Santa, Come Spend Christmas with Me!!!

A WebQuest for 3rd Grade
Designed by Kay Knebel

Introduction

Christmas is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Research a country and see what they do for Christmas. See if you can persuade Santa to spend Christmas with you by telling him all about the celebrations in your country.

Task

You will be working in groups of 4 set by your teacher. You will research a country and find information about how that country celebrates Christmas.

Your group will write a letter to Santa, using the information you find, and convince him that he should spend Christmas in your country.

Your group will create a PowerPoint presentation to present to the class showing how your country celebrates Christmas.

Process

You need to find the following information for your country:

their traditions;

the traditional meal

songs

recipes

what is the name of their “Santa”

how do they say “Merry Christmas”

any other information about how your country celebrates Christmas

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

2. As a group, you need to choose a country to research

3. Tasks will be divided among group members:

Members 1 and 2: Traditions

Member 3: Traditional Meal, Recipe for one item usually cooked during the holiday

Member 4: Songs, What is “Santa’s” name, How do you say “Merry Christmas” in your country

4. When researching your country:

Use resources provided for you

Make sure to list the sites your information comes from

Save pictures from these sites to include in your PowerPoint

5. After your group has the information, you need to organize it and write a letter to Santa telling him about your country’s Christmas. Remember you are trying to persuade him to come spend Christmas in your country.

6. After completing the letter, you will create a PowerPoint to share your information with the class. Your PowerPoint needs to include:

A map of your country

At least one slide for each of the areas researched

Pictures and sounds may be added for effect

Resources

http://www.christmas.com/worldview     Christmas.com

http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/     The North Pole.com

http://www.soon.org.uk/country/christmas.htm    Christmas Around The World---Christmas Celebrations

http://northpole.net/world.htm     Christmas Around The World

http://www.santaclaus.com/world.html     Santa’s Christmas Around the World

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around.html     Kid’s Domain

http://santas.net/howmerrychristmasissaid.htm     Santa’s Net

http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/     Christmas Celebrations The World Over

http://stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=76     St. Nicholas Center

http://portharbor.com/santa/xsatrad.htm     Port Harbor.com

http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm     Santa’s Net

For fun:

http://santas.net/goodandbadlist.htm     Santa’s Net
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/santa.html     Kid’s Domain
http://www.kidsdomain.com/games/xmas.html     Kid’s Domain    http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7134/Christmas/xmas.htm    Absolutely Christmas
http://www.claus.com/    Claus.com

Evaluation

You will be graded three different ways:

Your individual contributions to the group

Your group PowerPoint Presentation

Your group Letter to Santa

Your individual contributions will be graded using the following rubric:

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1	Score
Amount of Information	All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.	All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.	All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each.	One or more topics were not addressed.	_____
Quality of Information	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.	Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.	_____
Organization	Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.	Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs.	Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed.	The information appears to be disorganized. 8)	_____
Sources	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented in the desired format.	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but a few are not in the desired format.	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format.	Some sources are not accurately documented.	_____
Notes	Notes are recorded and organized in an extremely neat and orderly fashion.	Notes are recorded legibly and are somewhat organized.	Notes are recorded.	Notes are recorded only with peer/teacher assistance and reminders.	_____
Internet Use	Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.	_____
				Total-----à	_____

Your PowerPoint Presentation will be graded using the following rubric:

Category	Exemplary 4	Accomplished 3	Developing 2	Beginning 1	Score
Information	Information was clear, accurate, and reflects the opinion of the presenters.	Information was sometimes clear, sometimes accurate, and sometimes reflected the opinion of the presenters.	Information was accurate and sometimes clear.	Information was accurate.	_____
Graphics	Appropriate, well placed graphics were used to make essential points.	Appropriate graphics were used to make essential points.	Graphics were used to make points.	Graphics were used.	_____
Effects	Transitions, sounds, and/or animations were used to help understand the message.	Transitions, sounds, and/or animations sometimes helped in understanding the message.	Transitions and sounds were used.	Transitions were used.	_____
Presentation	The presenters used a clear, compelling voice and included additional information to enhance the presentation.	The presenters used a clear and compelling voice enhanced the multimedia presentation.	The presenters used a clear voice enhanced the multimedia presentation.	The presenters used the multimedia tool as the source of information.	_____
				Total--à	_____

Your letter will be graded using the following rubric:

Criteria

Pts.

	4	3	2	1
Position Statement	Position is clearly stated and consistently maintained. Clear references to the issue(s) are stated.	Position is clearly stated and consistently maintained. References to the issue(s) at hand are missing.	Position is stated, but is not maintained consistently throughout work.	Statement of position cannot be determined.	____
Supporting Information	Evidence clearly supports the position; evidence is sufficient.	Evidence clearly supports the position; but there is not enough evidence.	Argument is supported by limited evidence.	Evidence is unrelated to argument.	____
Organization	Structure of work is clearly developed.	Structure developed reasonably well, but lacks clarity.	Some attempt to structure the argument has been made, but the structure is poorly developed.	There is a total lack of structure.	____
Tone Of Letter	Tone is consistent and enhances persuasiveness.	Tone enhances persuasiveness, but there are inconsistencies.	Tone does not contribute to persuasiveness.	Tone is inappropriate to purpose.	____
Sentence Structure	Sentence structure is correct.	Sentence structure is generally correct. Some awkward sentences do appear.	Work contains structural weaknesses and grammatical errors.	Work pays little attention to proper sentence structure.	____
Punctuation & Capitalization	Punctuation and capitalization are correct.	There is one error in punctuation and/or capitalization.	There are two or three errors in punctuation and/or capitalization.	There are four or more errors in punctuation and/or capitalization.	____
				Total---->	____

Conclusion

Congratulations!!! You should have learned about another country and how they celebrate Christmas. You have created a letter telling Santa why he should choose your country. Now, you may want to learn about more countries and how they celebrate Christmas.

After learning these facts, are there some new ways you would like to celebrate Christmas? Did you find some recipes you might like to try? Now you know how to find new Christmas traditions.

Credits

http://www.christmas-graphics.com/graphics/santa/sclaus-10.html Circle of Santas clipart

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/icons.html Icons for buttons

http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/ Rubric

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ Rubric

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Last updated on June 20, 2003. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page