United Nations Webquest
Student Page
 
Introduction:

Have you heard of the United Nations? Do you know what they do? Do you know what countries are members of the United Nations (UN)? Let's explore the UN to discover how it works towards making the world a better place. And following the UN's example, maybe we can do our part to help make the world a better place too!

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GlobeTask:

In this Webquest, you will explore the web to learn about the United Nations, and how the United Nations relates to the people and cultures of our world! you will also explore the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the spirit of the United Nations commitment to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights, you will create a proposal for a class community service project! At the end of our Webquest, the class will vote for their favorite community service project. This will be our class community service project for the year!

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Process:

Day 1: Within your small group, talk about what you think the United Nations is, including what they do and who might be involved in this organization. Choose a group member to take down notes. Next, you will go to the computer lab to do some research on the UN. First you will watch the video "United Nations For Kids" found at http://dotsub.com/view/1a9d08a1-236c-4820-8574-8ec6a80e45bc. Then visit this web site http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/unintro/unintro.asp to learn more about the UN. Your group might want to take some notes during the video and while visiting the web site. Once you return to your classroom, meet in your small groups and compare what you have learned about the UN so far with your brainstorming ideas from the beginning of class. Think about what you have learned about the UN. Your teacher will ask the class to talk about what we have learned today!

Day 2: Your teacher will read the book Universal Declaration of Human Rights: An Adaptation for Children. Then you will go to the computer lab, where you will explore interactive games related to the UN! Visit http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/ and find the 'Games and Quizzes' section on the left side of the screen. Visit at least two of these interactive games to learn even more about issues affecting our world.

Day 3: Today your group will be creating a poster to present to the class. Your poster will include artwork, as well as information about the UN. Visit this web site to get some ideas for the artwork on your poster http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/gallery/index.asp. Your group's poster should be a reflection of what you think the UN is about, based on what you have learned in class this week. Your posters will be displayed on the class bulletin board.

Day 4: You have learned how the UN works to help improve the lives of the people in our world. But it's not only big organizations like the UN that can make a difference! One person can make a big difference in helping improve the world. Our class is going to be doing a community service project this school year, and it's up to you do decide what we are going to do! Using some of the ideas that you have learned while researching the UN, meet with your smallgroup and come up with a list of possible community service projects. Then go to the computer lab and look at these web sites to get some more ideas: http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/givingtoothers.html and http://www.kidactivities.net/post/Community-Service-Ideas-for-Kids.aspx. In your small group, pick a few favorite ideas for the class community service project. Your teacher will come around to each group to discuss your idea and help you pick one to present to the class. Each group will present their idea, and then the class will vote (just like the UN votes!) on the best project. Think about how you want to present your idea to the class. You will want to explain things such as: what your community service idea is, who it will help, what is involved, when it will take place, and what kinds of resources are involved. Plan out how you want to go about presenting your idea!

Day 5: Today is presentation day! Each small group will give their community service project presentation. After all of the presentations are given, students will cast a ballot to vote for their favorite project idea. Once the votes are counted, we will know what project our class will be working on this year!

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Evaluation:

  Beginning 1 Developing 2 Accomplished 3 Exemplary 4 Score
Small group investigations Students did not create before/after notes, or created before/after notes that reflected no meaningful levels of learning as a result of research and comparing notes. Students created before/after notes that reflected below average levels of learning as a result of research and comparing notes. Students created before/after notes that reflected sastifactory levels of learning as a result of research and comparing notes. Students created before/after notes that reflected high levels of learning as a result of research and comparing notes.  
Poster Creativity There is little evidence of creativity in design of the poster. The poster design contains some creative elements but is not very visually appealing. The poster design contains creative elements and is  visually pleasing. The poster design was achieved using many creative elements and visually pleasing.  
Poster Information The artwork and information contained on the poster reflect little to no understanding of learning about the UN. The artwork and information contained on the poster reflect below understanding of learning about the UN. The artwork and information contained on the poster reflect acceptable levels of understanding of learning about the UN. The artwork and information contained on the poster reflect high levels of understanding of learning about the UN.  
Community Service Project Idea The Community Service Project is not practical, and/or reflects little to no benefit to the community. The Community Service Project may lack somewhat in creative, thoughtful, and/or practical aspects, and reflects a lesser degree of value to the community. The Community Service Project is somewhat creative, thoughtful, practical, and reflects value to the community. The Community Service Project is creative, thoughtful, practical, and reflects high value to the community.  
Project Presentation The presentation did not convey - or did a poor job of conveying - the purpose of, and information about the Community Service Project. The presentation conveyed  the purpose of the Community Service Project, but lacked somewhat in information. The presentation conveyed  the purpose of the Community Service Project, and contained a sufficient amount of information. The presentation clearly conveyed the purpose of the Community Service Project, and contained all necessary information. The presentation was creative and interesting.  
Individual Participation The student had little or no participation in the group work for this project. The student played a minor role in group work for this project. The student displayed satisfactory levels participation in the group work for this project. The student displayed high levels of active participation in the group work for this project.  
BONUS: The group that presents the winning project recieves 2 bonus points.          
           ____ Out of 24

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Conclusion:

UNYou now have a better understanding of the United Nations, and it's importance in making the world a better place for people everywhere! And we have also voted on our class community service project for the year. We will be helping out our community and finding out for ourselves how it feels to make the world a better place!

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Credits:

This web quest was created by Amanda Tracey for a graduate Cultural Diversity class at West Virginia University in Spring 2010.

Web links:

http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/unintro/unintro.asp

http://dotsub.com/view/1a9d08a1-236c-4820-8574-8ec6a80e45bc

http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/ - quizzes/games section on the left

http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/gallery/index.asp

http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/bookstor/Html/univ.htm - book to order Universal Declaration of Human Rights: An Adaptation for Children

http://www.kidactivities.net/post/Community-Service-Ideas-for-Kids.aspx

http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/givingtoothers.html

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Amanda Tracey