Diversifying Responses to Literature with Online Reading Tasks

Step 1. For homework, learn more about what a WebQuest is. 

• Read this short description of “What Is a WebQuest?” and The Essential Parts of A Webquest
  
• Read the article Web-based inquiry learning: Facilitating thoughtful literacy with WebQuests (shown below) to find out how WebQuests can be an effective form of literature response that involves higher order thinking skills. 
• Explore three webquests to see a range of experiences. Think about the extent to which each activity inspires children to think deeply about the story in diverse ways. 
  

1. Running Out of Time - Let’s Compare Centuries: This informational quest allows students to view the different aspects of life in the 19th Century and then compare it to their life today.
   
2. Running Out of Time (by Pennsylvania Teachers): This creative response quest challenges students to choose one of four activities that spark their interest and challenges their creativity.
   
3. Running From Time to Time: This student created Thinkquest demonstrates their ability to research and reflect on their own reactions to the story. 
   

Step 2. In class, select a partner and brainstorm two lists of ideas:

• A list of informational topics in science, social studies, or math related to the plot or setting/time period (1840’s) of the story Running Out of Time. These ideas should be loosely connected to an event or concept in the story and might involve comparing these ideas to life today.  Some beginning ideas about topics might include: Clothing, Housing, Schools, Daily Life, Chores, Games, Occupations, Technology and Inventions, Money, and Epidemics (Diphtheria), the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, etc.  There are probably many other topics as well.
• A list of other types of creative response activities that engages students in thinking about the characters, plot, setting, theme, big ideas, or even the author of Running Out of Time.
  

Step 3. In class, work with a partner (and perhaps for homework) to do some initial exploring on the Internet to look for online texts or multimedia information related to these topics that would be appropriate for fifth graders.  Click here for a beginning list of websites to help yyou get started.

Step 4. Select a topic from either of your activity lists that has potentially rich and interesting resources for children to explore.  Design a creative response activity focused on this topic. Your student activity should include three parts: 
1. A snappy title and explanation of the task.
2. A small set of online resources (2-3) for students to visit and learn more.
2. A product idea for students to share what they learned with others. 

Step 5. Review the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (access below) for fifth grade and link your activity to at least one of these standards. 

Step 6. Post your activity idea and related links on the Google docs file created for our class.

Step 7. Be prepared to present your activity during class for the “members of the curriculum team.”