Webquest

DISCOVERING “ITALIA”.

A WebQuest for 8-9 years old. (Geography)

Designed by Cristina Negroni

                     Michela Forzanini

E-mail address: cri2286@hotmail.it

                         biky1987@libero.it

Introduction

We want to explain something about our country Italy, focusing on social and geographical aspects in a simple and funny way, using animations and learning quiz.

Task

In our lesson we will present the following contents: we will explain the Italian regions and their capitals, subsequently, we will explain the most important monuments and their location. for children 8-9 years old. The duration of the lesson will be about 10-15 minutes. Children will be divided in groups of 4-5 for each in the initial time.

Process

The most important parts of this topics to teach are the following:

• name and number of the italian regions.
• localization of the regions (North, South, West, East).
• name of each region's capital.
• name and localization of the monuments shown.
• name of italian seas and wich regions are bathed by which seas.

To teach this topic: you have to know the correct names of each italian regions, their localization and to know that cities in wich the most important monuments are placed.

To cover any limitations related to the correct pronunciation of names we will repeat several times together the same word. In the enumeration of the regions we will blew a lot on the shape of each region to store the same shape and to place that in the entire nation. In the theoretical part of learning and as an initial approach, there will be useful to involve the regions in animals-objects that recall the shape. We will discuss the historical monuments placing them in the right city.

We will use drawings, animations and knowledge of the children themselves (eg enhancing interventions, curiosities, showing photographs and devoting time to any direct experience of the children).

The lesson (theoretical part with accompanying practical exercise on web):

1. Do you know where Italy is placed in the world? Find it in the planisphere.
2. We will start to speak about Italy, shape and physical characteristics of the peninsula with the addiction of two islands. Clear map of Italy.

Exercise on web.

2. Which seas bathe Italy? (write correct names and show their location on the map).

Exercise on web.

3. Usually we divide Italy in three part: northern, central and southern part. Exposition of each region, shape and capital city. Show them on the map, write correct names.

Exercise on web.

4. The most important monuments: photographs and their placement according to the city.

Exercise on web.

During the explanation of the content:

we will make sure that everything is clear and understood, asking questions, answering to their questions and asking over and over again if a word or content has not been understood or stored.

We will explain clearly to avoid confusion about contents and prevent their bored.

Evaluation

       Pupils have geography lesson one hour a week. The teacher’s explanation lasts fourtyfive minutes each argument. The last fifteen minutes the children have to do individual exercises which conceirn the arguments of the lesson. Every child has to have one computer where to do interactive exercises. The teacher recive the results of every pupils on her account and give the graduation from 0-5. These exercises are preparatory to the final test.

      The exersises of the lectures are four more a final test (interactive too) which the teacher can graduate the children in all the arguments. In the final test the children have to fill the map of Italy in the following parts: names of regions and each capital city, where the regions are placed (north, south, west and east), the seas and the most important italian monuments. Even in this final test the children will be evaluated from 0-5.

Criteria	Good - Bad
Name and place of italian regions and capital of Italy	1 – 2 – 3 – 4 - 5
Capital of each region	1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
Seas	1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
The most important monuments	1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
Final test (all the previous criteria)	1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Conclusion

Children will be able to describe Italy in geo-political terms. They will also be able to recognize some of the main italian monuments.

References

Informations about Italy (capital and region): http://www.windoweb.it/guida/turismo/guida_italia.htm

About monuments:

http://www.monumenti.org/

About monuments (images):

http://www.italiadavedere.it/Photo-Italia.htm

www.laurastitch.it/links/monumentiitaliani.htm

ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT MODELS AND THEIR ROLE

1.       What kind of models there was mentioned?

We have two kind of models:

-          Learners´ mental models à they are internal representations and they are dynamic, recursive process of learning by constructing mental models of the phenomenon under study.

-          Hypermodels à are conceptual models realized as computer models embedded in interactive curricula. These are external representation and they support internal models.

2.       What ´s the role of these models in learning?

These models involve the formation, testing and subsequent of reinforcement, revision or rejection of mental models. Learner draws on a prior-knowledge and new information during model-formation to construct a mental model of some phenomenon.