Teacher Page

The Bring Order to Planet Walon Webquest is designed for completion by Fourth Grade students. It can be used in the homeroom classroom setting or as a collaborative effort between classroom teacher, library media specialist, and music teacher. The structured independent research and cooperative presentation formats required to successfully complete the tasks of the Webquest provide a creative and interactive way for the learners to find out more about the three branches of the US Government, and how each branch plays are role in the creation and enforcement of laws.

Goals and Objectives

The student will:

Work cooperatively within a small group.
Understand that the United States Constitution is a written plan for organizing the functions of government.
Be able to name the three branches of government.
Understand how each of the three branches of government play a role in law making.
Compose original music lyrics with a group.
Engage in group music-related tasks.
Create and perform music based on their own ideas.
Use technology to organize their ideas.
Use technology to present their ideas to others.
Create and present a graphic organizer.
Read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.
access, view, evaluate, and respond to print, non print, and electronic texts and resources.

Standards

Please click on your state to find a listing of the specific standards addressed with this Webquest.

New York State Learning Standards

New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards

Materials Needed:

computer
printer
pencils
poster paper
Microsoft Word
Inspiration or Kidspiration optional

Assessment:

Several rubrics will be used to assess student participation and learning as it pertains to the completion of the Bring Order to Planet Walon Webquest.

The three student presentation choices provided in Step 5 of the Process page are our suggestions, feel free to modify the list of choices at your discretion.

The rubric for the team/collaborative presentations is found at the Rubric page.
The rubric for students to use as a guide when composing a musical piece is found at the Process page SongRubric.

Bloom's Taxonomy

Level	The students will:
Knowledge	be able to list the 3 branches of government and each branches role in the law making process. know what the Constitution is.
Comprehension	summarize the role of each branch of government in proposing, ratifying,and enforcing laws.
Application	organize relevant information in a concept map generate lyrics that include relevant information
Analysis	understand the relationships between each branch of government , specifically checks and balances.
Synthesis	propose a solution to the aliens problems( using the U.S. Constitution as a model).
Evaluation	be able to explain and defend a plan of action for a new law. create and present a concept map, poster, or musical piece.

Multiple Intelliegences

Intelligence	How the intelligences are satisfied
Verbal/Linguistic	Oral presentation of concept map, online research, generation of and performance of song lyrics, group discussion, scanning the U.S. Constitution
Mathematical/Logical	categorizing of relevant information into a concept map, guidance of a rubric, problem solving in the generation of laws
Visual/Spatial	concept map, reading online research and the constitution, images
Bodily Kinesthetic
Musical/Rhythmic	song presentation, lyric generation, and composition of a musical piece
Interpersonal	collaborative research, group discussion, development of group presentation
Intrapersonal	assigned to be an expert of one branch of government

Gregorc Learning Styles

Learning Style	Appealing tasks/elements of Webquest
Abstract Random	working collaboratively with group members flexibility to choose final group presentation piece use imagination to come up with solution to the aliens' problems and in writing lyrics or creating a concept map
Abstract Sequential	share their knowledge with the group gathering and reading information from various web sites. create order by logically solving the aliens' problems clear instructions within the webquest to read
Concrete Random	problem solving skills and creativity will be used to present a plan of action for the aliens. concept map or song lyrics. ability to explore content of the sites listed images, music, and text found on web pages
Concrete Sequential	sites to go to are pre-selected and listed within the Webquest follow directions as laid out on the Process page structure of using a rubric to meet project requirements locate facts online

Role of Sense & Meaning in Retention of Learning:

Over the course of the Webquest students will assume the role of an alien chosen to be a special agent. The students/aliens will also be members of a team set on a mission to save their planet. Students will be required to do research and then present their findings to their group members, and then to the entire class. Sense and meaning increases the chance that new learning will move from working memory into long-term memory. The sense and meaning will be created for the students in this instance when they assume their roles as alien special agents. The Webquest also contains elements of integration across the curriculum. This Webquest contains elements that touch upon research, technology, social studies, and music. This integration across the curriculum helps the "students to make connections between subject areas...[ and thus] increases meaning and retention" (Sousa p.50). Students' meaning and retention is also increased because they know they will be called upon to present the information to others at a future time (Sousa p.50).

Emotion & Motivation:

Our goal in having the students imagine they are aliens on a mission was to create a sense of fun to the learning of facts. As noted by Sousa, when emotion is attached to learning, it has a better rate of being stored in long-term memory (81). The motivation aspect for students is the sense of urgency exhibited by the alien planet's leader. We are hoping the students will be motivated to work diligently on the independent tasks and cooperatively as a team to complete the mission set forth in the Webquest.

Additional Resources and Extension Activities:

http://www.quia.com/hm/321032.html US Government Overview Quiz Online

page created by: Erin Killeen