Ancient Civilization Webquest

Technology Lesson Plan

Title: Ancient Civilizations Webquest	Estimated Time: 40 minutes Continued over 5 class periods.
Summary of Lesson: Small groups of students will be utilizing the webquest to research information about two chosen ancient civilizations. They will be evaluating websites & organizing their data, then presenting the information in a PowerPoint Presentation.
Technology Standard(s) Addressed: 5A4: Investigate the authority of an online information source to determine the author’s qualifications; 5B1: Generate questions to be answered when given a topic; 5B2: Recognize that finding & using more than one source can produce a better product; 5B5: Identify relevant facts, check for accuracy, record information, and create an information product to share with others.
Integrated Curriculum Standards Addressed: Geo2: Identify latitude and longitude to locate points on a world map; Peo1: Compare cultural practices and products of societies including class structure, gender roles, beliefs, & customs; Hist4: Compare geographical, political, economical, and social characteristics of river civilizations before 1000 B.C. including location, government, religion, agriculture, & scientific and natural contributions; Peo3: Explain factors that foster conflict or cooperation including language, religion, types of government, historical relationships, and economical interests. Geo5: Describe ways human settlements & activities are influenced by environmental factors & processes including bodies of water, landforms, climates, vegetation, weathering, & seismic activity.
Kid Friendly Standards: I can determine if a website is valid, use more than one website to create a better product, & gather relevant information from several resources.
Materials Needed: History text, 6^th grade webquest (see URL below), PowerPoint, Smart board

Warm-Up

Divide class into groups of four. Access the Webquest, show it on the Smart board, & discuss the project with the class.
Read through each part of the Webquest together & answer any questions.
Make sure to open up the Resource links to model the graphic organizers.

Activity

Students will then begin working on their projects in their small groups. They can sit together, but must use the same computer each week, since their data will be saved to that computer. Students are encouraged to work outside of technology class, as well.
Teacher will be monitoring their progress, providing direction & motivation, & encouraging students to produce their best results.

Wrap-Up

Have students save their work to the " 6^th Grade" folder, which is accessed through the "Student Work" folder on the desktop of each computer.
Send home the parent letter outlining the project, the timeline, the website, & the expectations.

Assessment & Extension

These are built into the Webquest.
Groups will share their final PPT presentations the last week of school.

Websites

Teacher View Webquest: http://www.mentorschools.org/powpak/cgi-bin/wq_teacher_page.pl?wq=1&id=steink@mentorschools.org
Student View Webquest: http://www.mentorschools.org/powpak/cgi-bin/wq_student_page.pl?wq=1&id=steink@mentorschools.org