A New Life In Massachusetts

A WebQuest

A WebQuest for 3th Grade Massachusetts Study

Designed by

Cyd McCann

 

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


Introduction

It is the year 1850. This is your big chance! Your cousin has sent you a ticket to Massachusetts in America "where the streets are paved with gold." Your cousin has also offered you a place to stay while your family gets settled. You and your family (team) must determine what opportunities there are for making a living in your in your region. With that information, you must now decide if you should make the voyage.


The Task

To prepare for your decision about moving to Massachusetts, you must learn more about your region and its opportunities. Together you will develop an oral presentation (speech) designed to convince other family members of your decision, whether it is to go or stay. In your presentation you must base your presention on the facts gathered in your research.


The Process

  1. First you'll be assigned to a team.
  2. Next, you will receive your ticket to Massachusetts. This will determine where you settle.
  3. Once you know where you are settling, your career choices will be more limited. For example, if you are settling in the Berkshire Hills, you will not be able to go into the whaling industry. Investigate your region. Use the table below to get information on your destination.

    Coastal Lowlands

    Eastern New England Upland

    Connecticut Valley Lowland

    Coastal Plain

    Berkshire Hills

    Taconic Mountains
  4. Use the worksheet, "Region", to record your information. Be sure to complete each section.
  5. Investigate the industries of Massachusetts using the table below. Learn about each industry. Record your information on the worksheet, "Industries".

    farming (tobacco, cranberry, dairy, food crops, maple, etc.)

    paper making

    education

    shipping

    ship building

    textiles

    fishing

    shoe making

    wool, wood, grain processing

    whaling

    printing and publishing

  6. From your research, decide whether or not you should move to Massachusetts. You will need to support your decision with facts.
  7. Next, use the template to prepare your speech. Remember, you are trying to convince other family members to agree with your decision. Describe the benefits or drawbacks of your area and the career opportunities available there. Be sure to include pictures and a map!


Evaluation

CATEGORY

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Needs Improvement

Quality of Information

Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.

Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.

Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.

Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.

Organization

Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.

Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs.

Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed.

The information appears to be disorganized. 8)

Mechanics

No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.

Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors

A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.

Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Diagrams & Illustrations

Pictures and maps add to the reader's understanding of the topic.

Pictures or maps add to the reader's understanding of the topic.

Pictures or maps sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic.

Pictures and/or do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic.

Graphic Organizer

Graphic organizer or outline has been completed and shows clear, logical relationships between all topics and subtopics.

Graphic organizer or outline has been completed and shows clear, logical relationships between most topics and subtopics.

Graphic organizer or outline has been started and includes some topics and subtopics.

Graphic organizer or outline has not been attempted.


Conclusion

You should now have an understanding of each of the major regions that make up the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and they type of opportunities available to inhabitants of this state during the 1800's. If you had a choice, would you have picked a different area to settle? Why? Of all the career opportinities, which sounds the most interesting to you? Would you have liked living in Massachusetts during that time?


Credits & References

 

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