Searching the World Wide Web

A WebQuest for 5th Grade

Designed by the AlienTeacher

Introduction

You think you know how to find things on the Internet, don't you? After all, you can go to Google and search for anything you want. But do you know how to find the information you need without finding a lot of things you don't need? Do you have to click on a lot of information that isn't really helpful? Does it take you a long time to find the one resource you want? In this lesson, you will learn some tips that will help you perform better searches on the Internet. After you have learned how to do a better job of searching, you will make a video or presentation to share your tips with other students.

Task

You have two jobs to do.

Job #1 - You will find tips that help people who are searching for information on the Internet.

Job #2 - You will put these tips into a video or other presentation that you can share with others who need to know how to search the Internet.

Process

Part 1 Researching

#1	With a partner, choose a search engine to use for your research. Decide if you want to create a movie or a presentation (like a PowerPoint) when you are done. Decide on a minimum number of tips to include in your movie or presentation. Tip - If you can't think of a search engine to use, try one of these: Yahoo! Kids Kids Click! ThinkQuest Entries Kids Search Tool Ask Jeeves for Kids
#2	One partner needs to be the researcher. This partner will do the typing and clicking on the Internet. The other partner will be the recorder. This partner will record the tips onto a sheet of paper so that they can be put into the movie or presentation later.
#3	The researcher will go to the search engine you are using and will type in the words "tips for searching the Internet" and go through the hits you get. Be sure to read the descriptions of the web sites before you click on one.
#4	Both partners need to read the information on the web sites you find and choose the most important and helpful tips. The recorder needs to write these tips in a graphic organizer. Be sure to write in your own words.
#5	The recorder needs to write down the link to each web site that you get tips from. You will include these as resources in your movie or presentation.
	Tip - If you want to, you can use the tips you find for searching to help you find OTHER tips.
	Tip - If you simply can't find any tips, here are a few links that might help you: Four Nets for Better Searching Searching the Internet Searching the Internet: Tips and Tricks

Part 2 Compilation

#1	Both partners should review the tips you have written down and make sure that others can understand them. Be sure they are things that will actually help people who are trying to search the Internet.
#2	Double-check to see that you have written things in your own words.
#3	Be sure you have listed your resources beside each tip.
#4	Create either a movie or a presentation that gives each tip you've found, along with its resource. Tip - A good program to create movies is PhotoStory. A good program to make presentations is Microsoft PowerPoint.
#5	Be sure you have listed only one tip on each slide or frame. Be sure you list the resource with it or on the slide after it.
#6	Include pictures or screen shots if they help you convey your message. Tip - You can take a screen shot by clicking "PRINT SCR" on your keyboard. You can then insert that picture into your movie or presentation. You might want to conduct a search on some topic just so you have a screen shot to put in your movie or presentation. These pictures often help others understand your words better.
#7	Make sure you did not include pictures unless they will help others understand your words.
#8	Make sure your backgrounds and font colors are not distracting.
#9	Make sure you include appropriate transitions.
#10	Find a way to share your finished project with others. You might put it on a web site. You might put it on a shared network drive so other students can find it and use it. You might ask a teacher if you can show it to a class. Find at least one way to share your finished project.

Evaluation

Your movie or presentation will be evaluated based on this rubric. It includes a section for how well you worked with your partner as well as how good your finished movie or presentation is and how helpful your tips are.

Multimedia Projects Rubric
	3 Excellent	2 Good	1 Okay	0 Did not finish
Research	I used at least three Web sites to gather information for my project.	I used two Web sites to gather information for my project.	I used one Web site to gather information for my project.	I did not use any Web sites to gather information for my project.
Planning	I used a graphic organizer, note cards, or a sketch to decide how to arrange my project.	I took at least four or five notes or used part of a graphic organizer to help me decide how to arrange my project.	I made two or three notes to help me decide how to arrange my project.	I did not write down anything beforehand. I just started typing my project.
Grammar and Spelling	I did not have any grammar or spelling errors in my project.	I had one or two grammar or spelling errors in my project.	I had three or four grammar or spelling errors in my project.	I had more than five grammar or spelling errors in my project.
Graphics	I included three pieces of appropriate clip-art or Word-art.	I included two pieces of appropriate clip-art or Word-art.	I included one piece of appropriate clip-art or Word-art.	I did not include any clip-art or Word-art, OR, the clip-art I included isn't appropriate for my topic.
Text	I changed all of these things from the default and they were appropriate for my project: Font color, style, and size.	I changed two of these things from the default and they were appropriate for my project: Font color, style, and size.	I changed my font sizes, styles, or colors from the default, but they weren't appropriate.	I didn't change my font size, style, or color from the default.
Effects	I used transitions and sounds that were smooth and not distracting.	I used transitions and sounds, but they were a little distracting.	I used transitions or sounds, but they overwhelmed my presentation.	I didn't use any transitions or sounds.
Resources	I have included a resource for every tip.	I included a resource for half of my tips.	I included a resource for one of my tips.	I didn't include any resources for any of my tips.
Sharing	I have shared my project with others in three different ways	I have shared my project with others in two different ways.	I have shared my project with others in one way.	I have not shared my project with others.
Teamwork	My partner and I shared the work and didn't argue about anything.	My partner and I shared some of the work, but we had a little trouble making decisions together.	One of us did all the work, OR, we had a hard time making decisions together.	My partner and I didn't share the work, OR, we had a lot of arguments.

Conclusion

Wow! You did it! You have learned several new things that will help you when you are searching the Internet. Even more important, you have shared those tips with other people so that a lot of folks will be better at searching the Internet. Good job!

If you want to learn even more about searching the Internet, check out these links:

Searching the Internet Tutorial
Searching the Internet

Better yet, do your own search for Internet Search Tutorials! The more you search, the better you will get.

Once you get really good at performing Internet searches, volunteer to help your classmates, teachers, and parents when they are having trouble finding things they need on the Internet. It's a great thing when you share your knowledge and expertise, and now you are an expert!

Credits & References

Thanks is given to the students at Wacona Elementary School, who constantly challenge me to find new ways to help them learn.

This template used with permission from The WebQuest Page and the Design Patterns page. Thanks to Bernie Dodge for the incredible idea of webquests.

We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL.

Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

Created by Lori Miller, the AlienTeacher, August 2008.