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TEACHER’S PAGE
Purpose Upon completion of this web quest, students will have navigated the Internet, combing technology with traditional methods of research to learn about the history of Elkhorn. They will, in effect, become the teachers by reporting their findings in a “live TV news broadcast.” In doing so, they will integrate language arts and writing skills. Through this active participation in their learning and use of higher level thinking skills, the information becomes relevant and meaningful for the students.
Step One Divide your class into reporting teams and assign the topics each will cover - 1) Elkhorn Neighborhoods, 2) People in Elkhorn, 3)Elkhorn Government, 4) Elkhorn Businesses, 5) Elkhorn’s Schools 6) Historical Lincoln Highway
Explain to your students that they are on a special assignment and will be transported back in time to the early days of Elkhorn. Each reporting team will research events from the early days of Elkhorn and what it is like today in the 21st Century.
Step Two Teams will be researching their topics using resources from the library, information that has been gathered over the years regarding Elkhorn’s history, the Internet, and links provided on this Power Quest. Each student should record their information on an individual research sheet. The teacher’s role will be to assist students in locating information when necessary, and to ensure that students are getting important information, and expressing ideas and information clearly on their research page
Step Three Teams will begin to synthesize information and categorize it into a news story. Teams should be monitored in order to ensure equal group participation and to make sure sufficient information has been gathered. While monitoring, the teacher can inquire about the teams’ plans and ask questions to help them clarify their ideas.
Step Four Once ideas for their news story are solidified, teams will assign roles for airing their stories, e.g. news anchor, field reporter, people they might interview. Students may need to fill more than one role. Students will write or type the copy for their broadcast. Each group will need to have at least two slides in PowerPoint to be projected behind him/ her as it is on real television. These news reports will be “aired” in front of the class in the form of a live skit or via a videotape of the performance (iMovie). The teacher will be able to assist in the writing of the document at this time and help in creating ideas for the skits.
Step Five Reporters from each team will take turns during their news broadcasts. All students should have a speaking role. Students should be given access to as many props as possible in order to assist them in presenting a more accurate and informative skit. The teacher or a parent volunteer could videotape each report so that the class could watch them in succession or the teams can “broadcast” their stories live to the class. After all the news reports have been broadcast, the students will discuss what they learned from listening to each team’s report.
*Adapted from Leeth, Jennifer (2003, September 3), Reporting Live From Texas!.
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