A Web Quest for 4th - 6th Graders

Designed by

Laura Shellie
 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
 
 

Introduction

Change, change, change!  What do you do with all of your change?  Have you ever wanted to help out a worthy cause?  For the next two weeks you will be bringing in your change.  Once all of the change is collected, you will be doing some fun math activities, creating a collage, and writing a short essay.  The final activity will be presenting the money to a representative of the chosen charity. 

The Task
     Your mission, if you choose (and you will!) is to decide, as a class, a local charity you feel is worthy of a class donation.  You will be given a two week calendar which will tell you what coin and how many of each coin to bring in on a particular day.  After all of the money is collected, you will be  doing some fun math activities:  playing a predicting game and changing fractions to decimals.  You will create a collage showing how you hope the money will help those who are less fortunate and writing an essay stating what you are thankful for and how you hope the money can help someone else.  The best part of the mission will be presenting the money and your hopes to a representative of the charity. 

The Process

DAY ONE - You have a major decision to make.  Who do want to receive your change?  Research the following charitable organizations clicking on their web sites.  Find out how they operate, how they help others, and who they help.  Make a list of your findings for each organization.  At the end of class time, you will vote for the one charity you feel is deserving of the money the class collects.  After the vote, the teacher will hand out a money calendar you must follow for two weeks.  Make sure to bring in the correct coin and the correct number of coins each day!

SALVATION ARMY 

EASTER SEALS

YMCA

CATHOLIC CHARITIES
 
 

CALENDAR
 
 

DAY TWO - (two weeks later)  You will conduct a probability experiment.  The teacher will divide the class into 9 groups; three Group A's, three group B's, and three group C's.  Your group will be predicting how many and of what color are a group of cubes in a paper sack.  You will conduct two trial experiments in your group.  You will change your first prediction after each trial.  After a few trials, you will get together with the other groups of the same letter and look over the collected data.  Do one more trial in your group and then make a final prediction of how many cubes are in your bag and how many of each color.  Look into your bag and see how close your final prediction was.  Now look at the collected change and predict how many of each coin is in the jar.  Each group will be given a handful of the change to count.  How close was your money prediction?
 
 
 
 

DAY THREE - You will now learn how to represent fractions as part of a collection. Click on M and M Experiment  and DON'T EAT THE CANDY BEFORE THE LESSON IS OVER!  As a class, list the coins as fraction of the collection.  Make a table and change the fractions to decimals and then to percents.  This is easy to do by dividing the fractions (example - 1/2 is 1 divided by 2 or 0.5).  Then change the decimal to a percent by multiplying by 100 (0.5 times 100 = 50 or 50%). 
 
 
 
 
 

DAY FOUR - Today you will be in a group and create a collage showing how you hope the class contribution will help people.  Do you want to feed or clothe people?  Would you like to see someone be helped educationally?  BE CREATIVE!  After you have finished your group collage, write an individual essay on what you are thankful for.  Remember, we are all blessed more than we realize!

DAY FIVE - A representative of the chosen charity will come in and speak to your class.  There will be time for discussion and questions.  A representative of your class will present the class collection the charity.  Congratulations on all the hard work!
 
 
 
 
 
 

You will be evaluated on the following activities during the week.  Remember, cooperation is necessary! 

By completing this week of activities, you have shown compassion for others, and even learned some math skills along the way!  Pat yourself on the back for a job well done.  Always remember, there is always someone less fortunate than you.

I would like to thank the members of Hakuna Matata, Cynthia Veronda, Mulan Nelson, and my family for all of their patience and understanding.