The Process

Each student will take on a role, and within each role, the student will have his or her own individual task to complete. Three students will become experts on the theories about the disappearance of the settlers at the Roanoke Colony. The last student will take on the role of a journalist hosting a debate show and will be in charge of researching the general background of the colony. Once each student has completed their research, the students will work together to make a videotape of a mock debate show where they will each make their case and then will discuss the plausibility of the possible theories. After making the videotape, the four students will come to a consensus on which theory they think is most likely and will write a creative, fictional story about the colonists at Roanoke and what happened to them. This story will be in the form of a newspaper article with the title, "Entire Community Disappears." Each student will also draw a picture that could correlate to this newspaper article.

This WebQuest will serve as a culminating project on colonial America. Students need to have a background knowledge of settlement and life in colonial America.

Required skills:

- Internet research skills

- Word processing skills

- Group communication skills

- Creativity and artistic ability

Guidelines for Implementation:

Step 1: Teacher will explain that a Web Quest is a scavenger hunt using outside resources to complete a given task on a specific subject. Students are required to work together in small groups, while each independently plays a specific role. After doing the research, students should meet as a group to synthesize the information and complete the given final project as a group.

Step 2: Students will break up into groups of four.

Step 3: Using a computer, the teacher will pull up the WebQuest online and wil show students the links for each member of the group. the teacher will tell the students to view the links in your section, answer any questions that are specific to their task, and take notes in order to share the information with their group members when necessary.

Step 4: Allow students in-class time, dividing between English and Social Studies. Make sure students are provided with adequate materials to complete the project.

Step 5: Teacher will assist the students with the filming of their debate. A technology resource teacher or librarian will assist, if they are available.

Step 6: Students will present their videos and turn in their paper.