Major Project Update #5 - Incorporating Standards

I have decided that my project will be developed for an 8th grade classroom and incorporate 8th grade US History content standards into the lessons. I actually decided this much longer ago mentally, but I am finally committing it to writing in order to show my process in developing the WebQuest. In order to view the 8th grade Ohio content standards, I headed to the ODE website here.

As you can see, the study of colonial America fits in perfectly with the 8th grade US History course description as seen below.

"The historical focus continues in the eighth grade with the study of European exploration and the early years of the United States. This study incorporates all four social studies strands into a chronologic view of the development of the United States. Students examine how historic events are shaped by geographic, social, cultural, economic and political factors."

There are at least 4 8th Grade US History content standards that will relate directly to my WebQuest. 

1. Primary and secondary sources are used to examine events from multiple perspectives and to present and defend a position. 
2. The ideas of the Enlightenment and dissatisfaction with colonial rule led English colonist to write the Declaration of Independence and launch the American Revolution. 
3. Informed citizens understand how media and communication technology influence public opinion. 
4. Americans began to develop a common national identity among its diverse regional and cultural populations based on democratic ideals. 

Since my students will be writing during their WebQuest, the WebQuest also touches on 8th grade Language Arts standards for writing narratives, which can be found here. I've written the narrative content standard for 8th grade language arts below. 

W.8.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well- structured event sequences.

• Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
• Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
• Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.
• Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events. 
• Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events. 

There is even an 8th grade language arts content standard for using the internet to produce writing!

W.8.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently, as well as to interact and collaborate with others

And finally, this WebQuest supports the 8th grade language arts content standard that asks students to draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis and reflection. 

W.8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. 

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