Curriculum, Methods and Assignment: Social Studies EED-465 EED-465 Charting the Course: Social Studies WebQuest Benchmark Assignment and Rubric Targeted Essential Learning Effective teachers will utilize research-based, best practices to design, plan, implement, and manage instruction that is aligned to elementary social studies academic standards. (InTASC 6, 7, 8) Assignment Tool Selected Social Studies WebQuest and Reflection essay. Specific Performance/Task(s) InTASC 6(i) The teacher continually seeks appropriate ways to employ technology to support assessment practice both to engage learners more fully and to assess and address learner needs. InTASC 7(a) The teacher individually and collaboratively selects and creates learning experiences that are appropriate for curriculum goals and content standards, and are relevant to learners. InTASC 8(a) The teacher uses appropriate strategies and resources to adapt instruction to the needs of individuals and groups of learners. InTASC 8(g) The teacher engages learners in using a range of learning skills and technology tools to access, interpret, evaluate, and apply information. Relevancy of Task to Teacher Candidate By designing a comprehensive social studies WebQuest that focuses on an elementary social studies academic standard, teacher candidates will be able to teach social studies concepts to elementary students. General Practicum Information Practicum experience requirements, including the diversity and number of required hours for this course are specified in the College of Education Teacher Preparation Programs Practicum/Field Experience Manual. Complete the Practicum/Field Experience Observation and Activity Log including the names of the schools and grade levels where the observations took place and document the hours spent in the classroom. Submit the log to Taskstream along with your Benchmark Assignment after you have accumulated all of the required practicum/field experience hours for this course. Spend time in at least two different elementary social studies classrooms. Let your mentors know that you are working on developing your lesson planning skills. Throughout the practicum, observe and interview your mentors as to best practices for teaching social studies. Two observations must be in different grade levels and at least one observation must take place in a Title 1 school. Assessment: Student Prompts/Teacher Directions (Benchmark Assignment) Charting the Course: Social Studies WebQuest 1. Choose a specific grade level and strand from the following social studies strands: American History, World History, Civics/Government, Geography, and Economics. Within your selected strand, you will also need to select one particular concept. (To assist, visit the Arizona Department of Education’s Social Studies Standards page at http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/social-studies-standard/.) 1. Create an essential question that your WebQuest will address. Be sure to include the .

1. Curriculum, Methods and Assignment: Social Studies
EED-465
EED-465 Charting the Course: Social Studies WebQuest
Benchmark Assignment and Rubric
Targeted Essential Learning
Effective teachers will utilize research-based, best practices to
design, plan, implement, and manage instruction that is aligned
to elementary social studies academic standards. (InTASC 6, 7,
8)
Assignment Tool Selected
Social Studies WebQuest and Reflection essay.
Specific Performance/Task(s)
InTASC 6(i) The teacher continually seeks appropriate ways
to employ technology to support assessment practice both to
engage learners more fully and to assess and address learner
needs.
InTASC 7(a) The teacher individually and collaboratively
selects and creates learning experiences that are appropriate for
curriculum goals and content standards, and are relevant to
learners.
InTASC 8(a) The teacher uses appropriate strategies and
resources to adapt instruction to the needs of individuals and
groups of learners.
InTASC 8(g) The teacher engages learners in using a range of
learning skills and technology tools to access, interpret,
evaluate, and apply information.
Relevancy of Task to Teacher Candidate
By designing a comprehensive social studies WebQuest that
focuses on an elementary social studies academic standard,
teacher candidates will be able to teach social studies concepts
to elementary students.
General Practicum Information
Practicum experience requirements, including the diversity and

2. number of required hours for this course are specified in the
College of Education Teacher Preparation Programs
Practicum/Field Experience Manual.
Complete the Practicum/Field Experience Observation and
Activity Log including the names of the schools and grade
levels where the observations took place and document the
hours spent in the classroom. Submit the log to Taskstream
along with your Benchmark Assignment after you have
accumulated all of the required practicum/field experience
hours for this course.
Spend time in at least two different elementary social studies
classrooms. Let your mentors know that you are working on
developing your lesson planning skills. Throughout the
practicum, observe and interview your mentors as to best
practices for teaching social studies. Two observations must be
in different grade levels and at least one observation must take
place in a Title 1 school.
Assessment: Student Prompts/Teacher Directions
(Benchmark Assignment) Charting the Course: Social Studies
WebQuest
1. Choose a specific grade level and strand from the following
social studies strands: American History, World History,
Civics/Government, Geography, and Economics. Within your
selected strand, you will also need to select one particular
concept. (To assist, visit the Arizona Department of Education’s
Social Studies Standards page at
http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/social-studies-
standard/.)
1. Create an essential question that your WebQuest will address.
Be sure to include the essential question on the introduction
page of your WebQuest. Use the “Essential Questions” resource
for details on how to create an essential question
http://iss.gstboces.org/ctice/trainings/webquesting/handouts/Ess
entialQuestions.pdf.
1. Review Zunal.com to construct your WebQuest. (For
examples of completed WebQuests, visit the WebQuest home

3. page at http://webquest.org/index.php.)
1. Design a five-day WebQuest that could be used to teach and
assess one particular concept from the social studies strand you
selected. Account for the following lesson plan components:
3. Required resources and materials.
3. Strategies for integrating language arts, where applicable.
3. Strategies for teaching applicable social studies vocabulary.
3. Hands-on learning experiences.
3. A minimum of seven pages designed within the WebQuest
website.
3. Differentiated instruction.
1. Write a reflection of 1,000-1,250-words on why you think the
WebQuest you have devised represents best practices for
teaching social studies and how your mentor teacher’s practices
influenced your design.
1. APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is
expected.
1. Provide access for your instructor to view your WebQuest by
submitting your WebQuest URL to your instructor.
1. Submit the assignment to the instructor by the end of Topic
7.
1. Additionally, submit the assignment in Taskstream along with
your completed Practicum/Field Experience Observation and
Activity Log after you have accumulated all of the required
practicum/field experience hours for this course. Directions for
submitting to Taskstream can be found on the College of
Education's page in the Student Success Center.
Scoring Guide
Charting the Course: Social Studies WebQuest (Benchmark
Assignment)
Criteria
1: Unsatisfactory
2: Less than Satisfactory
3: Satisfactory
4: Good

4. 5: Excellent
WebQuest 90%
Frames the Essential Question
10%
The focus of the question is unclear or missing. The question
may address the knowledge level, but has one obvious answer.
The question spans the lower level of Bloom’s Taxonomy
(Knowledge, Comprehension); does not attempt to have students
make judgments or evaluations.
The essential question attempts to scaffold learning, the
question reaches at least the application level of Bloom’s
Taxonomy; attempts to have students make judgments and/or
evaluations.
The essential question builds on prior knowledge and scaffolds
learning; asks students to make judgments and evaluations.
The essential question reaches the highest levels of Bloom’s
Taxonomy; the learner is encouraged to invent his or her
solution; the learner is encouraged to wonder.
Connects WebQuest to Academic Standards and Objectives
20%
WebQuest does not connect the topic to the standards and/or
objectives.
WebQuest lists multiple items from standards that are
peripherally connected to the topic; standards listed may not be
appropriate to the WebQuest.
Standards are related to the WebQuest and an attempt is made to
connect to other disciplines.
WebQuest is interdisciplinary with targeted standards; standards
are directly correlated to the tasks. Tasks address different
learning modalities.
WebQuest is interdisciplinary with clearly targeted standards,
and the standards scaffold to enhance learning tasks.
Creates Engaging Scenario and Tasks
(Vocabulary activities, learning experiences, assignment
activities, and differentiation)
20%

5. The scenario is one dimensional; the tasks require a student to
research at the knowledge level; directions are missing.
The scenario may be interesting, but the tasks are not clearly
defined and cause confusion; the tasks require a student to
research at the comprehension level.
The scenario is interesting and the tasks are defined. Adequate
background information is supplied.
The scenario and tasks are engaging for the students; the
procedures are clearly outlined.
The scenario hooks the students, and the tasks provide
sufficient background information to excite and maintain the
interest of students.
Includes Relevant Materials and Resources 10%
Links to sites and materials are not directly connected to the
assignment; uses one source.
Attempts to connect materials and sources to assignment, but
some are irrelevant; does not provide adequate information for
students to analyze or interpret.
Information includes mostly relevant materials and sources,
although the sources may be limited; sites are developmentally
appropriate.
All information is relevant; puts meaning of the problem in
personal, social, or community perspectives.
Information is relevant and differentiated; all sources meet the
developmental needs of a diverse population and encourage
reflection.
Product Connected to Assignment/Essential Question
10%
Product does not attempt or fails to connect to the question.
Product is not clearly connected to the question and does not
encourage students to reflect and evaluate contrasting points of
view.
The product is connected to the question; the product may be
similar to other products that have been produced. Attempts to
reflect and evaluate contrasting points of view.

6. The description of the product is clear and coherent. Clearly
reflects and evaluates contrasting points of view.
The description of the product is clearly and coherently
presented; the product is unique to other products that have
been produced; product clearly stretches the student’s thinking.
Demonstrates Creativity
10%
Student copies and pastes from Internet without discrimination;
product demonstrates no connection to the question; product
does not show reflection.
Product demonstrates some connection to the question, but does
not ask students to draw conclusions.
Student demonstrates one clear approach to understanding;
attempts to show reflection.
Student generates multiple approaches of looking at problem;
product.
Student is challenged to demonstrate different and unique
approaches; product shows originality.
Exhibits Comprehensiveness
10%
Overall website design uses less than four web pages; subject
matter is not covered.
Overall website design has at least four web pages developed
but subject matter has missing components.
Overall website design incorporates a minimum of five web
pages; subject matter covers most of the scope and sequence.
Website design has at least six pages; subject matter covers
scope and sequence.
Website design has at least seven pages; website serves as a
model and subject matter is comprehensive in scope and
sequence.
Reflection 10%
Content
5%
Best practice reflection is missing.
A best practice reflection is evident, but there is no connection

7. to mentor teacher’s practice.
The reflection indicates how the WebQuest represents best
practices for teaching social studies, but it is sketchy.
Addresses how the mentor teacher’s practice influenced lesson
design.
Reflections plausibly demonstrate how the WebQuest represents
best practices for teaching social studies.
Justifications indicate the student’s extensive understanding of
best practices for teaching social studies.
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar)
5%
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede
communication of meaning.
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader.
Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but are not overly
distracting to the reader.
Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may
be present.
Writer is clearly in control of standard, written American
English.
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March 1, 2010 EED465.v1Benchmark