Cruisin' Down The Mississippi

A Social Studies WebQuest for 4th-6th Graders

Designed By

Antoinette Perry-Sigler
apsigler@cuip.net

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page


Introduction

Have you ever wanted to go on a cruise?  How about even  being the Cruise Director?  Well if you haven't, get ready because you are now a Cruise Director on a luxury liner, the largest travel ship in the world and your ship is taking a journey down the Mississippi River.  You will travel from the most Southern tip of the Mississippi River to the most Northern tip.  Since you are the Cruise Director, you will be expected to know the historical facts and attractions of the Mississippi River and each state that it will dock in.  You will also hold a lottery at the onset of the cruise for each participant to pull a state out of a hat.  At the end of the cruise, you will host a Presentation Assembly where they will showcase their favorite highlighs of that particular state pulled from the hat.   



The Task

As the Cruise Director, you will create a database that will include historical facts about the Mississippi River and the 10 states that surround it.  You will be familiar with the tourists attractions, places to go, things to do, family activities, landmarks and points of interests of each state.  You will also familiarize yourself with vocabulary that your passengers may encounter while on their journey. To assist you in receiving this information you will visit the site  www.enchanted learning.com.

 



The Process

1.  The Cruise Director will do research on the Mississippi River.  To find out about the              history of this river, the Cruise Director can browse www.mrcusa.com.  He/She will also          create a portfolio on about this part of the journey.                                                              

2.  The Cruise Director will research the 10 states that surround the Mississippi River that          the boat will dock at.  He/She will create a folder with that will have 10 facts about each      state.

3.  The Cruise Director will pass out a sticky note pad to each passenger. Each day as  the  boat docks, on a large poster board at the entrance of the boat, each passenger  will post one fact or image about the state visited on that day.  Poster board  will  continue to hang in lobby until Cruise ends.

4.  The Cruise Director will implement a checklist of questions for the passengers to answer

5.  The Cruise Director will have a knowledge of vocabulary words introduced during this            journey.  


    
 



Evaluation



Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

 

Responds to relevant questions.

 

Research was sometimes accurate but not relevant.

Research was sometimes accurate and relevant.

Research was mostly accurate, and  relevant.


Research was accurate, and relevant.



 

Collected and recorded information







 

Uses appropriate units to measure length  & width of the River 





.

.


 

Compares and contrasts physical characteristics of each state 

 

Information was  accurate. Display was somewhat  organized.


Information was sometimes clear and accurate.  Display was  organized.


Information was sometimes clear, mostly accurate and organized. Display was creative and aesthetically pleasing.


Information was sometimes clear, mostly accurate and organized. Display was creative and aesthetically pleasing.



 

Portfolio
of
Selected
State





 






Conclusion

After the cruise is completed, students will engage in a conversation about the journey. The Cruise Director will know more about the Mississippi River, the state it flows through and he/she will give a presentation on a particular State.  This will assist him/her in being successful in accomplishing future tasks in American History or Geography.  They will also be able to make suggestions on family vacations and travel attractions. 


Credits & References

Thanks to my daughter, Toya for downloading Netscape and helping me...
Thanks to my friend Robin for getting me into this class...
www.google.com
www.enchantedlearning.com
www.mrcusa.com
school.directory.com
www.mississippiriverinfo.com





Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page