Florida Native Americans Webquest

Hints to help!:

Big 6 step 2: Information-Seeking Strategies

Usually, you would brainstorm possible resources and then put them in order of which would help you the most, and which you should use first. However, this step has been done for you. You will be using the Internet on the computer, non-fiction books from the library, and the World Book encyclopedia. As you follow directions on this page, you will learn when to use each source.

Big 6 step 3: Location and Access

You will be using the laptop carts to access the information from the Web. Usually you would use a search engine like NetTrekker and type in your keyword to access information on the Internet, but a webquest does that job for you! Simply click on the underlined links in the directions to access the page.

The non-fiction books and encyclopedia are on reserve in the library. Bring your library pass to the library and ask Mrs. Clapsaddle or Mrs. Miller for the cart of books. Remember your skills for accessing information in books: in non-fiction books, look up general topics like the history or important Native Americans in the table of contents. Look up specific topics like a particular Native American, clothes, or food in the index. For the encyclopedia, look on the spine for the letter your keyword begins with, then use the guide words to find the page of your keyword in alphabetical order. Remember that your keyword is the word or topic you are looking up!

Big 6 step 4: Use of Information

As you read through the websites and books, you will need to decide what is the IMPORTANT information for your task. Some information might be interesting, but if it does not have to do with your task, then you don't need to include it in your notes. In order to help you with your notes, the webquest will have you fill out graphic organizers to record the important information. Remember that graphic organizers are charts that help you organize your notes. For this assignment, you will be using cluster webs and Venn diagrams.

Let the fun begin!

1. Print out or get from your teacher the cluster web graphic organizers one and two. Write the name of the tribe you are researching in the middle circle. Look at the labels in the surrounding circles for an idea of what you want to look for when reading the websites. Remember, you only need to write down the information that is important for your task! Also, have extra paper for if you need more room or for drawing pictures of maps, artifacts, tools, etc.

2. Go to the following websites according to your assigned tribe:

Calusa Indian Fact Sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. Click the back arrow to get back to the webquest. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

Choctaw Indian Fact Sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. Click the back arrow to get back to the webquest. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived. Also, look at the website for a picture dictionary of Choctaw Animal Words to include in your notes on language.

Creek Indian Fact sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. Click the back arrow to get back to the webquest. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

Miccosukee Indian Fact sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. Click the back arrow to get back to the webquest. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived. Also, look at the website for a picture dictionary of Mikasuki Animal Words to include in your notes on language.

Seminole Indian Fact sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. Click the back arrow to get back to the webquest. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

Timucua Indian Fact sheet: Use your keywords in the cluster map to find information on each main idea. Write down important facts in each circle. Follow any links to get more information. Click the back arrow to get back to the webquest. On the back of your sheet copy the map of Florida with the area in which this tribe lived.

3. Next, print out or get from your teacher the Native American Venn Diagram. Write the tribe you are researching on the left hand side. Look at the Chart of Native Americans and choose one other tribe to compare and contrast with your tribe. Be sure to follow the links to get more information; just click the back button to get back to the chart or back to the webquest. Click the small blue x in the lower right corner of the Thinkquest banner to get it out of the way. Write any differences in the side circles, and any similarities in the center circle.

4. Next, look at two different timelines of the Seminole Tribe: Seminole Timeline and Seminole History. Create your own timeline of Seminole history on a separate piece of paper, including at least ten important events.

5. Next, look at the book Florida Native Peoples by Bob Knotts. Write down the title of the book, the author, the publisher, and the copyright date in this form: Last name, First Name. Title. Publisher. City, ST, date. For an example, click on the link for credits, and look at the examples. Find the timeline of Florida Native Americans. Write down the page number and add five more events to your timeline of the Seminoles. Use your keywords from your cluster webs to look up more facts you can add to your sheets. Once you have finished that, you may also use any other books on Florida Native Americans that we have in the library if you are interested.

6. Finally, look up Native Americans in the World Book Encyclopedia. On a sheet of paper, write down the name of the encyclopedia, the volume number, the copyright date, and the page numbers. Write down the first 7 headings from the article outline in the orange box and then read and write down one important fact under each heading.

Yea!!! Great job! You are now ready for Big 6 step 5: Synthesis!

Now is the time to put it all your pieces together and create your project: the class newspaper. Gather your notes all together and get with your group to compare your notes. Discuss the important aspects of your Florida tribe. Decide as a group what information should be in your article, advertisements, comic strips, and pictures and maps. As a class you will need to decide on a name for your paper, a design for the layout, and what will be the feature story. Take a look at some examples of newspapers to get some ideas. Have several sheets of newsprint handy, because you will want to make a "rough" copy before making your final copy.

After the final copy of the newspaper is made, you will present your part of the project to the class. Remember that not everyone learned about your Florida Native American tribe, so you will need to explain to the class your process, how you chose your information and why you chose certain facts, and the important information on your tribe that you included.

Before turning in your project and your notes (yes, those get turned in, too!) you need to do Big 6 step 6: Evaluation. So go back to your rubric by clicking on the evaluation link at the left and make sure it is your best work!