Teacher Information

Learners:
This WebQuest was written for 4th grade students in Missouri, but it can easily be used with a variety of grade levels.

Standards:
Missouri Social Studies Grade Level Expectations:

2A. Knowledge of the ways Missourians have interacted, survived and progressed from the distant past to present times.

2Aa4 Identify and describe the significance of the individuals from Missouri who have made contributions to our state and national heritage; examples include Lewis and Clark, Mary Easton Sibley, John Berry Meacham, George Washington Carver, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mark Twain, Harry S Truman and Thomas Hart Benton.

7A. Knowledge of the use of tools of social science inquiry

7a43 - Identify and use library and media resources

Missouri Communication Arts Grade Level Expectations:

Writing:
1A4a – Follow a writing process to independently use a simple prewriting strategy
1A4b – Generate a draft
1A4c – Routinely reread, revise for audience and purpose, ideas and content, organization and sentence structure, and word choice
1A4d – Edit for conventions
1A4e – Publish writing
2A4a – Compose text showing awareness of audience
2A4b – Compose text in a format appropriate to audience and purpose
2B4b – Compose text with relevant details/examples
3A4a - Compose a variety of texts using persuasive features
3A4b – Compose a variety of texts selecting and using an appropriate format

Process Notes:

I would suggest doing some initial instruction on writing a business letter and the elements of persuasive writing before starting the WebQuest. Have the students select the person they would like to research (or you could assign this), and be sure to have them fill out the research planner to reinforce the research skills they are learning in library. :) I would be glad to do this with them as a group during a flexible time.