Introduction for the Teacher/Facilitator


This WebQuest is designed for students approximately 9 to 12 years old. It
is aligned with content standards for music, social studies, and language
arts.

 

The timeline for completion can vary, depending on your schedule and availability of technology. My student groups (8 per group) meet three times each week for 30 – 45 minutes each session over a period of 4 weeks.

 

Any one of the 4 challenges may be implemented separately to meet the needs of your curriculum or situation.

 

Many extended activities can spring from this WebQuest. In my school, this quest culminates in an end of the school year evening presentation. At the presentation, the community is invited to view some of the products created by the students, sample some of the recipes from the medieval and renaissance periods, and listen to a concert of music written in the style of the period.

 

Delaware State Standards and Performance Indicators:

 

English/Language Arts Standard 1
Students will use written and oral English appropriate for various purposes and audiences.

English/Language Arts Standard 2
Students will construct, examine, and extend the meaning of literary, informative, and technical texts through listening, reading and viewing.

English/Language Arts Standard 3

Students will access, organize, and evaluate information gained by listening, reading, and viewing.


History Standard 2:

Students will gather, examine, and analyze historical
data [Analysis].
4-5: Students will identify artifacts and documents as either primary or
secondary sources of historical data from which historical accounts are
constructed.
4-6: Students will examine historical materials relating to a particular
region, society, or theme; chronologically arrange them, and analyze change
over time.

 

Music Standard 6:
Students will listen to, describe, and analyze music and music performances.
B. Listen and identify the sounds of a variety of instruments and voices.
C. Use movement and dialog to describe various styles of music.

Music Standard 9:

Students will understand music in relation to diverse cultures, times and
places.
A. Listen to examples of music from various historical periods and diverse
cultures by genre or style.

Author’s Note


As a music educator, I teach all of my 3rd and 4th grade students to play
the recorder. The recorder is a song flute that is rich in history. I wanted
to develop an activity that could bring my students closer to that history.
I want them to develop an appreciation for the culture that created the
musical instrument.

The development of the recorder spans the Medieval through the Renaissance
periods in Western history. The resources presented in this WebQuest focus
mainly on the 15th through 17th centuries in Western Europe. Since this
period is so rich with cultural significance, there is a multitude of
possible continuation and follow up lessons.


Suggested Technology Skills


Students will use a variety of media to complete this WebQuest, including
technological resources. I try to identify students who possess some degree
of technological proficiency to include in each group. Before the
Quest begins, I introduce/review the following skills:
· On/off procedures
· Basic keyboarding skills
· How to create, edit, save, and print a word document
· How to format, save to, and retrieve data from a floppy diskette
· How to access the Internet and navigate websites
· How to "capture" text and images from web resources
· Citations for web based materials

 

 

Suggested Music Skills

Because my primary area is music, I teach my students know how to play the recorder. It is helpful to complete the second part of the music challenge if students can play the recorder and have a basic knowledge of musical notation and composition. Consult your music specialist for help.

Suggested Art Skills

Some knowledge of visual art media and construction techniques can be helpful to complete the part one of the castle challenge and for the tapestry challenge. Consult your visual arts specialist for help.

 

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