webquest.html

Created by Judy Gavin
Randallstown, Maryland 21133

Updated June 2004

INTRODUCTION TASK PROCESS RESOURCES EVALUATION CONCLUSIONS

Your Aunt needs your help. . .
After several conferences with your cousin Newton's math teacher,she's in a quandry. It seems that Newton thinks that math is DUMB! He's constantly challenging the teacher to explain why they need to know this, why it works, and when is he going to use this. Despite your Aunt's curfews and punishments, Newton's still challenging and is not producing work at the level that he's capable of achieving. You realize that he'll never change unless he sees a real reason for studying mathematics. You also know that you're capable of helping him see the light (not with corporal methods).
Will you help your cousin by accepting this challenge?

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After investigating several applications of mathematics to the real world, you and your partner will use the information available to create a treasure hunt search for your cousin on the Internet so that he can discover that math is interesting and relevant and necessary. Your goal is to question him with a variety of challenges and change his mind about math.

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With a partner, you will investigate websites and prepare your treasure hunt using 3 days of class time. If additional time is needed, you and your partner will need to find shared time outside of class.
The following is a useful list of steps that you may take to effectively finish your project.

Use the suggested Web sites to find a mathematical connection between the topic on the site and the topics studied in Algebra and Geometry.

Choose a topic of interest to you. If it's interesting to you, you'll do a better job in helping your cousin.

If none of the topics interests you, choose a connection between Mathematics and real - life and have it approved by me.

Use the Quest Keeper to keep track of your investigation and the sites that you visited.

Create a Scavenger Hunt for your cousin. Your scavenger hunt should include the following :

An Essential question - If all else fails :What is the connection between mathematics and XXXX?
Several Subsidiary questions - Questions that will lead you cousin to the essential question and a potentail answer.
Several Probing questions - Questions that will lead your cousin below the surface to find out the connection between the material and mathematics.
Several Clarifying questions - Questions to make sure that he's investigating what you want him to and heading in the right direction. Also questions that will enable you to make sure that he's staying on task.

Don't forget that you'll need to create some questions for yourself! You may need some...

Sorting and Sifting questions - to decide what portion of the material he should use and what he should read
Strategic questions - to help you focus on a task and plan for his hunt.

Should you get confused about the types of questions, you can find more information by using
http://fno.org/nov97/toolkit.html

His Treasure Hunt must also include some ACTUAL MATHEMATICS for him to do Otherwise, it may be cool, but he won't understand the relevance of what his math teacher is trying to teach him. This can be done through the website or by a series of questions that you generate.

UseCreating the Hunt to develop Newton's treasure hunt for him!
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The following list gives you some choices to use in finding mathematical connections.
     Investigate Carbon dating of objects.
     Find about more about Chaos Theory.
     See how the Rainforest crops are cultivated.
     See some famous problems in Mathematics.
     Investigate various contributors to Mathematics over the ages.
     Check out Alice and Wonderland created by a Mathematician.
     Find out about the geometry of an Oriental rug.
      Find out about Earthquakes and the Richter Scale.

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Your final project will be graded on the following components:

The ability of another student to use your material and complete the Treasure Hunt successfully.	40%
The quality and quantity of your questions asked during the Treasure Hunt	40%
The polish of your Treasure Hunt ( Bells and Whistles)	20%

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Frequently, students in the early levels of Mathematics never see the relevancy of what they are learning and what happens in real life. Your Treasure Hunt has assisted your cousin and others in finding a real reason to study. For that reason, mathematics teachers world wide thank you for your efforts.And so does your Aunt!

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