Understanding the Relationship of Humans and Planet Earth A WebQuest for High School Global History
and Geography I Designed by Mr. Cox and Mr. Thomarie
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits Earth is full of awesome
sights and landforms. From the natural landscapes that are our template for
beauty, to the man-made constructions of ancient wonders and towering
skyscrapers, there is no shortage of amazing features that our planet has to
offer. Over the course of your education, many of these unique features have been mentioned, described, or maybe even briefly analyzed. However, never before have you truly had the chance to take a step back and take the time needed to truly understand the historical, environmental, and the cultural significance that each landform holds. That lack of knowledge however is going to change as you begin to truly understand the relationship between humans and the Earth. The Task Your quest will make you
examine the Earth by taking an in-depth look at one of her natural phenomena.
The student will be identifying different physiographic features of a
landscape/landform. Students will conduct academic research and will provide
a historical description of the impact that this feature had on the culture
of a native group of people over time. After the quest is
finished, each student will have a deeper understanding of why a certain
physiographic feature of Earth is important or significant in the development
of a particular cultural group of people 1. Selection of
Landscape � There is no set criteria for what you choose here. From this
point on, you will have one week to select one landform or landscape from
around the world and submit it for approval. The only exclusions that exist
as of this time are as follows: anything from continental United States, as
this is a Global class. This quest is meant to broaden your horizons, and these
exclusions are meant to aid you in that goal. The teacher will provide you
with a handout of possible physical features for you to choose from in case
you are having trouble. 2. Research � This
step will require you to do a decent amount of independent study. Using your
textbook as a reference, materials provided by the teacher, and online
resources, you will come up with 3-5 reputable sources to assist you in your
learning. When reading through these materials, it is helpful to take notes
on the readings and record key quotes, as you must cite AT LEAST three of
your sources in your final paper/presentation. In terms of what you should
looking for, be sure to keep in mind of these key themes: 1) Where is it? 2) Why is it
culturally/historically/environmentally significant? 3) What is its role in
today�s society? (If it has one at all, if not, explain) 4) How has this role
changed over time? You will be provided with
an additional handout that will help you to organize your research. This
worksheet is mandatory and will be collected at the time of your
presentation/paper submission. Online Resources � Use
any online databases provided by your school or local library. Also be sure
to keep an eye out for reputable specialized reference books/encyclopedias (Gale, Grolier, Worldbook). Wikipedia is an example of an online
encyclopedia that is not acceptable. Don�t forget that Mr. Thomarie and
myself are here to help. We will have time to spend in the library computer
lab for you to conduct this research. 3Mr. Thomarie�s Website,
link below, will help you as you research your landform. . Paper � This
assignment will be graded based on a final submission. - Research Paper: Students will write a 4+ page descriptive
analysis paper using proper citations and formatting. This paper should be
organized as a timeline of sorts, using descriptions and details to
demonstrate just how the landscape/landform has affected these groups of
people over time. The rubric for the paper provides the student with
appropriate headings for the body paragraphs of the paper. Outline of Paper P1 � Introduction: Introduce
the task of the Webquest: How has a landform affected a group of people over
time. Introduce your landform and group of people to be researched. P2 � Description of
Landform: Describe your landform, including facts, geographic information,
and any interesting or notable information. P3 � Description of How
Landform Affected Ancient Group of People � Describe the people and how their
culture has been affected by this landform. Include examples of places,
people, or culture. P4 � Description of How
Landform Affects a Current Population � Describe how the landform is
currently affecting people today. If the landform is no longer having a major
impact, explain why. P5 � Conclusion: Conclude
your essay. Reemphasize your thesis
using your best line of argument.� Your
conclusion should state what you have proven. Bibliography � Using MLA
formatting, list all of the sources that you have used for this assignment. The following rubric is
the rubric that will be used to grade your project. Be sure to study the
rubric, as these requirements are the ones that must be met by your paper. Rubric for Paper
Hopefully by the end of
this activity, you have obtained an understanding of just how dynamic the
relationship by man and his environment truly is. You should also have
grasped the concept that the landscapes and landform of the Earth are much
more than just natural wonders; they have been major factors in the
development of the human race. But your quest shouldn�t
stop after this assignment. Using this analytical and long term mode of
thinking will help you to further your knowledge in any content area, and it
will help you to make connections you had never thought to make, such as
those made in this assignment. Template for this WebQuest is credited to The WebQuest Page Last updated on September 3rd, 2015. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page |
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