This webquest was created as a final project for a class on differentiated instruction as part of my Master's degree in Education at the University of New England.
What is differentiated instruction? According to Carol Tomlison in her book entitled, How To Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, differentiated instruction provides students with a variety of ways to take in new information, understand and process ideas, and then show what they have learned (2001, p. 1).
There are three primary areas in which instruction can be differentiated -- content, process, and product. After completing the pre-assessment, students were assigned to different pirate ships. Students were exposed to various content on their voyages based on their ability levels and learning profiles. The process was also varied based on the complexity of the tasks required, choice of activity, and whether they worked individually or in partnerships. Lastly, product was differentiated via the choice of final project student were able to use to demonstrate their knowledge.
Working backwards from the expected 2nd grade standards regarding grammar and writing outlined in the Common Core, I created this webquest as a fun and, hopefully, meaningful way for students to learn about a necessary, but sometimes hard to grasp topic.
Second Grade Common Core English Language Arts Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking.
Resources:
Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2014). English Language Arts Standards. Retrieved
from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/
Tomlison, C. (2001). How to differentiate instruction in mixed-ability classrooms
(2nd edition). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
What is differentiated instruction? According to Carol Tomlison in her book entitled, How To Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, differentiated instruction provides students with a variety of ways to take in new information, understand and process ideas, and then show what they have learned (2001, p. 1).
There are three primary areas in which instruction can be differentiated -- content, process, and product. After completing the pre-assessment, students were assigned to different pirate ships. Students were exposed to various content on their voyages based on their ability levels and learning profiles. The process was also varied based on the complexity of the tasks required, choice of activity, and whether they worked individually or in partnerships. Lastly, product was differentiated via the choice of final project student were able to use to demonstrate their knowledge.
Working backwards from the expected 2nd grade standards regarding grammar and writing outlined in the Common Core, I created this webquest as a fun and, hopefully, meaningful way for students to learn about a necessary, but sometimes hard to grasp topic.
Second Grade Common Core English Language Arts Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1.A: Use collective nouns.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1.B: Form and use frequently occurring irregular plural nouns.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1.D: Form and use the past tense of frequently occurring irregular verbs.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1.E: Use adjectives and adverbs, and choose between them depending on what is to be modified.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1.F: Produce, expand, and rearrange complete simple and compound sentences.
Resources:
Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2014). English Language Arts Standards. Retrieved
from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/
Tomlison, C. (2001). How to differentiate instruction in mixed-ability classrooms
(2nd edition). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.