Introduction
THE GREAT MYSTERY OF STONEHENGE
Dear students,
This webquest is about Stonehenge.
Why did we choose Stonehenge?
We are going to visit Stonehenge in a few weeks as part of our annual UK tour. Before we are going to visit this monument we would like you to find out more information about this wonderful structure and perhaps uncover the mystery of Stonehenge as you go along...
What is Stonehenge?
Stonehenge is a massive stone monument located on a chalky plain north of the modern-day city of Salisbury, England. Research shows that the site has continuously evolved over a period of about 10,000 years. The structure that we call “Stonehenge” was built between roughly 5,000 and 4,000 years ago and that forms just one part of a larger and highly complex, sacred landscape.
How are you going to find information on Stonehenge and uncover its potential mystery?
You are going to find out in step 2. At step 2 you are given a number of websites which you need to find the answers to your questions in step 2. After you've answered all the questions you are going to write an essay about what you believe to be the real mystery of Stonehenge.
Now continue to step 2.......
Task
You will answer 10 questions about Stonehenge. After you've answered all the questions, you are going to write a one-page essay on what is, to your mind, the true mystery of Stonehenge.
Please use the websites below to research your questions:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge/
http://www.history.com/topics/british-history/stonehenge
http://www.mysteriousplaces.com
Questions:
General information about Stonehenge
1. What are the five functions of Stonehenge?
Write them all down.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
2. Why is Stonehenge been put on the World Heritage List?
Write down all three reasons, in your own words.
1)
2)
3)
3. What type of stones were used to build Stonehenge?
Write down all three types, in your own words.
1)
2)
3)
4. What type of activitivies can you do on the Stonehenge site?
Name five of them.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
History of Stonehenge
5. When do historians believe the earliest stage of Stonehenge's construction took place?
Please write down your answer in your own words.
................................................................................................................................................................................
6. Where did the [sarsen] stones come from and how did they get to Stonehenge?
................................................................................................................................................................................
7. According to the website how did the prehistoric builders without sophisticated tools or engineering haul these boulders over such a great distance? Explain the multiple theories [at least three].
1)
2)
3)
8. According to which 12th-century writer, who write the tale of King Arthur, Stonehenge is the handiwork of a particular person or group.
Please write down the name of this writer ......................................
According to this writer who build Stonehenge? ..............................
9. What other groups were attributed with building Stonehenge?
............................................................................................................................................................................
Mysteries of Stonehenge
10. What makes Stonehenge so mysterious?
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Now continue to step 3....
Process
Follow the next steps, individually or in pairs.
- Check the various subject headings in which the questions are divided
- To answer the questions go to the website that matches the subject headline
- Scan the relevant website first
- Once you find the paragraph which answers your question, read it carefully
- Write down the answers in your own words.
- Once you've answered all questions
- Write down a one-page essay on the real mysteries of Stonehenge in your opinion
- Once completed, hand in all the information to your teacher.
Now go to step 4.
Evaluation
The questions of the webquest are checked together and answers are shown on the digiboard. The teacher will show you exactly where the correct answer can be found.
The essay is being checked based on the following criteria:
- Grammar
- Content
- Clear communication
- Layout
The questions and the essay are checked individually with a fail, pass, good, excellent.
Should you have a fail for one part, you will need a 'good' or 'excellent' for the other in order to obtain an overall pass.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have now become Stonehenge experts, well done!
Are you wondering what you've learnt fromt this webquest?
Now you are not only Stonehenge experts, you've learned quite a number of other things too.
How about these:
- Answer a question that really needs answering
- Transform information into answers or essay content
- Learn to cooperate with your group
- Work with real resources [next to the relevant sites you can use databases and other relevant info on the Internet]
- Develop expertise or a different perspective on Stonehenge
And all of that from a webquest-:). It's a great tool that allows you to learn while having fun!
Credits
Teacher Page
This webquest is created by Sonja Kruger and Angela Spijker-Buckley. We believe a webquest is a great tool to help our students learn about new topics. And it's fun too!
We have chosen Stonehenge as we will visit this monument on our annual UK trip and we would like our students to have a deeper insight into the matter before entering the actual site.
In addition, we are both very curious as to what they believe the realy mystery of Stonehenge to be!