This lesson was developed as part of Missouri's eMINTS Project (enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies).

The goal of this webquest is to enable the students to develop their own understanding of the parts of the human cell by using analogies to connect prior knowledge with new concepts. By selecting everyday items for the analogies, the students create a lasting knowledge connection using higher level thinking skills.

This webquest is designed for 6th grade science students investigating cell biology. The students need to know how to create a Powerpoint presentation prior to starting this project.

After completing this webquest, students may want to explore further into the connections between organs and organ systems and their everyday world.  Working models could be developed to demonstrate the analogies as well as designing potential improvements in the ways our bodies work.

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NET-S Standards

1. Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology by:

• applying existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
• creating original works as a means of personal or group expression

2. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others by:

• interacting, collaborating, and publishing with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
• communicating information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
• contributing to project teams to produce original works or solve problems

3. Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information by:

• planning strategies to guide inquiry
• locating, organizing, analyzing, evaluating, synthesizing, and ethically using information from a variety of resources and media
• processing data and reporting results

4. Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources by:

• collecting and analyzing data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions

5. Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior by

• advocating and practicing safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
• exhibiting a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity

6. Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations by:

• understanding and using technology systems
• selecting and using applications effectively and productively

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Missouri Show-Me Standards

Science

In Science, students in Missouri public schools will acquire a solid foundation which includes knowledge of

 

3. characteristics and interactions of living organisms

Communication Arts

In Communication Arts, students in Missouri public schools will acquire a solid foundation which includes knowledge of and proficiency in

1. speaking and writing standard English (including grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, capitalization)


 

3. reading and evaluating nonfiction works and material (such as biographies, newspapers, technical manuals)

4. writing formally (such as reports, narratives, essays) and informally (such as outlines, notes)

6. participating in formal and informal presentations and discussions of issues and ideas

Goal #1

Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to gather, analyze and apply information and ideas.

Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to

1. develop questions and ideas to initiate and refine research

2. conduct research to answer questions and evaluate information and ideas

4. use technological tools and other resources to locate, select, and organize information

5. comprehend and evaluate written, visual, and oral presentations and works

Goal #2

Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom.

Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to

1. plan and make written, oral, and visual presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences

2. review and revise communications to improve accuracy and clarity

 

Goal #3

Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to recognize and solve problems.

Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to

1. identify problems and define their scope and elements

5. reason inductively from a set of specific facts and deductively from general premises.