Annotated Web Quest Links
Aimee Chanhatasilpa
SLM 521 Spring 05
May 7, 2005
US History Web Quests:
1. Follow the Drinking Gourd: An outstanding web quests that takes students on a journey back in time to 1840 to aid fugitive slaves on their way north. The web quest sends students to many sites offering excellent resources in background information, maps, period photographs, and more. There is even a link an interactive activity from The National Geographic Society.
http://www.berksiu.k12.pa.us/webquest/scalvin/index.htm
Date last visited: May 7, 2005
2. Civil War Web Quest: This web quest offers many resources to give students an understanding of the war from different viewpoints. Student teams are divided among the roles of confederate soldier, union soldier, southern slave, and Abraham Lincoln. Teams then rejoin and produce a presentation utilizing the historic perspectives they have gained.
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/civilwar/
Date last visited: May 7, 2005
3. Wagons West! A Web Quest on the Oregon Trail: Students get to go back in time as government workers to survey the Oregon Trail by taking the journey west and making a report along the way. Students chose roles such as, “Ecology Officer, Maintenance Director, Social Scientist, and Trail Navigator.” This a a good activity, but lacks in variety of resources. The resources on the web quest are very text heavy. Many pictures exist on the internet of the Oregon Trail, historical and modern which could add more creativity to this web quest. If used for a class, add in links to picture sites, the National Geographic Society, www.nationalgeographic.com offers an interactive photograph site of the California Trails.
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/oregon/
Date last visited: May 7, 2005
4. Taking Sides WebQuest: The American Revolution: An excellent site for not only informing students of facts of the American Revolution, but also teaching them how to take sides in a debate, formulate an argument, and a rebuttal. Many excellent resources are also offered through and “Resources” section. Students are also to produce a piece of propaganda just as Colonists and Loyalists did in Colonial America on the eve of Revolution. Some resource sites need to be updated.
Date last visited: May 7, 2005
5. U.S. Constitution Then and Now Web Quest: A very good template for a teacher with time to adopt and revamp. The ideas are excellent to have students visit the National Archives online to view and study our founding documents, visit the Supreme Court and review recent decisions and other resources to evaluate the Constitution today, it’s protections in the Bill of Rights and other aspects. Unfortunately, many links do not function, but the intent of the author of the web quest is apparent and with some searching on one’s own, similar links can be found today. A good fixer-uper to develop back into a great real world investigation for students.
http://www.scs.k12.tn.us/STT99_WQ/STT99/Cordova_HS/davisk5/Kim/studenttemp.htm#task
Date last visited: May 7, 2005