Lewis and Clark Journals 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 origins of the expedition or the route covered in the table of contents. Look up specific topics like a particular river, Native American tribe they met, or specific name 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 a cluster web, timelines, and picture-frame organizers.
Let's get started! Be sure to read all the directions for a step before clicking on the link.
1. Get to know yourself. Go to the Corps of Discovery Profiles site and click the link of your name. Write down the important and interesting things about yourself on the cluster web (print it out or get from your teacher). Save your cluster web for the next step.
2. From the non-fiction book, The Lewis and Clark Journals, on reserve in the library, write down four facts on primary sources on your cluster web. Next, write down 2 facts on secondary sources and one potential problem in using secondary sources for research. Finally, write down the four purposes of Lewis and Clark's journals from the chapter on "What They Wrote." Read the description and look at the pictures of the actual journals from the section "The Unknown West."
3. Go to the Discovering Lewis and Clark website, and scroll down to view all the links from the journal excerpts. Skim the descriptions and choose five from 1803-1806 that are interesting to you. On the timeline page, write the date and important information that happened that day. You may illustrate any pictures on the picture-frame organizer. Click the back arrow to return to the journal choices. Make sure that your timeline entries are in chronological order!
4. After the introduction on the Rivers of Words: Exploring Lewis and Clark site, move your mouse over the red dot on the map for a description of that event. Click on the dot for excerpts from Lewis and Clark's journals of that event. Click on the arrow at the bottom right corner to see drawings of the event. Choose five events, and put the date and important information of those events on the timeline. Make any drawings on your picture-frame organizer. Make sure your events are in the correct sequence on the timeline.
5. Next you will go to an Interactive Trail Map. Scroll over the states and select five states to explore. Click on the state, then click on the link under "From the Lewis & Clark Journals." Scroll down to find an event that interests you, and write the date and description on the timeline. You will have one event from each of the five states. Make sure they are in chronological order on your timeline.
6. To view journal entries from the time surrounding their arrival at the Pacific Ocean, to their stay at Fort Clatsop, to the preparations of their return east, go to the Thinkquest site, End of the Trail. Click on the link "journals" on the left, then click on the months to view details of the journal entries from these dates. Write down the date and important information on five of the journal entries on the timeline. Again, make sure the entries are in the correct sequence on your timeline!
7. For your final timeline, you will be using the World Book encyclopedia. Find the volume for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and find the timeline in the orange box. Choose five events that interest you and write the date and important information on your timeline.
8. Now you will be filling out drawings of specimens that Lewis and Clark encountered along the route. Print out or get from your teacher a new picture-frame organizer. Read the introduction to the Lewis and Clark Journey Log. At the top of the site, scroll over the numbers to see a description of that leg of the journey. Click on one that interests you. Read the description, then click on the pictures of animals and/or plants. Draw six of these on your organizer. Write the date and place Lewis & Clark first noted the specimen on the expedition.
9. View the map of Lewis and Clark's expedition, then draw their route on the US physical map (print out or get from teacher). To view the online map closer, click on the circle with the plus sign on the menu bar until the map is large enough. Mark the locations of your timeline entries on the route, and add the symbol you use to the legend/map key.
10. Now you are ready to put it all together! Remember that Big 6 Step 5: Synthesis means taking all your pieces (notes) and putting them together to create something new. You will gather together all your timelines, picture-frame organizers, and cluster web and review them to choose ten events from any of your timelines and ten drawings you would like to include in your journal. Organize your timelines so that your events go in chronological sequence in your journal. You will write about your events and draw your specimens on 4x6 index cards, then put it together with a cover like the actual journals you saw in the non-fiction book The Lewis and Clark Journals.
To get ideas on how to write your journal entries, look at the books The Great Expedition of Lewis and Clark and Seaman's Journal: On the Trail with Lewis and Clark. The first is a picture book journal told from the perspective of Private Reubin Field, member of the Corps of Discovery. The second is a picture book told from the perspective of Seaman, Meriwether Lewis's Newfoundland dog who was on the expedition! Both books are in journal form, and may give you ideas on how to write your own journals of the events from your timelines. The books are on reserve in the library.
After your final copy of your journal is made, you will present your journal to the class. Remember that not everyone may have chosen the same events as you, 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 the expedition that you included.
Before turning in your project, map, 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!
