A WebQuest Adventure!

Created By:

Denise Schwedler and Lisa Mongin, Coleman School District

Introduction ½ Task ½ Process ½ Resources ½ Evaluation/Assessment ½ Conclusion ½ Teacher Notes

INTRODUCTION

Would you like to travel to a foreign land such as Australia, Brazil, Ireland or Egypt? Imagine seeing all the interesting animals and traveling through the hills, valleys, desserts or rainforests and other geographical features that might be found there. Imagine visiting landmarks like castles and pyramids. Here’s a chance for you and a classmate to win that trip!

The only requirement to win your trip is to submit a fable you’ve written specifically for the country you’ve chosen.  You and your travel companion will have to work together to make this a good, winning fable. It’s fun! It’s exciting! You can do it!  Roll up your sleeves, get to work, and be ready to pack your bags.  Don’t forget your passport!

TASK

Your task is to write a fable for your foreign land using animals native to that country and placing the story in that country by referring to a landform or landmark that is unique to that country.  A fable is a short, often amusing, story that focuses on one action and has a moral, a lesson about human behavior. Most fables use animals with human characteristics as the main characters.

In order to create the fable for your destination country, you and your travel companion (partner) will:

·       Read four online fables

·       Analyze them to find the elements of a fable

·       Research the country to which you wish to travel.

·       Compile information about that country regarding its native animals geographical features (such as rivers, mountains, cities, landforms, landmarks etc.) and other points of interest.

·       Create a story map for your new fable

• Write and illustrate your fable and present a reading of it.

PROCESS

You and your partner will work together to complete each of the following activities.

Step 1. Print a copy of the Fun Fables Rubric to use as a checklist.

Step 2. Print a copy of the Elements of a Fable chart to complete during step 3.

Step 3.  Read the 4 online Familiar Fables and examine them for the elements.  Complete the Elements of a Fable chart.

Step 4.  Print a copy of the Country Fact Sheet and read it over so you will know what information you will need as you do your research.

Step 5.  Choose one of the 4 countries as your destination.  With your travel companion, explore the resources for that country and take research notes in your notebook.

Step 6.  Formulate your research notes onto the Country Fact Sheet.

Step 7. Print a copy of the Story Map.

Step 8. Use your completed Elements of a Fable chart and your Country Fact Sheet to develop and complete your story map.

Step 9. Use your story map to create a new fable to teach one of the morals from the 4 fables you read.  Be sure to incorporate native animals of your country as the characters, some geographical feature of the country as the setting, and any other interesting fact that fits your fable.

Step 10.  Publish your new fable using a word processing program and include at least one illustration.  The illustration may be done using a draw program or it can be drawn by hand.

Step 11.  Present a reading of your fable.

Step 12.  Written and illustrated fables will be published in a class book entitled Fables from Around the World.

RESOURCES

Return to Process 

Select your destination 

Return to Process

EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT

Click here for the Fun Fables Rubric

Click here for the Standards alignment

CONCLUSION

Having researched your country you should have an appreciation for the uniqueness of it and some things that make it special. When one travels it is a good idea to know something about one’s destination in order to better enjoy your visit.  With the use of modern technology we get to visit many places without ever leaving home.  We hope this WebQuest has inspired you to visit more places using the internet and maybe some day , in person.

In preparing your fable you have learned about the elements of fables and you had to incorporate the moral of a long- standing fable into your own story.  By doing this you have made that lesson your own.  Share it with others. 

TEACHER NOTES

This WebQuest has two very distinctive goals.  One is to research a foreign country on the web and gather information.  The second is to learn about fables and to write one.  These two activities have been joined together as students are asked to place their fable in the setting of the country they researched. 

 Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments.