Photo taken from the Library of Congress
Moving West!
Introduction| Task| Process| Evaluation| Conclusion| Teacher's Page
Have you ever wondered what life was like for people moving west? The endless traveling, harsh weather, lack of sufficient food or water, or enemy attacks made each day a challenge.
You and your family have traveled west for months. Each "family" (group) will write a journal entry, describing a specific hardship you endured on your journey. After your family has researched the daily life of pioneers and written your journal entry, you will read your journal entry to the class as an oral presentation.
Family #1: You will write a journal entry describing a day of harsh weather you encountered on your trip.
Family #2: You will write a journal entry describing a day you and your family were not able to find sufficient food (wild game) or water.
Family #3: You will write a journal entry describing a day where you were attacked by enemies.
Family #4: You will write a journal entry describing a day where you or your family encountered sickness.
Each family will review the following websites. Your journal entry should include details about your family's specific hardship.
Use some or all of the following strategies we have learned in class to assist you with the reading:
1. SMART (Self-Monitoring Approach to Reading & Thinking)
2. KWL
3. Structured Notetaking
4. Read Aloud
5. Discussion Web
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/wpa:@field(DOCID+@lit(wpa117120502))
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/ps:@field(DOCID+l138)
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/ps:@field(DOCID+l096)
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/ps:@field(DOCID+l291)
Your presentations will be graded on the following rubrics:
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=1084392&
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=1084395&
Great job! You have thoroughly portrayed the hardships of the westward pioneers in your journal entries. Now, listen to the other families' presentations and write a letter in response to their experiences.
This page provides for teacher reflection in regards to this web quest. There are some decisions to consider before having you students begin this web quest.
This web quest asks students to work in groups. The groups will be searching different sites regarding westward expansion. You may want to decide which students will work best together in groups.
You will need to review the reading strategies: SMART, KWL, Structured Note-Taking, Read Aloud and Discussion Web before beginning this activity.
Print out the Discussion Web and KWL Chart before beginning.
During the web quest activity:
Encourage the students to take notes at the end of paragraphs. Remind them that this will be their only source of information they will use to give their presentation.
This web quest is intended to fit into a five day instructional plan in which only one day was dedicated to the web quest, however, you may have to allow more time for the gathering of information. You will have to assess your students' ability to gather enough information for their presentation.
After the web quest activity:
After the students have gathered information, they will need to be given time to organize the information into an oral presentation.
Talk students through the rubric before giving their presentation so that they are aware of your expectations.
