Miss K

Introduction

        In this WebQuest, students will be receiving a "letter" from a boy who has just traveled to 2015 in his time machine.  He expresses his worry about being in an unfamiliar era and he misses his old, comforting belongings and time. Students will work to research the decade their new pen pal is from.  They will then create a "care package" by writing a list of items they feel their new friend may need to remind them of "home".  This list will include evidence discussing where they found this information and why they felt it would be good for their new friend.  Students will then write a letter back to Martin telling him everything they included and why.  Students must include items from the following topics: music, movies, entertainment, and clothing as well as two additional categories they find important.  At the end of the project, students will present what they included in their care package.  

 

Learners

        This lesson is designed for 6th graders who are studying decades during their current social studies unit. The purpose of this lesson is to allow students to research the different decades and gives them the opportunity to compare and contrast time periods.  By the end of this lesson, students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of

decades by creating a pretend care package for other child filled with items and ideas from their home decade as well as writing a letter back to Martin discussing all the items included and why they are important.  Prior to this lesson, students will have participated in a discussion about decades, centuries, and millenniums and have a general understanding of what those concepts mean.  

 

 

Curriculum Standards

Fifth grade Social Studies Standards Addressed:

6.7 Define and use the terms “decade”, “century”, and “millennium”, compare alternative ways that historical periods and eras are designated by identifying the organizing principles upon which each is based. 

6.21. Clarify key aspects of an event, issue, or problem through inquiry and research. 6.22. Gather, interpret, document, and use information from multiple sources, distinguishing facts from opinions and recognizing points of view.

6.23. Interpret documents and data from multiple primary and secondary sources (art, artifacts, eyewitness accounts, letters and diaries, real or simulated historical sites, charts, graphs, diagrams, written texts).

 

Additionally, students will be using writing skills to write a detailed and creative letter back to their new friend, Martin

 

 

Process

This lesson will take place over the course of 2-3 days.  Below are the student instructions.

1. Get into your assigned groups and take note of the decade your friend is from. 

2. Discuss what types of things you might want to research for Martin.  Make a list and plan how to find this information.  

3. You must include the four categories below as well as two other types of items that do not fit into these categories.  Come and let me know the two other categories your group has decided on.

4. Begin looking at the resources provided below to create your care package list.

5. When you have finished your list, your group will need to write a letter back to Martin to let him know what you found for him and how you know he will appreciate those items.

6. At the end of this process, you will be presenting your care package to the class.

 

During the research time, teachers should float around between groups and check if they are on the right track in their understanding.  If needed, provide guidance or scaffolding as to the types of information they might look for.  Also if needed, the teacher can help students with ideas for additional categories.

 

 

                         Resources

 

Clothing:

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0878570.html

http://www.tufts.edu/~mlee21/trends.html

http://verdigre.esu1.org/Students/Computer%202/Jacies%20Website/fashionthroughthedecades.html

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/fashions.html

 

Music

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/music.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_chart_achievements_by_decade

http://www.thetoptens.com/best-decades-music-history/

http://tsort.info/music/faq_decade_artists.htm

 

Entertainment

http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2433-popular-toys-decade.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Board_games_by_decade

http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2049243,00.html

 

Television/Movies

http://www.tv.com/shows/decade/1950s/ (adjust for decade)

http://www.filmsite.org/200films.html

http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice2.html

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls000916905/

 

 

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated based on the following rubric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

This lesson incorporates student creativity and allows students to own their information.  It provides an opportunity for students to learn about various decades without simply just reading from a textbook.  Students will be able to compare and contrast the items and things that are important to our current decade and what a child might enjoy in the past.  Lastly, it is an opportunity to work on their research skills using technology and the internet.