This lesson was developed as part of the Northside Independent School District's social studies curriculum.

This lesson is anchored in fourth grade social studies and involves language arts and technology applications. 

Learners will need prior knowledge of and experience with Internet research, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Inspiration. 

  #top Return to Top

Social Studies Standards Addressed

• Identify factors causing changes in 20th century Texas and research the accomplishments of notable 20th century Texans
• Apply critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of sources
• Communicate ideas effectively in written, oral, and visual forms
• Uses problem-solving and decision making skills working independently and with others, in a variety of settings

 #top Return to Top

1. 1.Opening Activity:  Using a word web think of synonyms for the word accomplishment. Click on the link provided to fill in the web.  You may use a dictionary or a thesaurus if needed. Save the completed word web to your TIP lab folder under the title 20th Century Texans Project.  
2. 2.Peer Interviews:  You will need a partner to complete this task.  With your partner, click on the link provided to fill in  and complete the Peer Interview Form.  Save your interviews in your 20th Century Texans Project Folder. You will be asked to share the results of the interviews with the class.  
3. 3. What is a Biography?:  You will need your social studies text book for this activity. Turn to pages R34 and R35.  During this webquest we are going to concentrate on the changes that occurred in Texas since 1900.  The years between 1900 and 1999 are called the 20th century.  Use the timeline to review some of the events of this time period.  Now turn to pp. 348-349.  You are going to use the selection, "Dorie Miller-Courage Under Fire", to help define the term biography. You have been provided a document to help you with your notes.  Save the document to your Projects Folder.  
4. 4. Biography Scavenger Hunt: You will need a partner to complete this matching activity.  Open your textbook to the biographical dictionary on pages R45-R50.  The information found in the biographical dictionary is the same as what you looked for in the previous activity: early life, family, education, character traits, and accomplishments. You will use these pages to help match each famous Texan with the correct discription. Save the completed document to your Project Folder.  
5. 5. Big 6 Research: This is the heart of the webquest!  Your task will be to write a short biography about a notable 20th century Texan of your choice. To accomplish the task, you will use the Big6 Skills Approach to Problem-Solving.  After reviewing the Student Task Sheet restate the task in your own words under #1 of the Components of the Big6 Skills Sheet. In your Task Definition include research questions that are needed to solve the information problem.  For example, "What was early life like for _____________?"  You may want to review activity 3 & 4 for other research questions to be asked. Next, brainstorm a list of resources to write in under #2-Information Seeking Strategies of the Big6 sheet.  Resources might include the textbook, websites, etc.  Big6 step 3-Location and Access,has been filled in for you.  Links to Internet sites are given. You will need to fill in the blanks for any other sources used.  Big6 step 4-Use of Information is where you will begin to extract pertinent information.  A Note Taking Sheet and a Bibliography Style Sheet have been provided for this purpose.  Under Big6 step 5-Synthesis you will begin to complete your presentation of a PowerPoint, Bio-poem, Business card, or Brochure. 

  #top Return to Top    #process Process
 

This lesson is organized in a progressive sequence of skills.  It is multidisciplinary, and may involve several classes.  Completion will take an estimated week to two weeks,depending on the availability of technology that you have. This estimation is based on an hour to hour and one half in the computer lab 3-5 days per week. 

Teachers need some experience with Internet research, and the creation of PowerPoint presentations, Publisher brochures and business cards, and Bio-poems.  Background knowledge of the Big6 Information Problem-solving Strategy is helpful.

Variations

The first four activities could be conducted in the classroom or library. The worksheets and documents are printable. 

• Class sets of books
•  Inspiration software, PowerPoint software, Publisher software, Microsoft Word
•  Library Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Thesauri

One teacher in the classroom is sufficient, though there is always room for help when technology is involved.  Your CIT is a good resource.  If you have any special needs children, it might be beneficial to have an aide available to help. 

 #top Return to top

Successful completion of this lesson will be evaluated by teh assessment of students' portfolios and final products.  Rubrics are provided in the Evaluation section of the Student Page.  Students should be able to identify the factors causing changes in 20th century Texas and name notable contributions made by 20th century Texans. 

 #top Return to top

This lesson is well worth the time it took to create, and the time it will take to complete. Students in this day and age do not always recognize the accomplishments of others.  They take so much for granted.  It is the goal of this webquest to not only make them aware of the accomplishments of others, but of themselves as well. 

 #top Return to top

Resources:

NISD social studies unit Texas Our Texas
PowerPoint, Inspiration, Kidspiration, Publisher, Word
www.oswego.org/testprep/ela4/h/biopoem.cfm
www.teach-nology.com/cgi-bin/rubric.cgi
www.photohouston.com
www.musicfanclubs.org/leannrimes/larbio.htm
www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/giants/austin/austin-01.html
www.sofeminine.co.uk/w/star/f59/fan-club/Renee-Zellweger.html
www.redadair.com/bio.html
www.famoustexans.com/
www.strait2heart.com/pictures.html

Books and other analog media:

Textbook-Scott Foresman Social Studies- Texas

A great big "THANK YOU" goes to Denise Harris for creating the documents and rubrics used in the links.  I would like to say "Thank you" to Debbie Lovell for dealing with me interrupting her lab, and helping me with resources,links,and just about everything else. I would also like to thank the NISD Social Studies Department for all of the curriculum unit sources. Last but not least, a heartfelt "Thank You" goes out to Jeannine Keairnes for letting Denise and I have a day to work on this at school. 

  #top Return to Top