Rootsleuth

Lesson Plan Template: the WebQuest

Rootsleuth consists of two parts: one, the Family History Vehicle through which the student is enabled to establish and document his/her own ancestry (or that of an adopted family); and two, a WebQuest driver component which determines the direction of the project through the Task statement. Any number of WebQuest drivers may be interchanged. One driver might direct Rootsleuth to a history oriented end product, another to a science oriented end product, yet another to an English or language oriented end product. Any number of Web Quest drivers may be installed to achieve any desired end product. See Teacher Overview for more information.

Teachers may submit carefully written WebQuest drivers that may be included in the Root Sleuth web site. Contact us for more information. A WebQuest driver must have the following Lesson Plan components:

• Introduction: An engaging first statement that draws the reader in while setting the stage for the WebQuest. Includes the guiding or central question around which the WebQuest revolves.
  
  
• Task: A description of the end result of the students' work; the culminating performance or product that drives all the activities of the lesson.
  
  
• Process: Describes step by step how the learners will accomplish the task. Includes online (and offline) resources, role descriptions (if any), and guidance on individual steps in the process. My Dialogue Journal should be incorportated in the Process so the student can record his/her research results or compose written reports or communicate with relatives and/or classmates.
  
  
• Resources: Detailed description of any physical resources needed to implement the lesson. Resources should include a list of web links from which the student will find the information to acomplish the Task.
  
  
• Evaluation: A rubric or other means to evaluate the final task. May include rubrics or tests to measure competencies or accomplishment of interim skills.
  
  
• Conclusion: Final statement that may include reflections on the lesson or extensions of the content for further exploration.
  
  
• Credits: Description of sources used in the creation of the WebQuest, acknowledgement of help received, etc.

Adapted from ÒAnatomy of the New WebQuest TemplatesÓ