Teacher Process
Suggested Lesson Plan
This lesson can be completed in approximately five class periods of 50 minutes each. It will challenge students to investigate a range of different types of information and use problem solving skills to break down issues into component parts. As you guide your students through the process, keep in mind that the best use of the webquest is when students take the information from the sources provided, analyze and discuss the information within their group, and transform that information into thought provoking class presentations.
Day 1
Read President Jefferson’s instructions to Meriwether Lewis discussing the need for the expedition to collect scientific information.
http://monticello.org/jefferson/lewisandclark/instructions.html
Ask students to brainstorm about what types of things they would find most interesting to investigate if they were on an expedition across an uncharted land.
Divide students into teams of two to four and provide them with the webquest URL and ask them to begin exploring the Task, Process, and Evaluation pages.
Debrief at the end of class to make sure students understand what is expected of them to successfully complete this lesson.
Day 2
Student teams should select a scientific discipline and begin their research. Remind them to take good notes.
They should also begin to plan what form their presentation will take.
Day 3
Students should complete their research. Encourage them to think about changes that have occurred in science and attitudes toward cultural diversity over the past two centuries.
Day 4
Student teams should develop their presentations based on the guidelines provided in the webquest. Use the webquest activity as a model for organizing information. Ask them to review the criteria in the scoring guide on the Evaluation page to help guide them in creating a quality presentation.
Day 5
Students make group presentations to the class, ask questions of each other, and compare and contrast their findings.