American Symbols - Independent Study

Introduction

Welcome!  You will be going on a WebQuest.  Your job in this WebQuest is research an American ySmbol have NOT studied in class.  As you go through the WebQuest, it is important for you to keep the following questions in mind:

1.  What does your chosen American Symbol mean? (the definition)

2.  What is the history of your chosen American Symbol?

3.  How does your chosen American Symbol represent freedom?

At the end of your WebQuest you should be an expert about your chosen American Symbol.  You will need to be able to teach another student about your chosen American Symbol.

Have fun on your WebQuest!

 

Task

Your task will be to create a brochure that you will use to teach another student about your chosen American Symbol.  Your  brochure will include the following categories about your chosen American Symbol.

1.  Symbol meaning (What does the symbol mean?)

2.  History of the symbol (Why did the symbol become an American Symbol?)

3.  Freedom representation (Why does the symbol mean freedom?)

 

Process

Before starting the processes, you will need to print an American Symbols Process Sheet to use as evidence for doing this WebQuest.

Click here for the American Symbols Process Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ggvYSpNmYlRHpZcmRfaDVBcXM/view?usp=sharing

Process 1 - Learn about American Symbols

  • Play the following matching game:

       https://jr.brainpop.com/socialstudies/citizenship/ussymbols/matching/

        Go to your American Symbols Process Sheet and record your matches.

At the end of the matching game you will get the following message:

  • Choose "Learn More!"
  • Watch the movie and then Go to your American Symbols Process Sheet and record what you learned from the movie.
  • Get your teachers approval before going to the next step.

Process 2 - Research an American Symbol

A.  Choose 2 of the following internet sources to help you decide which symbols you would like to study:

B.  Choose 3 or more internet sources to research your American symbol.

  • Go to your American Symbols Process Sheet and record the internet sources you used and 3 facts you learned from each source. 
  • Get your teachers approval before going to the next step.

Process 3 - Create a Brochure

  • Use the notes you have taken on your American Symbols Process Sheet to help you create a brochure. 
  • Sign on to your google account
  • Copy the following link to get the template for your brochure:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rzG0hZDyDUH9gZYJbtjxCfJd8lJrQidw8Ul3d2vM4Ek/edit?usp=sharing

  1. Make a copy of the document.
  2. Rename the document to include your name.
  3. Turn in your brochure to your teacher.

Process 4 - Teach Another Student About Your Symbol

  • During morning journal, the teacher will assign another student for you to teach about your symbol.  
  • You will be able to show the other student your brochure.  
  • Tell the other student everything you know about your symbol.
  • The other student should be able to answer the following questions:
    • What does the chosen American Symbol mean?
    • What is the history of the chosen American Symbol?
    • Why does the chosen American Symbol represent freedom?
Evaluation

American Symbols WebQuest - Grading Rubric

Grading Scale:

4-Exceeds

3-Meets

2-Almost There

1-Below

0

 

Worked well independently and/or with other students to complete WebQuest

Worked well independently and/or with others to create project.

Worked well most of the time independently and/or with others to create project.

 

 

Some intervention was required from teacher to have the student work independently and /or with others to create project.

A lot of intervention was required from teacher; student rarely worked independently and had many disagreements with others.

Student did not participate independently or with others.

Project was colorful and provided great detail. 

Project exceeded expectations of teacher.  Language and pictures were complete and appropriate.

Project was sufficient, but was lacking some language and pictures.  All categories were present.

Project was sufficient, but was lacking some language and pictures.  Some categories were missing.

Project was not complete.  A lot of language, pictures and categories were missing.

Student did not submit a project.

Student was an expert on the chosen American symbol.  Student was able to teach another student about the chosen American symbol.

In great detail, using appropriate language student was able to teach another student about the chosen American symbol.

Student was able to teacher another student about the chosen American symbol.  Student was lacking in language.  

Student struggled to teach another student about the chosen American symbol.  The student very little about the chosen American symbol.

Student had very little evidence to teacher another student.  The student could not provide a lot of information to another student.

Student was not able to teach another due insufficient knowledge and evidence of symbol research.

Turned in group project on a timely manner.

Project was turned in on time or early.

Project was 1 day late and was complete.

Project was on time but was not complete.

Project was late and not complete.

Project was not turned in.
Conclusion

Congratulations!  You have completed the WebQuest for American Symbols.  Your brochure will help many of the students in our class learn more about Amercian Symbols.  You should feel GREAT about your accomplishment.  

If you finish this WebQuest early, you may

  • Start researhing another American Symbol

          OR

  • Make a PowerPoint presentation of your chosen American Symbol.
Credits
Teacher Page

This WebQuest was created for 2nd grade students who are able to work independtly or in pairs.  The teacher should check in with the students every 2-3 days to make sure the students are making progress.  This WebQuest will take the students 3-4 weeks.  The students will work indpendently on this WebQuest 30 minutes per day.  The students should be trying to figure out the technology and the research independently or with the help of their partner.  The teacher's intervention for helping the students should be minimal.