erCharting the Course: Social Studies Webquest

Introduction

Image result for new york city clipart

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this web quest is for fourth graders to familiarize themselves with the state and city in which they live. As you all know, whenever you mention that you are from New York, everyone gets excited and want to know about the famous and infamous New York City and how the life of a New Yorker really is. Many people think of New York as the most exciting and scariest city in the world. The goal of this assignment is for you to be able to proudly tell about the history, government, geography, and economics of New York and how it impact the lives of New Yorkers. After completing this web quest you will truly be able to tell everyone what a great city and state you live in and why it is the most exciting and wonderful state in the United States.  On your quest you will learn the past and present history of New York State and City, which includes American History, World History, Civics/Government, Geography, and economics.  I have listed several websites to help you on your journey.  Feel free to use more. Please familiarize yourselves with websites before you start your journey. They are not in order of the questions. This quest will be for five days, each day you will be required to find the answers to the corresponding task.   

Task

Quest

1.  What is a does a primary and secondary source of history mean? Give three examples of a primary sources. Where can you usually find primary sources today? Is your web quest a primary or secondary source? Explain.  What is archaeology? How does archaeological research help us understand the past? What would you put in a time capsule to help people in the future understand how you live today? List at least five items.  

2.   Locate New York State on the map. What states are surrounding it?  What ocean is it next to? What river runs through New York? Name two explorers that had a body of water named after them in New York. What was New York State named before it was called New York? Why was the name changed? What is New York State's most famous city but not the capital? What is it called? What was New York City the capital of, when, and for how long? What are the three New York State emblems? How many state symbols does New York have?

3. What are some famous historical landmarks and monuments in New York? What island in New York City did most immigrants pass through?  What famous monument did every immigrant arriving in America see first? What country gave it to the United States? Why and when? What is the nationality of the people that settled in New York first? How many languages are spoken in New York City? What is democracy? Why do you think that people immigrate to America? In what year did New York State abolish slavery?

 4. Create a timeline which reflects historical events in New York City that seem important to you and that you think have had an impact on your life. How has or does those events effect you, your family, or culture today? Give examples and full details. 

5. Why do you think that is important to save? What the New York minimum wage? What is the New York sales tax? What was the first form of trading called? What year was the New York stock exchange established? When was the only time it was shut down and why? If I gave you $2000 a month as my employee, how much would you spend  on rent, clothes, travel back and forth to work, food, health insurance, life insurance and luxuries such as games, movies? Fill in the chart below. Write a paragraph explaining who would benefit from your spending, how the money may improve your standard of living, and justify why you spent the amount you chose on each item. Did you save any money? Is it enough?Why or why not?    

  

Income

 Expense

Date

Savings Balance

 

Amount Spent

 

Item

Amount

2000.00

Where did you buy or spend it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Process

Below are several websites that will answer the questions of your quest. You are free to use additional resources from the web. You can copy and paste the below cites or you can type in the questions of the task in the search  bar. Print and review the information on these websites before you start your quest. This will give you a head start. Happy hunting. If you don't have computer or laptop at your home you will be required to go to the library to complete this project.  You will hand in each task on the following morning. No late task will be accepted. If you don't have access to the web at home or at the library please inform the teacher so that you can use class or school library's computers. As you know from previous technology lessons, everything that you need is on your computer, microsoft word, calculator, and google to find definitions and/or search items. If you need any help brushing up your technology skills, please feel free to ask teacher as we go over this assignment.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebefore w_York_City_ethnic_enclaves

http://zunal.com/teacherspage.php?w=52427

http://www.dos.ny.gov/kids_room/kids_history.html

http://www.taxrates.com/state-rates/new-york/low are several 

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/us/new-york-state-united-states-…

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/five-geography-themes-united-states-…

http://www.iloveny.com/things-to-do/history/timeline/#.VYDYhlKmkcQ

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/nytimeln…

http://www.whatiseconomics.org

http://www.princeton.edu/~refdesk/primary2.html

http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

http://www.dos.ny.gov/kids_room/508/symbols2.html

Evaluation

RUBRIC

 

Excellent

 

100%

Good

85%

Satisfactory

 

75%

Unsatisfactory

 

0%

 

Task

 

 

Student completed all Task

Most task was completed

Some of the task were completed

High Percentage of task was not completed

,

Information

 

 

All Information

Is correct

The majority of the information is correct

Some information was correct

Information is not correct

 

Writing

 

Writing is Legible , reflective, and shows understanding  of concepts

Writing shows some reflection and understanding of concepts

Writing and thoughts need improvement. Some understanding of concepts

Student did not write thoughts. Understanding of concepts unknown

Each question in all categories are worth 1pt. List and graphs are worth 5pts each.  

Conclusion

Now that you have finished your quest you should know more about your city and state than the average person who lives here. When relatives come to visit you, you will be able to tell them where to go to see the sites, how much taxes they will pay on their purchases, and alot of interesting historical facts. My congratulations go out to you. 

We will be discussing other interesting facts in class and writing a summary on what you have learned on your quest and how the information that you learned have effected you and have made you a better citizen.

Credits

This webquest was created by Tamela Gore 

Grand Canyon University EED- 570

http://www.azed.gov/wp-content/uploads/PDF/SSGrade4.pdf

http://www.uni.edu/coe/ci/240-020/webquests/webquestparts.html

Teacher Page

This webquest was created so that fourth grade students in New York City could become experts in the knowledge of the city and state in which they reside. It also serves as a lesson in research using technology. When the students finish this webquest, not only will they know the history of their state and city they will also be able to navigate search engines to attain information for research that they can use across disciplines. The teacher also attempts to cultivate pride in the students’ for their state and city as well as good citizenry. When the students finish their webquest, understanding of their state and city’s history, civics, geography, and economics will be expanded. They will be able to answer questions such as why my family immigrated to New York, what makes New York City the ultimate melting pot in America, as well as the importance of spending money wisely.