Mr. Theleman's
8th
Grade "USA" Webquest
Mr. Theleman's
8th
Grade "USA" Webquest
Process
Step One - State Research
Each State has unique qualities that distinguish it from other States. Sometimes those qualities are derived from a colorful past and other times the qualities come from the region itself. To understand our Research question, we need to better understand the different people of the United States. Research the State that has been assigned to you. Use the State Research Worksheet.
Use the links provided on the Resource page. Make sure to cite all information needed for the Bibliography.
Step Two - Citizenship
Determine the requirements for becoming a U.S. Citizen. What does it take to become a U.S. Citizen. Do you have what it takes? Go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration website. You will list out the eight naturalization requirements. Use the Naturalization Worksheet.
After completing the worksheet you will then take the sample Citizenship test.
Step Three – Then & Now
Research through both historical and current documents to determine what answers would have been given in response to our research question. Use the Then and Now Worksheet.
After completing the Then and Now Worksheet you will need to take your information and put it into the Venn Diagram Worksheet. With this worksheet you will compare and contrast the answers.
Step Four – Evaluate Resources
Now we need to evaluate the information that we have gathered. We will use the Evaluating Sources Checklist to see how valid our research is.
You will need to get at least 7 out of 10 on the worksheet. You may discover that your research is lacking and that you will need to go back and gather more information, or get information from different sources.
Step Five – State Book
Every student will do a one-page flier about their State. The flier should be exciting and informational. It should include at least five facts about the state. It should also include a picture of the State flag and at least one other picture that symbolizes the State. It is important to think about the Research Question while working on this flier. How might someone from this State answer the Research Question?
Step Six – Project
Now you get to pick a project to answer the Research Question. Pick one of the following projects and follow the guidelines. The projects are designed to allow for creativity and originality.
Create a Commercial about what it means to be an American.
The commercial can be created using PowerPoint or can be video taped. The commercial needs to be approximately two minutes in length. Content for the commercial needs to be appropriate and should focus on the Research Question. Viewers should be able to state what it means to be an American, based on what they see in the commercial. A typed description of the commercial will need to be given to the teacher before presenting.
Write a Short Story about what it means to be an American.
The short story needs to be double spaced and two or three pages in length. Content for the short story or play needs to be appropriate and should focus on the Research Question. Readers should be able to state what it means to be an American, based on what on the story. A typed copy of the story will need to be turned in to the teacher before the presentation.
Write a Play about what it means to be an American.
The play can be created using PowerPoint, video taped, or presented live. The play needs to be approximately two minutes in length. Content for the play needs to be appropriate and should focus on the Research Question. Viewers should be able to state what it means to be an American, based on what they see in the play. A typed copy of the play will need to be turned in to the teacher before the presentation.
Write a Song or Poem about what it means to be an American.
The song or poem needs to be approximately one page in length. The song can be put to music, but that is not required. Content of the song or poem needs to be appropriate and should focus on the Research Question. The class should be able to state what it means to be an American, based on what is in the song or poem. A typed copy of the song or poem will need to be turned in to the teacher before the presentation.
Create or Revise the Naturalization Requirements.
Modernize the Naturalization Requirements. Take away or modify requirements as you deem necessary. Additions can be made if you think that there should be more requirements. Create a twenty question test that you will administer to the class. This will be in place of the current test. All questions should be multiple choice with four answers. Remember that the requirements need to be appropriate and should focus on the Research Question. The class should be able to state what it means to be an American, based on the Naturalization Requirements. A typed copy of the Requirements and test should be handed to the teacher before the presentation.
Naturalization Requirements Rubric
