Introduction
Task
Resources
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Introduction
In
this Social Studies / Language Arts Web Quest, students will investigate
how European nations explored the world and how they conquered native populations
and fashioned unknown regions into nations we so easily recognize on world
maps today.
Task
After
students have finished conducting their research, they should begin working
on their creative writing pieces. Students will assume the point of view
of the explorer they have researched. They will write their findings in
a diary form, including sketches, maps, and pictures. This writing
piece will also incorporate the use of historical fiction. Historical
fiction is based on fact, but is written as fiction. Authors may use real
names and places in conjunction with fictional ones. The students should
use factual information for dates and locations. However, they can
use their discretion as to how they depict people's reactions to, and their
emotion about, any given situation.
| Kids Konnect : Explorers | French Explorers (Cartier and La Salle) |
| Kid Info (numerous sites about many explorers) | Explorers Links (Various Links) |
| Explorers Web Page | Mega Sites (Various links) |
| Explorers (numerous links) | Age of Exploration |
| Antarctic Explorers | Age of European Exploration |
| Cabrillo | Explorers by continent or time period |
| Graphics | Yahoo Links on Explorers |
| European Explorers | Alphabetical list of Explorers |
| Explorers A - Z | Explorer Sites |
1. Randomly choose an explorer from the list of explorers given.
2. Using the links provided, as well as other research materials, research as much factual information as possible about your explorer. Use the Explorer's Research sheet to gather your information.
3. Fill in any remaining blanks on the research sheet using historical fiction. (Historical fiction is based on fact, but written as fiction.) Make sure that the information that you "make up" is consistent with the factual information that you have found.
4. Using both explicit and implicit statements, Write 20 diary entries including all of the information from your research sheet. 15 of the 20 entries must include a lot of detail. Each of the entries must be written in the first person and should be dated.
5.
Verify the you have included all of the necessary information by indicating
the date on which you have addressed each topic on the
peer
edit sheet. It might be helpful to have someone else review your
diary to see if all of the information is present.
6. When your entries are complete, write a brief "About the Author" entry like you would find in the back of a novel. This will be included in your final diary.
7. Choose the size you would like your diary to be (8 1/2 x 11 or 5 1/2 by 8 1/2). Diaries should be hand written in cursive and look authentic.
This web quest consists of two grades. A Social Studies grade that focuses the content found in the diary. The Language Arts grade takes into consideration the details used in the diary and the use of inference.
Students will broaden their knowledge of the Age of Exploration and will gain the knowledge of how to write historical fiction.