Picasso People - October 3, 2006

Today's featured webquest helps students explore the world of Pablo Picasso: TITLE: Picasso People AUTHOR: Lisa Belz LINK: Link to *Picasso People* Webquest Students will use provided resources to find out about the life and art of Pablo Picasso. The students will then create a one page biography about Picasso and create a digital portrait in the style of Pablo Picasso. The webquest includes a link to one of the coolest websites I've seen: Mr. Picasso Head. As part of their task, students use this site to create their own "painting" in the style of Picasso, and email the finished product to their teacher. For more great links on Picasso and modern art, check out the K12 Station Modern Art Library.

What's For Lunch? - September 29, 2006

Today's featured webquest looks at diet, nutrition and wellness from the perspective of a school lunch planner: TITLE: What's For Lunch? AUTHOR: Thomas Kruck LINK: Link to *What's For Lunch* Webquest In an effort to create meaningful change, your Principal has created a school panel consisting of concerned teachers, parents and students, whose task will be to develop ideas towards improving health and overall wellness of the students at school. Several groups will be formed to accomplish different tasks; a group for developing ideas on improved physical fitness; a group on improving self-efficacy; and a group on healthier eating habits. The webquest focuses students on several aspects of nutrition and wellness, including the food pyramid, portion sizes, and eating habits. The task also requires students to engage in complex thinking about persuasive techniques - now that they know what the best nutritional habits are, how do they convince their peers to make good choices? For more great links on Nutrition, check out the K12 Station Nutrition and Wellness Library for Late Elementary and Middle Schoolers.

Florida's Endangered Species - September 27, 2006

Sorry about the long wait in between posts, folks ... I needed to take a brief sabbatical, but starting today the Webquests roll on! Today's featured webquest looks at endangered species: TITLE: A Closer Look at Florida's Endangered Species AUTHOR: Marcia Anderson LINK: Link to *Florida's Endangered Species* Webquest Students research what animals are on Florida's endangered list, then sketch the interesting creatures, paying careful attention to details of shape, color, texture and pattern. Where does it live? What makes it interesting and different? Want to join the Audubon Society? Who is John James Audubon? Who are some Florida artists who capture our State's natural beauty? How can studnet artists make a difference for our state's endangered species? Why are animals extinct? Learn about this and more! The webquest features lots of nice illustrations and plenty of great links that allow students to explore the many interrelated topics. Students are required to compile a journal that compiles information about endangered species ... and the nice "hook" to this webquest occurs when students connect to the animals through works of visual art. For more great links on Endangered Species, check out the K12 Station Endangered Species Library.

Han Dynasty - September 18, 2006

Today's featured webquest looks at Ancient China: TITLE: Han Dynasty Webquest AUTHOR: Darcy Creazzo, Beth Vasquez LINK: Link to *Han Dynasty* Webquest You have been carefully chosen to travel through time to the year 200 B.C. ... you will be thrown back through time to Ancient China! Here you will have the opportunity to observe life as it was over two-thousand years ago. WARNING! In order for this experience of a lifetime to work and history to not be altered forever you MUST choose a social class to live in while you are on your journey. The webquest requires students to research their chosen social class on the web, and then create journal entries written from the perspective of a member of that class. For more great links on Ancient China, check out the K12 Station China History Library.

John Steinbeck's America - September 15, 2006

One of the nicest features of the Webquest format is that teachers can create a unit that is either very simple or extremely robust. Today's featured webquest takes the "robust" route: TITLE: John Steinbeck's America AUTHOR: Multiple (Nanuet, NY) LINK: Link to *John Steinbeck* Webquest This Webquest will provide students with background information for the world in which John Steinbeck, and his characters in Of Mice and Men lived - the United States of America in the 1930's. By the end of the project the students will have developed a better understanding of the numerous problems that confronted Americans during that decade. The webquest explores the history and culture of the 1930s, the Dust Bowl, perceptions of mental retardation across history, migrant workers, and the author (John Steinbeck). The task requires that students work in groups, and the final performance is a classroom presentation (in one of six formats). This is another webquest with DOZENS of links ... but if you want more, check out the K12 Station Depression Era Library and the K12 Station New Deal Era Library.

The Black Death - September 13, 2006

The Bubonic Plague ... now there's a cheery subject for a Wednesday afternoon. Well, the last webquest I reviewed was all about rainbows, so I guess this means we've covered the extremes of the spectrum. Here's a great webquest all about The Black Death: TITLE: The Black Death AUTHOR: Leslie Ledford LINK: Link to *The Black Death* Webquest The Black Death was a devastating and terrifying disease in the 14th century. It killed 1/3rd of Europe ’s population in only 5 years. The devastation and the horror that the people of Europe experienced must have been unimaginable. The webquest requires students to act as diarists in the era of the Black Death. The author includes LOTS of great web sources, but if you need more, you can find some in the K12 European Middle Ages Library (scroll down toward the end of the page for sites on The Black Death).

Social Bookmarking - September 12, 2006

I'm taking a break from Webquest reviews today, and I'd like to talk about Social Bookmarking instead. See the neat little icons at the bottom of this post (and every other post)? You may have seen these and others like them before - they enable you to create a Social Bookmark to the post you're reading. And what is that? Well, let's hear it from Wikipedia, rather than me... Social bookmarking is a web based service, where shared lists of user-created Internet bookmarks are displayed. So rather than being limited to the "Bookmarks" or "Favorites" menu on your personal computer, you can now bookmark all of your favorite sites online. This is a HUGE help to avid webquesters, who can now easily access all of their hotlists from any internet-connected computer. How many of us have found great websites at home, and then forgotten how to get to them once you get to school? Now all you have to do is remember how to get to your social bookmarking site. And there are lots of other features to these sites ... for instance, you can share your links with other social bookmarkers who have similar interests. My favorite site is del.icio.us - I highly recommend checking them out. Oh, and if you have an account at one of the sites whose icons appear below (delicious, magnolia, furl, simpy, spurl, or Yahoo! myweb), and you want to "tag" one of my posts ... well just click on the appropriate icon and you're off to the races.

The Colors of the Rainbow - September 11, 2006

Most teachers shy away from creating webquests for primary students, so when I find a good one for 1st/2nd graders, I like to pass it along: TITLE: Learning The Colors of the Rainbow AUTHOR: LaVon Lindstrom LINK: Link to *The Colors of the Rainbow* Webquest This webquest basically transfers a "books and paper" task (identifying the colors of the rainbow" to an online modality: Welcome to The Colors of the Rainbow. Have you ever wondered what colors make up a rainbow? Which color come first? Well, today you will learn all the colors of the rainbow. You will also get to color your very own rainbow all by yourself. There are no links to external websites - but for younger students, the whole idea is to get them used to the web as a learning environment. If you wanted your students to extend their learning on colors, you can find great websites in the K12 Station Visual Media Library for Young Students (scroll down to the middle of the page for sites on color).

To Outer Space and Beyond - September 8, 2006

Today's QuestGarden featured webquest is a fanciful exploration of outer space for younger elementary students. TITLE: To Outer Space and Beyond AUTHOR: Multiple (Bradley U.) LINK: Link to *Outer Space and Beyond* Webquest This webquest is a fairly basic, straightforward introduction to the Solar System. That being said, the authors inject a bit of personality into the process: You have just completed your last day of astronaut training! You are now officially an astronaut! Congratulations! You are being assigned a major mission. This mission is going to send you and eight other astronauts into outer space to explore the planets. There is lots of work to be done and lots of information to bring back for the upcoming news conference! Through some creative writing and the judicious use of images and background colors, the authors have created a webquest that will be fun and engaging. The task itself (visit space websites and collect facts and pictures) is nothing extraordinary or unique, but it's perfect for young elementary students who are just learning to use the web for inquiry-based exploration. This highlights the power of webquests - that with the right blend of "traditional" tasks and new media, kids of all ages can participate in engaging projects that enhance learning. You can also check out more websites on Space for Young Students here!

Gatsby and PB Wiki - September 7, 2006

Today's QuestGarden featured webquest looks at the Roaring 20s through the lens of The Great Gatsby ... and a little something called "PB Wiki." TITLE: "Gatsby", Then and Now: A Wiki Exhibit AUTHOR: Andrea Drinkwine LINK: Link to *Gatsby - Then and Now* Webquest This webquest blends history, literature and technology in several unique ways: In order to more fully appreciate the history behind this fictional novel and discover its parallels to present day America, you will go back in time to explore the factual context and recognize how popular culture reflects the values, lifestyles, and events of the times. You’ll come back from your exploration to create an exhibit portraying the themes of the past, using a tool of the present. The most intriguing piece of this Webquest is its use of "PB Wiki" to facilitate collaborative online student projects. PB Wiki is a great, easy-to-use tool ... but you'll have to check out this webquest to learn more about it! You can also check out more websites on The Roaring Twenties here!

My America - September 6, 2006

Today's QuestGarden featured webquest explores America through photography. TITLE: My America: A Pictorial Essay Project AUTHOR: Olivia Gatti LINK: Link to *My America* Webquest This webquest integrates photography, internet research and historical study into a fascinating student project: You and your team will take to the streets, the school, and homes to photograph and report on cultural phenomena, from the mundane to the extreme [...] Your team will provide a lasting historical legacy, available to all Americans and the world. Before "hitting the streets", students are asked to do some research into similar work done during the New Deal Era: As the Division's first set of priorities, using prior knowledge from recent history lessons on the Great Depression and the New Deal, get together as a group, brainstorm, and take notes about the Farm Security Administration, or FSA. As a group follow these steps to answer the following questions and explore a very useful database. What an exciting way to teach history! Students will learn about New Deal and American history through a series of great online sources, then replicate the photographic activities of the FSA in their own community. You can also check out more websites on The New Deal and Photography here!

The Life of a Water Drop - September 5, 2006

Today's QuestGarden featured webquest looks at the "life" of a water droplet. It's a great exploration of the hydrologic cycle for late-elementary students. TITLE: The Life of a Water Drop AUTHOR: Tammy Beckham LINK: Link to Life of a Water Droplet Webquest This webquest invites students to explore how water cycles through the earth: You are a drop of water. Only you know what type of water droplet you are. You go through many changes in your life. Where do you begin? Where do you end? What processes happens to you along your journey? Is there any other droplet like you? Only time will tell! Students visit websites about water and the water cycle, and create "factlists" about what they learned. The webquest is simple, clear, and well-illustrated ... and most importantly, the links all work. One of the links (the first on the list) does include pop-up ads ... you can either modify the webquest and edit the link out, or simply make sure your pop-up blocker is enabled. You can also check out more websites on Water and The Water Cycle here!

Using Wikis in Education - September 4, 2006

I hope everyone enjoyed Labor Day weekend! Today's QuestGarden featured webquest is a bit off the beaten path, and may have a few "out of the box" ideas for your classroom heading into the new school year. TITLE: The 21st Century Classroom: Using Wikis AUTHOR: Theresa Gray LINK: Link to Using Wikis Webquest This webquest is all about teachers learning a new classroom technology skill: In this WebQuest, you will take on the role of learner and investigate the use of one technology, Wikis, in the classroom. (The word wiki is a shortened form of the Hawaiian wiki-wiki which means "quick.") At the end, you will participate in editing a wiki that has been created for you on this topic. Don't know what a "Wiki" is? Your students probably do ... check out this great webquest to find out more!

Dinner at the White House - September 1, 2006

Today's QuestGarden featured webquest is a quirky, fun exploration of international culture for late-middle school and high-school students. TITLE: Dinner at the White House AUTHOR: Multiple (University of Phoenix) LINK: Link to Dinner at the White House Webquest This webquest requires students assume a unique role: You have been recently hired to be part of the new team of Ceremonial Officers at the White House. Ceremonial Officers are a unit of the State Department that is in charge of preparing the President and staff for official visits from foreign leaders. As part of your duties, you have been told that the President will be entertaining a delegation from the U.S. Virgin Islands . It is your responsibility to create a menu for the event containing food typical of that territory. What a great concept! The authors selected several great websites where students learn about the history, culture and culinary uniqueness of USVI ... and also lead students to several sources on various protocols for state affairs. You can also check out more websites on Government and Civics here!

Evolution of Inventions - August 31, 2006

Today's QuestGarden featured webquest looks at inventions, and challenges students to trace the evolution of that invention - from idea to realization. TITLE: Evolution of Inventions AUTHOR: Leslie Eaves LINK: Link to Evolution of Inventions Webquest Once again, we have a webquest that makes great use of QuestGarden's seamless image integration. As noted before, well-placed, relevant images make a huge impact on the end-user. This webquest requires students to complete a PowerPoint presentation on an invention of their choice, and the "Evaluation" section lays out precise, detailed expectations for the final product. Here are more web resources on inventions from the K12 Station Libraries.

Immigration in Focus - August 30, 2006

Our first featured Webquest looks at American immigration. Here is a scaled-down screenshot of the webquest's introductory page: One of the nicest aspects of QuestGarden is the ability to seamlessly integrate image content into your webquests. It's easy - I'll cover the "how-to" in a later post. As you can see from the above screenshot, this author included some nice photos ... this makes the webquest much more visually appealing to users (particularly students). Here is how to access this webquest: TITLE: Immigration in Focus AUTHOR: Joe Menkin, Newbury Park High School LINK: Link to Focus on Immigration And here is a link to a library of resources on American immigration: K12Station Immigration History Links

Introduction to Webquests on QuestGarden

This blog highlights the best Webquests created using the QuestGarden webquest building environment. If you haven't heard of QuestGarden yet, it's the brainchild of Webquest Guru Bernie Dodge. I could explain QuestGarden, but I'll bet that Bernie can do a better job on his own: QuestGarden is an online authoring tool, community and hosting service that is designed to make it easier and quicker to create a high quality WebQuest. No knowledge of web editing or uploading is required. Prompts, guides and examples are provided for each step of the process. Images, worksheets and other documents can easily be attached or embedded in the WebQuest, and users have complete control over the appearance of the final lesson. QuestGarden is modeled after a community garden with all the resources needed to bring great WebQuests to life. Users are encouraged to comment on each others' work, to share links and images, and to build new WebQuests on existing ones. Rather than starting from scratch, users can bring a WebQuest written by another member of the community into their workspace, modify the content or appearance to suit their needs, and use it with their own students. Attribution to the first author is maintained, and authors are notified when another member of the community makes an improved or modified version of their work. Thanks, Bernie! Here's a link to the QuestGarden site: QuestGarden Each week, I'll select a few "state of the art" Webquests from QuestGarden, discuss them, and post links to them here. I hope that this will help you to discover how to use Webquests in your classroom, and hopefully it will inspire you to create a Webquest of your own!