Our National Parks

A WebQuest for 8th Grade Social Studies

designed by

Erin Starnes

Introduction

Task Process Resources

Evaluation

Conclusion

Credits

a brief INTRODUCTIONThis morning, the principal at Tripp

Fielders Middle School announced thatthe 8th grade class will be going on a

field trip! However, there is acatch…well, two catches. Not only will

you visit a U.S. National Park, but the entiregrade will have to work together to make adecision on which park to visit. Two weeksfrom today, all eighth grade students will

VOTE on which park to visit.

the TASK at hand

You will work with your group todetermine the historical significance of

your National Park, what activitiesstudents will be able to be a part of andhow will these experiences connect to

your learning. During a National Park Fair, this information will be presented as a

display to help students choose which park they want to visit before the big VOTE.

a PROCESS to follow1. Each student will rank the National Parks they are most interested

in researching and groups will be determined based on these selections.

2. Using the websites outlined on the RESOURCES page, provide the following information about your National Park.

Where is the park located? State(s), time zone, latitude and longitude, number of acres , distance of travel

Why and when was this land identified as a National Park? Is there any significance behind the name of the National Park? Explain the geographical features of the park?

Include pictures

What indigenous animals, plants, and other living organisms are located there? Include pictures

What types of activities are available for visitors? Interesting fact/historical significance/infamous tales or legends about the park? If any, what threats are there to the existence of the park?

** All group will need to submit a list of responsible parties for each information topic.

3. As a group, you will create a display on your National Park. Remember, you are “selling” this National Park as a destination for your class trip.

4. Two members of each group will be responsible for overseeing the display during the National Park Fair.

available RESOURCESUse the following websites to find and access information

on your National Park.

National Geographic – TravelNational Park Service

Wikipedia – National Park ServiceWikipedia – List of National Parks

Wikitravel – United States National ParksNational Park Foundation

U.S. National Parks Travel GuideNational Parks USA

National Parks Conservation AssociationGORP’s United States National Parks Guide

Fodor’s Travel – National ParksNPRanger – Guide to the U. S. National Parks

Photo Albums of United States National ParksNational Geographic Kids – Photos

Wikimedia Commons – Maps of the United States National Parks

time for your EVALUATIONCATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Required Elements

The poster includes all required elements, as

well as addition information.

All required elements are included on the

poster.

All but one (1) of the required elements are included on the poster.

Several required elements were missing.

KnowledgeGained

Student can accurately answer all questions related to facts in the poster and processes

used to create the display.

Student can accurately answer most questions related to facts in the poster and processes

used to create the display.

Student can accurately answer about 75% of questions related to

facts in the poster and processes used to create

the display.

Student appears to have insufficient knowledge

about the facts or processes used in the

display.

Graphics - Relevance

All graphics are related to the topic and make it easier to understand. All borrowed graphics have a source citation.

All graphics are related to the topic and most

make it easier to understand. All

borrowed graphics have a source citation.

All graphics relate to the topic. Most borrowed

graphics have a source citation.

Graphics do not relate to the topic OR several

borrowed graphics do not have a source

citation.

GrammarThere are no

grammatical mistakes on the poster.

There is one (1) or two (2) grammatical

mistakes on the poster.

There are three (3) to five (5) grammatical

mistakes on the poster.

There are six (6) or more grammatical mistakes

on the poster.

Attractiveness

The poster is exceptionally attractive

in terms of design, layout, and neatness.

The poster is attractive in terms of design,

layout, and neatness.

The poster is acceptably attractive, though it may be a bit messy.

The poster is distractingly messy or

very poorly designed. It is not attractive.

Use of Class Time

Used time well during each class period.

Focused on getting the project done. Never

distracted others.

Used time well during each class period. Usually focused on

getting the project done and never distracted

others.

Used some of the time well during each class

period. There was some focus on getting the

project done but occasionally distracted

others.

Did not use class time to focus on the project

AND/OR often distracted others.

in CONCLUSIONUpon completion of this project, the student will

have in-depth knowledge of one U.S.National Park. In addition, you will have

learned about other Parks during theNational Park Fair. The knowledge youwill gain includes where the Parks are

located, why they are National Parks, any historical significance, geographical

Features, indigenous plants and animals found in the Par, and any possible

threats to the Park.

CREDIT and REFERENCESWebQuest Template: taken from WebQuest.org located at http://webquest.org/index.phpPhotos of National Parks: taken from National Geographic Kids located at

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/us-national-parks/Rubric: created on RubiStar located at http://rubistar.4teachers.org/Curriculum Standards: from the Tennessee Department of Education located at

Social Studies located at http://www.tn.gov/education/ci/ss/doc/SS_Grade_8.pdfEnglish/Language Arts located at http://www.tn.gov/education/ci/english/doc/ENG_Grade_8.pdf

Student Resourceshttp://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/?source=NavTravParkhttp://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_Stateshttp://www.nationalparks.org/http://www.us-parks.com/http://wikitravel.org/en/United_States_National_Parks#Alaskahttp://nationalparksusa.com/http://www.npca.org/parks/?adwords=1http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/united-states-national-parks-outdoor-pp1-guide-cid62-ctid201.htmlimages: http://www.theusaonline.com/gallery/national-parks/index.htmimages: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/us-national-parks/http://www.fodors.com/trip-ideas/national-parks/http://www.npranger.com/images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Maps_of_United_States_National_Parks

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this WebQuest, the student will be able to navigate

websites in order to find information. He or she will

have knowledge of National Parks in the U.S., know their

significance in U.S. Historyand use persuasive techniques in

the display and presentation.

CURRICULUM STANDARDSTennessee Curriculum Standards

8th Grade Social Studies Geography – Content Standard 3.0

3.01 Understand how to use maps, globes, and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a

spatial perspective.3.02 Know the location of places and geographic features, both physical and human, in Tennessee and in the United States.3.03 Recognize the interaction between human and physical systems.3.04 Understand the geographic factors that determined the locations of and patterns of settlements in the United States and Tennessee.

History – Content Standard 5.05.02 Understand the place of historical events in the context of past, present and

future.

8th Grade English/Language ArtsCommunication – Content Standard 2.0

2.6 Deliver effective oral presentations.2.7 Participate in work teams and group discussions.

Media – Content Standard 7.07.3 Apply and adapt the principles of written composition to create coherent media productions.