Louisiana Webquest 
Teacher Page 
A Library Skills WebQuest 
for 7-8th Grade Language Arts 
Designed by Connie McNabb 
cmcnabb@lpsb.org 
 
Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 
 

Introduction 

This library skills distance learning unit was developed as part of a distance learning unit prepared as partial fulfillment of the requirements for ETEC 645, taught by Dr. Nan Adams at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana.  

In this webquest, students will pretend that they have been selected as a Special Agent with the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).  Their mission will be to research information about Louisiana, prepare an intelligence research report, and report this top secret information back to  fellow special agents.  They will develop research skills by using reference resources available to them in the library  

Upon completion of this activity, students will have gained a better understanding of how atlases, almanacs, encyclopedias, dictionaries, the card catalog, and periodical literature may be used to gain important research information.   
 

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 

Learners 

This unit was designed to teach library research skills in 7-8th grade Language Arts class.  This lesson can easily be extended to additional grades and subjects.    

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 

Curriculum Standards 
 

    • ELA Content Standard 1:    Students read, comprehend, and respond to a range of materials, using a variety of strategies for different purposes. 
    • ELA Content Standard 2:    Students write competenly for a variety of purposes.
    • ELA Content Standard 3:    Communicate using standard English grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and handwriting
    • ELA Content Standard 5:    Students locate, select, and synthesize information from a variety of texts, media, references, and technological sources to acquire and communicate knowledge.
Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 

Process 

To accomplish the task, students will use the following guidelines:  

Phase 1 - Operation Background Check 

  1. First,  act as  Commander-in-Chief and assign students to a team of three (3) agents.  Tell students that they will be working undercover and to choose one of these three identities:  Tourist, Reporter, or Politician 
  2. Tell students that they may review background information about the following reference sources:  Almanacs, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Atlases, Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, the Card Catalog, and the Internet. 
Phase 2 - Operation Brown Pelican 
  1. Once students have chosen a role to play, they will print out the Top Secret Fact Sheet. Teachers may choose to have these already printed and ready for use.
  2. Students should assume chosen roles and begin the undercover investigation for the required information. 
Phase 3 - Debriefing 
  1. After all information has been collected, students should share their findings with the other agents on their team. 

  2. Students should prepare an intelligence report that contains all of required information on the Top Secret Fact Sheet.
The webquest should take about 3-5 class periods (45-minute) to complete.  Students should have access to the library and be familiar with the use the card catalog, the reader's guide, almanac, encyclopedia, dictionary, and the Internet. 

 

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 

Resources Needed 

Students should have access to the library and be familiar with the use the card catalog, the reader's guide, almanac, encyclopedia, dictionary, and the Internet.  

Students will need to have: 

  • computers
  • almanac
  • dictionaries
  • encyclopedias
  • reader's guide to periodical literature
  • Internet access
One teacher and one librarian should be able to effectively implement the lesson.  However, there is a role for aides or parents in assisting with this activity.  A field trip to a library would be recommended during or after completion of this webquest.  
 
Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 

Evaluation  

Student grades  will be based on the following: 

Top Secret Fact Sheet
Your Written Intelligence Report 
Your Oral Presentation 
Individual Work and Group Participation 
Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 
  
Conclusion  

At the conclusion of this webquest, students will have used Almanacs, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Atlases, Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, the Card Catalog, and the Internet to complete the research process.  It is hoped that they will have gained valuable experience in using a variety of research materials to locate information on a research topic.  Upon completion of this webquest, students will be able to apply what they have learned to any research topic.  

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page
 


Credits & References  

Special thanks to Mrs. Bobbette Larkey for her help and assistance with this webquest project. 

Background and images provided by: 


Last updated on April 25, 2002.  Based on a template from The WebQuest Page