Introduction

This webquest was originally created as an experiment in creating quests for teachers.  It was sponsored by MOREnet's MINTS Project which is now called eMINTS (enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies).  The subject matter came from discussions with teachers about what would be helpful to them.  Several of the teachers suggested Math as an area that needed attention, especially the transfer between doing math problems with numbers and making real life math applications and word problems.  The goal of this quest is to provide motivation to excel and chances to practice successfully solving real life math problems.
 

Content Area and Grade Level

This WebQuest was designed for Jr. High and High School students.  If you are interested in a similar WebQuest for upper elementary students you should try USA Adventure.  Many of the activities were designed to provide authentic math activities.  However, this is a multi-disciplinary WebQuest.

Missouri Curriculum Standards

Several of the Show Me Standards are reflected in this WebQuest.

Performance Standards:

Gather, analyze and apply information and ideas. (see 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.8)

Communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom (see2.1, 2.3, 2.7)

Recognize and solve problems. (see 3.6, 3.8)

Make decisions and act as responsible members of society (see 4.1, 4.5, 4.6)

Knowledge Standards: Communication Arts 1, 2, 6; Mathematics 1, 5; Social Studies 5, 7.

In addition to linking to specific curriculum standards, this webquest also strengthens several types of thinking.  Students using this quest will do creative problem solving, use critical thinking, and make inferences.

Notes

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Students will be using the Internet to do research. Although the suggested sites have been previewed it is possible for them to change and/or for them to be linked to other sites that are not educational. Make sure you have a process for dealing with instances where a student is on an inappropriate site. On suggestion is to have a clear classroom acceptable use policy which states that anyone who stays on an inappropriate site and/or shows it to someone else will face serious consequences (spelled out in the policy) involving the principal and their parents.

POLICY ON SEARCHING:

Students will have limited time for finding resources. ?They are encouraged not use that time on searching the web. You may want to offer to look for additonal sites for the students or have a designated "surfer" who you know can search the web efficiently.

Some teachers using this project may prefer to create their own price list for items rather than have students searching the web for prices. Some of the websites have complicated equipment and many decisions need to be made. A teacher could create a price list which would use numbers that fit the math that students need to learn.

Credits

Permission is granted for teachers to use this WebQuest for non-profit educational purposes only.   Feel free to edit it to fit your purposes and to upload it to your own web space.  If you use this WebQuest please let me know how it worked.  You can email your comments to me at janice@more.net.
 
 

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