THE GRANDEST CANYON OF ALL

A WebQuest for 8TH Grade (Earth Science)

Designed by Barbi Pfeiffer

bpfeiffe@saisd.org

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

Introduction

Where is the Grand Canyon anyway? What makes it so special? And Why is my teacher so obsessed with it?

You may already know some things about the Grand Canyon. Some of you may have been lucky enough to actually have visited it. But it would take many visits, several weeks long or a lifetime to learn every thing there is to know about it.

You have the opportunity to launch your own travel expedition company at the Grand Canyon. Travel companies today are expected to be knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, geology, and history of the area.

Task

You and three of your associates must research and evaluate all the aspects of your venture. This project requires research and compilation of that info.

To complete this challenge, you must:

-be a team

-give 100%

-research, research, research

1. Complete the scavenger hunt to gain a general knowledge about the Grand Canyon.

2. Obtain a topic assignment from your teacher.

Topics include:

· Hiking the Canyon

· River Rafting

· Camping

· Backpacking

· Mule Rides

3. Divide into groups of 4 and research a specific topic from the list

4. Create a PowerPoint Presentation, and present to class.

Process

Each group of four will work both online (using the internet sites given throughout this WebQuest) and offline (using resource books, the library) to research as much as possible the different aspects of the Grand Canyon.  Eventually you will work with your group members to compile a final research project about all of your findings.

1. First you'll be assigned a topic and to a team of 4 students.

Your team needs to research

Ø Geology

Ø Geography

Ø Weather

Ø Flora and Fauna

Ø History

Ø Canyon Politics

Start by reading For Everyone, then click on the role you choose

Each role will use Internet sites for your research

2. Analyze how your role on the team relates to the others on your team.

3. As you gather info, be sure to discuss your findings with your team

For Everyone Start here
Professor Geode- Geologist Extraordinaire	Nimbus Ultralight- Weather Guru and Pack Meister
Dr. Belinda Bright- the Blonde Biologist	Fonda Fullbright Historian and Political Activist

Evaluation

Research and collaboration Rubric http://rubistar.4teachers.org/rubric.php3?id=21&rubric=15

Presentation Rubric http://www.teach-nology.com/cgi-bin/presentation.cgi

Conclusion

Put a few sentences here that summarize what they will have accomplished or learned by completing this activity or lesson.

You might also include some rhetorical questions or additional links to encourage them to extend their thinking into other content beyond this lesson. To foster the habit of lifelong learning, give them links to additional information here that they can pursue on their own.

Credits & References

"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL."

Last updated on (put date here). Based on a template from The WebQuest Page