Today, I would like to bring your attention to fantastic webquest that helps pupils understand the pitfalls of the intenet. The website looks, at first, to be fairly well put together and seems to be the ideal site to find out about Explorers. However, on closer inspection, pupils will hopefully spot that all of the Explorer biographies on the site are in fact fictional. While some of the facts are true or based on truth, many inaccuracies, lies, and even downright absurdity are mixed in indiscriminately.
The website contains lesson plans for the teachers (see below). Why not divide your class up and let them do some research on Explorers. I wonder how many would just accept that everything on the website is true?
"The Indians were excited by the newcomers and their gadgets. They especially enjoyed using their cell phones and desktop computers. " Christopher Columbus
The main page to the website is: http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/
Lesson 1: Just Because It’s Out There Doesn’t Mean It’s Good.
http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/teachers/lesson1.html
Lesson 2: So How Do You Find the Good Stuff.
http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/teachers/lesson2.html
Lesson 3: Google, What?
Be sure to choose the search terms ahead of time so that there are no surprises. http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/teachers/lesson3.html
Lesson 4: So Where Am I, Anyway?
How to read the address or URL (Universal Resource Locator) of an internet page.
http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/teachers/lesson4.html
Another website to show the children is:
Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus - Information and history of the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
One for teachers is:
The Five W's of Cyberspace - How to evaluate a website for credibility