Energy Quest:

In Search of Greatness

A WebQuest for 5th grade (Science)

Designed by:

Todd Kalkbrenner, Jessica Shorts, Lisa Snyder,

and Elizabeth Straub

Introduction: This integrated technology lesson was developed by four Kent State, while studying in the Middle Childhood Program. 

This lesson is a WebQuest based assignment in which students compile research on a famous scientist/inventor.  Students are nominating the scientist who they feel is most deserving of the Extra Special Energy Award.  The winning scientist will be honored with a statue in front of Kent Free Library.  Students will be divided up into four cooperative learning groups.  Each group will complete activity sheets on the four different scientists and then give a 3-5 minute presentation.  After every presentation is given, the class will vote on the scientist they feel has contributed most to today's energy advancements. 

Learners: This lesson is anchored in fifth grade science, language arts, and social studies.  This lesson can be extended into social studies by engaging the class to empathize a world without the major developments of each of the scientist.

Students prior knowledge to this lesson would be understanding the basics of the different types of energies.  For example electricity, chemical energy, kinetic/potential,...ect.  

Standards: Students should learn that these scientist did not just wake up one morning and think I am going to invent something today.  Students will learn that it takes many attempts to invent an idea or develop a new concept.  Students will then be guided through the WebQuest were they will be given the opportunity to organize key points and ideas into notes. After recording and organizing data students will then give a 3-5 minute presentation where they will state information about the scientist background, three interesting facts about their contributions to society other than their science contributions, evidence of Three scientific contributions or inventions in regards to energy, and three different pictures of groups Scientist.       

Science Standards Addressed:

• Identify how scientists use different kinds of continuous investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer.

Language Arts Standards Addressed: 

• Summarize main ideas and the detail that support the main idea.

• Locate sources and collect information from several sources such as school library catalogs, online databases and electronic resources.

• Show active listening skill such as asking questions or making eye contact.

• Use clear diction (speech) and tone (sound), and change the volume and tempo (speed) to stress ideas.

• Give presentations that:

1. Show an understanding of the topic, events or ideas in logical order;

2. Support the main idea with facts, details, examples, quotations, statistics and/or stories;

3. Include a clear introduction, body and conclusion;

4. Use visuals;

5. Use and name several different sources.

Social Studies Standard Addressed:

• Locate information in a variety of sources using key words, related articles and cross-references.

• Organize key ideas by taking notes that paraphrase or summarize.

Process: Click here for the process of the WebQuest assignment

Resources Needed:

• Computer Lab

• Printer

• Art supplies (markers, crayons, and poster board)

Evaluation: Click here for the rubric of this lesson .

Conclusion: 

Every living creature uses energy everyday, from the tiniest bug to the tallest tree. For human beings, energy is used at home, at work, and at school. With everyone using so much energy it makes sense that scientists would like to develop better ways to utilize energy.

Warren G. Bennis once said, “Great things are accomplished by talented people who believe they will accomplish them." These scientists, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Sally Ride, and Granville Woods, all believed that they could accomplish something great with their knowledge and wisdom, and they all did.

Even though it was a great achievement for the scientist that won the contest, it is still important to remember each scientist for their own great achievements to the fields of science, energy, and education.

Feel inspired? Read about these other inventors, check out these other inventions, or invent one yourself!

- http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/

- http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/scientists/index.html

Credits: Thank you to all of our mentor teachers at Davey and Walls Elementary Schools, for opening up your classrooms and providing us the opportunity to learn and become better teachers from this experience.