North Dakota

 Graphic used with permission from North Dakota Tourism office.

| Introduction | The Task | Resources | The Process |

| Learning Advice | Evaluation| Conclusion

 

Introduction

Occasionally, North Dakota government officials consider dropping the "North" from North Dakota in order to improve the state's image.  They believe this will bring new people to our state to visit and to live.  First, why is it important to bring people into our state?  Second, can you develop a plan to encourage people to visit and/or live in North Dakota?

 Back to Top

The Task

Using library resources, you will research North Dakota. Compare the positive qualities of the state to the qualities of surrounding states and decide how North Dakota can increase tourism and the population. Create a presentation describing your idea. 

Ideas for a presentation: Powerpoint, video, webpage, posters, or any other visually engaging method of sharing your information

 Back to Top

Learning Advice

** These are ideas you may want to consider as you search for information for your presentation. If you discuss all of these ideas, you will have completed thorough research for your presentation.

List 10 facts about North Dakota.

Explain the positive characteristics of North Dakota.

Interview 10 North Dakota residents about the reasons they live in North Dakota.

Investigate the reasons people visit neighboring states (Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana).

Develop a plan to increase the number of North Dakota tourists and residents.

Persuade North Dakota government officials to consider your plan.

 Back to Top

 

Resources

 

Books -- Use the library catalog
Encyclopedia
North Dakota Blue book
magazines -- North Dakota Horizons and North Dakota Outdoors

Online -- Elementary Online Student Resources

**If you feel you need more online resources, please visit with your classroom teacher or Mrs. Kempel. 

 Back to Top

The Process

1. Work as a team to answer the following questions.

1a. Each team member will have a role in the group -- editor, note-taker, computer operator and resource manager. After reading the responsibilities of each role, decide who takes each one.
Provide your teacher with a list of your team members and who is responsible for each role.

** Everyone works together finding the information

EDITOR:

1. Provide updates to the teacher of the group's work 2 times each week.
2. Ask teacher for assistance when needed.
3. Proofread the final presentation.

NOTE-TAKER:

1. Write the notes you want to remember from the resources.

** remember to use neat handwriting.

COMPUTER OPERATOR:

1. Operate keyboard and mouse when at the computer.
2. Handle print resources.
3. Check out books.

RESOURCE MANAGER:

1. Write down all information about the sources your team uses that you will need for the works cited page.

** Works Cited page is available from Mrs. Kempel

3. Gather your resources. Make a plan of where you will look to find information.

3a. As you read the information from your resources and write notefacts to remember information, consider the following questions.
a. Why would you recommend North Dakota as a place to live and/or visit?

b. What if Governor Dalrymple stated publicly that he would follow your plan to encourage people to live and/or visit the state of N.D.

c. Should the government of ND be concerned about the number of tourists and residents?

d. Which one of the 50 states would you like to visit? And Why?

e. How can you encourage people from other states to consider visiting and/or living in North Dakota.

4. Use those resources gathered from step #4. Take notefacts to remember any information you may use for your presentation.

5. Create your presentation describing your plan of how North Dakota officials can encourage people to live and/or visit North Dakota.

6. Your presentation will be videotaped while you present your ideas to your classmates and then the video will be delivered to our North Dakota legislature representatives.

 Back to Top

Evaluation

1. Your teacher will use a rubric to evaluate your presentation. Look at what you will be graded on and then practice before you present in class.

2. Each team member needs to complete the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What did you enjoy most as you learned about North Dakota? Why?

2. What part of this project did you do the best on? Why?

3. Which part of this project was most difficult for you? Why?

4. What is the most interesting thing you learned about North Dakota?

5. If you had to do another project like this, what could you do to get a better result?

6. Did your team work together well? Explain why or why not.

  Back to Top

Conclusion

In this webquest, you learned many facts about the state in which you live. Our hope is that you continue to learn about North Dakota and take pride in your state of residence! 

  Back to Top

This page written by Susan Kempel
March 5, 2011 

 

This page was adapted from Bernie Dodge 's WebQuest_Template1.html by Tom March

 

FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS STANDARDS ADDRESSED

Language Arts

1. Students gather and organize information.
1.4.2 Use simple organization strategies
1.4.3 Use appropriate reference tools

2. Students engage in reading process
2.4.3 Determine a specific purpose for reading

4. Students engage in writing process
4.4.2 Use planning to organize thoughts before writing

5. Students write for a variety of audiences
5.4.1 Write for different audiences

6. Students engage in speaking and listening process
6.4.1 Use voice and body to communicate
6.4.2 Express ideas clearly and concisely

Social Studies

1. Students understand the nature and scope of history and its application to society.
1.4.2 Recognize the events, people and ideas that have contributed to the history of ... North Dakota
1.4.4 Identify the significant events and people in history of the First Nation people of North Dakota

3. Students understand, analyze, and evaluate different economic systems
3.4.2 Examine the choices available for making economic decisions

4. Students understand how to apply appropriate social studies resources to make informed decisions
4.4.1 Examine maps, graphs, charts, globes, atlases and computer programs
4.4.2 Use primary and secondary resources
4.4.3 Analyze current events from the printed and electronic media

Information Resources

3. Students effectively analyze information needs to demonstrate problem-solving and decision-making skills.
3.4.1 Formulate questions based on information need

5. Students understand the ethical issues related to information resources.
5.4.2 Demonstrate awareness of individual intellectual property rights (e.g. copyright, citing sources) of materials used to solve information need
5.4.3 Express the principal of sharing resources

6. Students evaluate their information seeking process and use of information resources.
6.4.1 analyze strategies used for revising, improving, and updating work.

 

See complete adopted FPS standards at http://fmpro.fargo.k12.nd.us/curriculum/