students in Years 3 - 4
studying Anglo Saxon History in England although it could easily be used for students in
Year 5-6. This webquest is suitable mainly for students in Worcester, who can visit this
area, but there are sufficient Internet resources listed for students outside the UK to
complete this webquest. Students are asked to help decide where to build an Anglo Saxon
village should be built in 600AD, how many people are required to ensure the village is a
success and the skills required. Students have to plan where the village will be by
investigating the current place names (and their Anglo Saxon origins) and their meanings.
They have to think of three important reasons to explain why they chose that place to
settle - using their names to give them a clue. Students after this research have to
design a booklet called 'Hints and Tips for New Settlers', in which they give advice to
anyone wanting to set up a village in Worcestershire in the year 600 AD. There are
extension activities for students. For UK only: Ordnance Survey Maps could be used to aid
with this question: "Where do we settle?" Students in Worcester might also visit
Bishops Wood Environmental Centre.
10. Title: Living With Disaster
URL: http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/as/education/projects/w...
Rating:     
Key Learning Areas: HSIE / SOSE; Mathematics; Science
Grade Levels: Primary
Location: U.S.A.
Description:
Designed for Year 3 Science students.
Students have to work out from the following four locations which is the best place to
re-locate a farm to. The locations are:The base of Kilauea, Hawaii - an active volcano;
San Adreas Fault line, California- an earthquake area; Riverfront farm southern Minnesota,
along the Mississippi River- an area that floods; wooded area in California's Sierra
Nevada - bushfires/wildfires occur. Students have to evaluate these places in light of the
disasters associated with them in order to decide which environment would be the best
location for the farm. Students investigate this problem from the perspective of an
Historian; a Scientist; or, a Mathematician. They then decide as a group which location is
the best.
Educational Sites
1. Ecology Hot List
This web site contains lists for Primary and Secondary Students on the following
topics: General Ecology; Air/Atmosphere; Water; Radiation; Biodiversity; and the
Rainforest
2. Library of Congress
(US) - African American Identity in the Gilded Age, 1877-1915
An excellent resource for teachers and students studying American History in Years
11 & 12.
3. Logical Fallacies in Scientific Writing
This is a paper by A. Stephen Richardson from George Mason
University which would be suitable for students in Years 11 & 12.
4. ABC Teach
This web site is for parents, teachers and kids especially
orientated to primary students. It has lots of activities and units of work with a
thematic approach.
5. Teach-nology
This web site contains Best Sites, Message Board, Rubrics,
Teaching Themes, Downloads, Games, Student Search, Tutorials, Net Secrets, Teaching Ideas,
Worksheets, Lesson Plans, Newsletters, Teacher Tools and Worksheet Makers
6. Teaching
with the Web
Teaching with the Web offers resources from the Educational
Technology Centre of Kennesaw State University. The subject matter is broken into 4
sections: K - 2; 3 - 5; 6 - 8; and 9 - 12. Under each of these sections, there are
materials for most of the KLAs.
7. Mrs.Alphabet
A site for teachers of younger students including student activities and links,
"Just for Kids", and Newsletter.
8. LearningPage.Com
A commercial site with all resources downloadable and
printable. The curriculum is written and designed for preschool, kindergarten, first,
second,and third grade students. There are lesson plans, thematic units, basic skills, and
printable books for the elementary classroom. Also, books for students are reviewed.
9. The High School Hub
This is an excellent site! "The High School Hub is a
noncommercial portal to excellent free online academic resources for high school
students.It features learning activities, an ongoing teen poetry contest, a reference
collection, college information (American), and subject guides for English, mathematics,
science, social studies, world languages, arts, health, and technology." There are
resources on Teen Health, Careers, Games and Puzzles and Featured Sections (this month -
Christmas!).
10. David Levin's Learning@Web.Sites
This guide is intended primarily for senior high school
educators who would like to enhance their curriculum and instruction using the internet.
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