I feel that learning about webquests and their ways to aid classroom projects was a good use of classroom time and I know that I will use these in my future classroom. Since going into the schools these past few weeks, my anxiousness regarding my preparedness in terms of materials and lesson plans has increased dramatically.
But being able to see utilize webquests has calmed me down slightly, as the web has provided ready-made group projects that I can critique and tweak to my liking. This is going to make the future at least a little easier. =)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Webquest: Propel - Human Body Systems
http://questgarden.com/91/10/6/110129122419/
This project is for students between grades 4-6. It takes a change from looking at the world around us and focusing on the mechanics that happen inside of our body. This webquest challenges students to explore their inner body systems!
Work will be done in partners and pairs will choose a body system to research. Learners have the option of studying the Nervous System, Skeletal System, Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Digestive System, or Immune System. After researching the internet for information on their topic, pairs will make a powerpoint to teach the class about the particular body system.
The webquest offers extensive research materials on each body system being studied, and the links are easy to find and use. Even when the learner is on the links, there are fun and interactive ways to learn the material presented.
As a teacher I think that learners should be able to know about their body and get a firm understanding of the importance of their health. This webquest is a great opportunity to work on higher-ordert thinking and expand knowledge about the body learners could immediately utilize to help themselves. The webquest is set out in a very simplistic manner, yet is still interesting and colorful.
The rubrics given demand that thorough knowledge of the content be acquired before higher grades be given.
I would use this webquest in the future, as I am not very familiar with the human body, and feel like this is a site that I could benefit from, as well as my students.
This project is for students between grades 4-6. It takes a change from looking at the world around us and focusing on the mechanics that happen inside of our body. This webquest challenges students to explore their inner body systems!
Work will be done in partners and pairs will choose a body system to research. Learners have the option of studying the Nervous System, Skeletal System, Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Digestive System, or Immune System. After researching the internet for information on their topic, pairs will make a powerpoint to teach the class about the particular body system.
The webquest offers extensive research materials on each body system being studied, and the links are easy to find and use. Even when the learner is on the links, there are fun and interactive ways to learn the material presented.
As a teacher I think that learners should be able to know about their body and get a firm understanding of the importance of their health. This webquest is a great opportunity to work on higher-ordert thinking and expand knowledge about the body learners could immediately utilize to help themselves. The webquest is set out in a very simplistic manner, yet is still interesting and colorful.
The rubrics given demand that thorough knowledge of the content be acquired before higher grades be given.
I would use this webquest in the future, as I am not very familiar with the human body, and feel like this is a site that I could benefit from, as well as my students.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Teachers Helping Teachers
Our assignment in class last week was to consider all of the elements involved with choosing and critiquing a web page that you will use in the classroom. We were allowed to choose any web site on the internet for our assignment. This proved to be a bit of a challenge because since this is a piece of work I will be graded on, I wanted the perfect website. The unfortunate part of this story is that you could spend years searching for the "perfect" website...and I only had an hour and a half. I initially was going to choose a site through our materials given by Kathy Schrock, and found one made by teachers that gave great ice-breakers for the first day of school, but I wanted something with a little more information.
That's when I went back to our dear friend, Google, and typed in 'teaching websites'. This opened the floodgates and thousands of options were available. But part of the assignment was to prove the validity of the website and search through it to find out whether the information you're getting has been accounted for by a body of education.
I finally chose a site called "Teachers Helping Teachers." It was created by the director of the Pacific Singers Musical Theatre Group, a man named Dr. Scott Mandel. The site is basically a place where teachers can come and post any lesson plans on any subject and use any of the lessons already posted for their classrooms. It has been in use for 15 years, and teachers from all over the country take advantage of this resource. All educators that leave lesson plans have to post their name, email, and name of the school or teaching status. I enjoyed reading all of the different ideas and can see myself using this resource in the future for my classroom.
That's when I went back to our dear friend, Google, and typed in 'teaching websites'. This opened the floodgates and thousands of options were available. But part of the assignment was to prove the validity of the website and search through it to find out whether the information you're getting has been accounted for by a body of education.
I finally chose a site called "Teachers Helping Teachers." It was created by the director of the Pacific Singers Musical Theatre Group, a man named Dr. Scott Mandel. The site is basically a place where teachers can come and post any lesson plans on any subject and use any of the lessons already posted for their classrooms. It has been in use for 15 years, and teachers from all over the country take advantage of this resource. All educators that leave lesson plans have to post their name, email, and name of the school or teaching status. I enjoyed reading all of the different ideas and can see myself using this resource in the future for my classroom.
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