| Top | Introduction | Standards | Learners | Process |
| Evaluation | Resources | Student Pages | Credits | Author |
The Process (Teacher Notes)
This is a multidisciplinary unit, covering social studies standards, language arts standards, and the use of technology.
The teacher needs to place the students into groups of four, each one playing a role as a member of the family. Students were placed into family roles so that each student explored all of South Carolina's regions, looking for their particular activity. Teachers are encouraged to allow students to work cooperatively to decide which roles will be played by which students, although some intervention may be needed.
This lesson is organized to span a 5-7 day period, at approximately 30 - 40 minutes per day, provided the teacher has access to an open computer lab. If classroom computers are used, the teacher will need to plan one lesson to review the unit and to allow the students to decide upon their roles in the group. Then the teacher will need to plan for the students to have approximately three or four sessions of 20 - 25 minutes at a classroom computer too do the Notes/Activities Sheet. Once all the students have completed their web research, the teacher can plan one lesson for the students to make their decisions using the Decision Making Sheet. Students will need to work as a group at one computer to complete the brochure. This is probably the step that will require the most patience and organization for the teacher. Ideally, the teacher will arrange for a computer lab time for this step or for groups to work one group at a time in the school's computer lab under the supervision of the lab assistant. If this is not possible, the students will need to work one group at a time at the classroom computer.
Variations
You may want to include a math component with this lesson, placing a budget constraint on the group of perhaps $750 - $1,000.00 for the entire vacation. In this case, students must also look for hotels and/or campgrounds for the vacation. Cost of gasoline, meals, lodging, and attractions must be considered.
| The Process (Student Notes) | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
First, you will be
assigned to teams of 4 students. Open up the rubric
and read through it as a team.
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Second, you must choose a role from the table below.
|
Role |
Preferred Activity |
|
Dad |
Water Sports (especially swimming and fishing) |
|
Mom |
Hiking |
|
Five-Year Old Brother |
Animals |
|
Third Grade Student |
History |
Once you've picked a role
to play, print a copy of the Notes/Activities
Sheet. Use this sheet to
list the activities available in each of South Carolina's regions for your
category. Keep in mind the guiding question for this web study: How
do the geography and resources of South Carolina affect choices people
make? Specifically, you will answer this question: Which
regions of South Carolina will you visit with your family while taking a
summer vacation and what will you do in each region?
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Use the resources
below to do your research. You can also refer to the chapters in your
textbook listed below the table.
| Activity | Web Resources |
| Everyone | |
| Hiking | |
| Water Sports | |
| Animals | |
| History |
SC Historic Churches and Cemeteries SC Confederate Relic Room and Museum |
|
Textbook |
At Home in South Carolina |
| Chapter 4 | The Low Country |
| Chapter 5 | The Up Country |
| Chapter 6 | The Midlands |
| Chapter 16 | Water Resources |
| Chapter 17 | Land Resources |
| Chapter 18 | Human Resources |
|
Other Resources |
You can interview teachers and peers to see what they have done in our state. |
When you think you have enough activities listed on your sheet, ask yourself these questions:
| A. Do you have enough information on the places to visit in each region? |
| B. Do you understand enough about each place? |
| C. Do you need to do more research to find more activities for one region? |
| D. Do you have any information you need to throw out? |
Once
you have answered these questions and made changes to your sheet, look again
at the rubric to see if you have done
everything. Then, bring the sheet to
your teacher. Your teacher may have more ideas.
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Once
everyone on your team has
finished collecting information for his/her assigned role, get with your group to
complete the Decision Making Sheet. This is where you will:
A. Share what you learned with your group.
B. Decide as a group what activities your vacation will include for
each region.
Remember that you have 10 days for your vacation.
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Once
you have worked as a group to decide what you will do in each region, look
at the rubric to see how your team is working
so far. Then, bring your Decision Making Sheet to your teacher.
Your teacher may have more ideas.
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Now
that your have done your research and made your decisions, it is time to
create a brochure to persuade your parents to take this trip. You will
use a template that you will edit in Microsoft Publisher. Please
select the brochure template for your computer. You may need to ask
your teacher which one to use.
Microsoft
97 Brochure
Microsoft
2000 Brochure
You will want to use pictures for your brochure. You may need to go
back to the research links in the table in step 4 to
look for pictures. When you find a picture you want to use, follow
these steps:
| A. In Microsoft Publisher, select the box that says "Put PHOTO here!" |
| B. In Microsoft Explorer, right click on the picture you want to use. |
| C. Select Copy from the menu that pops up. |
| D. Go back to Microsoft Publisher and paste the picture into the box by right-clicking on top of the highlighted box. |
| E. Select Paste from the menu that pops up. |
| F. You can resize the picture with your left mouse button so it fits in the box. |
You will also need to give credit to the Internet site where you copied the picture from. To do this, follow these steps.
| A. In Microsoft Explorer, right click on the URL address at the top of the window. |
| B Right mouse click on this address. |
| C. Select Copy from the menu that pops up. |
| D. Go back to Microsoft Publisher and paste the URL into the box that says Photo Credits: by right-clicking under the picture. |
| E. Select Paste from the menu that pops up. |
Before
you turn your brochure in to your teacher, take one more look at the rubric
to see if your team did everything you were supposed to do.
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Congratulations
on finishing the WebQuest "South Carolina Summer
Vacation."
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