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Process

Throughout this WebQuest, you will work in a couple of different groups.  You are expected to work cooperatively with your groups.  Quite often, disagreements crop up during group-work.  Any disagreement that develops is expected to be settled in an appropriate manner.  Time is of the essence, so do not misuse your time.  You need to work efficiently and in a timely manner.  Also, make sure you put your best effort forward; the rest of your group depends upon you.

A Brief Overview:
  • Before you begin the "Organization" section of the WebQuest, you will need to form a group of three students.  This will be your original group. 
  • Later, during the Jigsaw portion of the WebQuest, you will leave your group to form learning pods.  These pods will focus on gathering information about one of Newton's Laws of Motion.
  • This information will be brought back and shared with your original group. 
  • Once your original group has collected information form all of its members, you will create a slideshow about Newton's Three Laws of Motion.

Organization:

1.  In your group of three, you will explore the sites listed below to review what we have talked about in class about Sir Isaac Newton.  As you explore these sites, look for any information that was not covered in class.  Compare what you have found to what your partners have found to see if it was not covered in class.  Your group will turn in one sheet of paper briefly listing the top 10 events that were not mentioned in class.  The most important item being ranked number one, the least important ranked number ten.  You and your partners will determine the order of the events.


2.  Your group will study Newton's Three Laws of Motion.  To make this more efficient, each of you will take one of Newton's Laws to study.  You will turn in a half sheet of paper to the teacher with the following written on it:

  • Newton's 1st Law of Motion:________________________
  • Newton's 2nd Law of Motion:________________________
  • Newton's 3rd Law of Motion:________________________
Place your name next to the law that you will be covering.  This will be used in issuing a grade on your part of the final project. 

Jigsaw:

1.  Your group of three will now divide up to research your laws.

  • Each person will join a learning pod of up four other students who are researching the same law.  You and your learning pod will independently scour the following sites for information relevant to your topic.  You are responsible for taking notes on the law that you are researching.  Note taking sites like Zoho Notebook can help when taking notes on this material.  Also, if you like, I can create a MOODLE Wiki from which your main group can work. 
  • Take care to write down the site that you gathered your notes from.  You will need this information for your Works Cited slide at the end of your slideshow.  Your original group depends on you to gather enough information for your slideshow.  Work hard and make them proud! 
Sites for Newton's 1st Law of Motion:


Sites for Newton's 2nd Law of Motion:

  • About.com: Newton's Laws:  The beginning has some useful information.  Links to each Law of Motion are located toward the bottom of the page.
  • Science Channel:  An entertaining look at all three of Newton's Laws of Motion.

Sites for Newton's 3rd Law of Motion:
  • Any extra sites that you find helpful may help.  Include the extra sites in your works cited slide for extra points!

You will want to cite the websites that you pull information from.  It is recommended that you title your notes with the site name from where they came.

At the end of the allotted time for your research, all students studying the same law will convene to discuss their findings with each other.  Use this time to fill in any gaps that you may have in your information and to clarify any questions or concepts that have confused you.

2.  Once you have finished with your learning pod, you will take your wealth of information and regroup with your original group.  With your original members, you will share what you have learned about your law.  Using the following format:

  • Each member will take a turn presenting their information.
  • As information is presented, the other members will write down key components of that law.  In doing this, the other members will have the same information as the presenter.  
  • Any misconceptions or questions about the law will be answered by the presenter.
  • This will continue until everyone in the group has all of the information.

3.  As a group, answer the worksheets listed below.  You may revisit any of the sites that you used for information to refresh your memory.  (Print the pages, complete, and turn into teacher.)

Creating Slideshow:

Basic Requirements:

  • The title slide (first slide) will have the name of the presentation, names of the creators, hour, and date the slideshow was created.
  • Each slide will have the initials of its creator located at the bottom left corner of the slide.
  • Each slide will have a transition effect between it and the next slide.
  • Custom animations should be used for major components of a slide.  Avoid using animations that spell out the words as this takes up too much time.
  • Picture (charts, pictures, etc...) that relate to the material are expected to be in the slides.  Such pictures are expected to applicable to the presentation as are any sounds that are used.
  • Video may be embedded into a slide to demonstrate a law.  This is not required, but may earn your group extra points.
  • The final slide will be the Works Cited page.  You will cite all of the sources/sites that you have used.  Any extra sites used beyond those listed in this WebQuest will be used for extra credit.  These sites will be noted with an asterisk (*) displayed before the entry.  The name of the individual who used the site will be given after the entry.
  • The final product will be uploaded to Mr. Moore's MOODLE site under the "Newton's Laws Slideshow" heading.
Creating a Group Slideshow:

There are a couple of ways that you can create a group slideshow.  Below, are a couple of options:
  • OpenOffice:  Each work on own slides on different computers.  Once finished, the slides can be combined onto one computer.  Will have to use a flash-drive to transfer the files.  Once transferred, the group will have to work at one computer to make sure the presentation works as planned.  Also, it is recommended that each person save a copy of the presentation as a backup.
  • Zoho:  An online productivity suite.  You can work as a group on a presentation from different computers at the same time.  A nice way to create a collaborative product.  However, there is not an option to insert a video into a slide.  Also, the final product cannot be saved as a .ppt file.  If you choose this option, you will email the file to my school account.
  • Google Presentation:  Google's answer to Zoho.  Another collaborative site allowing you to work together on a presentation from different computers.  This site allows for video to be inserted into a slide.  Also, it allows the users to save the presentation as a .ppt file.  Since most of you have an iGoogle page, this would be an option that utilizes your Google username and password. 
Slideshow Requirements:
  • Each member of the group is required to have 5-8 slides covering the law that was researched.
  • Follow the Basic Requirements when creating your slides.
  • You must present the information in a manner that would be easy for a 5th grader to understand.
  • Keep your audience in mind.  If you are too technical, they will lose interest.  Keep it entertaining, yet educational.
  • If a video is to be used, then it must be made by the whole group.  Cameras are available for check out.  You must have something planned and presented to the teacher before you check out a camera.
  • Don't forget to cite the sources/sites you have used for your slides.  Your final slide will contain all of your cited sources.
Once The Slideshow is Completed:

Oncethe slideshow is completed, you will upload it to my MOODLE page.  It is strongly recommended that each individual save a copy of the presentation. 

Several presentations per session will be asked to present the slideshow to a 5th grade class.  Yes, this means you get to leave our building for a short time to give your presentation.  Pretty cool, eh?