MORE Webquests for LA/Social Studies!

I've really fallen in love with these webquests.  I found some on TPT and made a couple of sets to go with my social studies units.  I love to teach a topic and allow the kids to use the iPads and research further.  I believe these beginning steps into research guide kids into reading information on websites and are a great start for future research.  Kids get to notice important information and read for meaning.   I always let them work in pairs (I found out that three is too many with my iPad minis).  They really love just getting on the floor. I'm waiting for someone to step on one of my iPads, but I just risk it because they love to get out of their seats!

For this webquest, I ask, "when is a turtle not a reptile?"  Answer: "When it's a submarine!"  I let the kids come up with that answer, and your kids will be intrigued about exactly what kind of turtle you are asking about.

Here is one of the benefits of using a webquest.  When students are trying to answer a question about a story they've read, they need to be able to locate information in a text. I find that my students would naturally rather guess the answer than look it up in the text.  Learning to look up an answer and provide text proof takes training.  Webquests are excellent training ground for students to locate information within texts.  The technology aspect is a great  motivator. KIDS LOVE iPADS and technology!
(CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1:  Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. 

Texas TEKS:  3.2B:   Ask relevant questions, seek clarification, and locate facts and details about stories and other texts and support answers with evidence from text)

I like these Liberty's Kids articles because they are short and full of information. Ducksters is another good informational site.

I hope you will try webquests with your students.  If not one of mine, there are tons of other topics on TPT.  I lean toward social studies topics since I have so little time for that subject and I can weave it into language arts.  I hope you enjoy these!

Click {HERE} 

There are five different quests in this set.
They are short and work great for 3-5th grades. 

Happy "questing!"

TOP 5 Blogposts of 2014!

I'm linking up with Jivey in her look back at 2014!  

Five for Friday!

Teacher Appreciation Week 2014

It was so amazing this past May.  My class went above and beyond to make me feel appreciated!!  Our PTA created a western themed luncheon for us, decorated to the hilt.  Chipotle even gave us a free meal!  It was a great week.

I LOVE webquests!!! 

My class loves webquests! 

A biography webquest! 

I love to let my kids do these "techy-scavenger hunts"!!  They are so motivated to find the information when they 1) work in groups or pairs and 2) get to use the iPads and QR codes.  Double the fun!

Texas Open House! 

These cartoons are done by my students each year.  I absolutely  love them! There is a process to it and it does take time.  I don't get to do art very much...high stakes testing has rooted that right out of my week.  But when we do get to do some art...we do it right! I don't want to take the space to explain the process here, but take a look at the results!  You may be interested in the post {HERE}

We also do some pretty cute "desk people!"

One of the highlights of my 2014 school year was books my  students wrote about our class pets, Oreo and Harley.  They got to choose between fiction and nonfiction guinea pig stories. Most pairs chose fiction so that Oreo and Harley could have an adventure! 

The fun part w as inviting kids to share with other classes!  

Read about it here! 

AND NUMBER ONE IS...

Oreo and Harley

Our beloved class pets...Oreo and Harley!  I had no idea how much these girls would change my class! They are the first things my kids look at when they come into the classroom.  We hold them at then end of the day while I'm reading to the class.  It is a a highly sought after job to care for them.  The kids have learned responsibilities and how to take care of the pets.  I allow two kids to take home a guinea pig each Friday for the weekend.  So far, a whole year and the process has been flawless.  I have a parent permission form and parents pick up the pet and return it to my room on Monday morning.  The guinea pigs have been a great addition! 

Webquest Awesomeness!

Mini webquests are perfect for third graders.  I used them just before the break to get the kids out of their seats and work on some fun activities...learning included in the fun! When I have my students do webquests, I usually set the background information up in the form of a mini-lesson.  I have had them complete a KWL chart or just write a question or two in their journals to assess prior knowledge. Many times in social studies, they have never heard of the people we are studying (or they are confused about who they are.)  These webquests could set your students on the journey to more research about a person you are studying.  They are also awesome for small groups where the groups could read about the person, then collaborate on answers together.  Anytime I get the iPads out, there is excitement in the room!  We had so much fun with this the last time, I know they will be excited for these new quests!  You can find my new Mini-Biography Webquests {HERE}or {HERE}

My students love to get on the floor with an iPad and work together!

Kids scan the QR code and it takes them right to the website!  If you don't have devices to scan codes, no worries, just have the students type in the provided website.  (It's good practice in being careful!) 

{CLICK HERE}
Or {HERE} to see my new store at Buy Sell Teach

There are five different quests in the set! 
Find it also here at Buy Sell Teach

My kids said, "Hey, this is like a scavenger hunt!"  Yep, they loved it!