Webquest activity cluster - planning notes
Teacher planning and reference notes for the webquest activity cluster. This page covers the structure of the activities, how to adapt them for different class levels, and what the evaluation rubric is measuring.
Activity cluster overview
This cluster covers structured inquiry activities across three topic areas:
- Web literacy and small-site reading - students compare how information is presented across different types of pages
- Local resource mapping - students build a short reference list for a local topic using structured criteria
- Process documentation - students describe a multi-step process in a format that a peer could follow
Each activity has a defined deliverable, a defined source list and a rubric. The three can be run in sequence over three weeks or as standalone sessions.
Adapting for class level
For younger or less experienced students, pre-narrow the source list and provide a worked example of the deliverable format. For more experienced students, add a source evaluation step: they must justify why they included each source.
The evaluation rubric
The rubric assesses four qualities, each scored 1-3:
- Accuracy - does the deliverable reflect what the sources say?
- Clarity - can a peer read the deliverable without help?
- Completeness - does the deliverable address all parts of the task?
- Process - does the student show their working, not just the conclusion?
Share the rubric with students before they start. The rubric is the task, not just the scoring.
Common stumbling points
- Students treat the deliverable as a summary of all the sources rather than an answer to the specific question.
- Students leave out the source references from their deliverable.
- Students do not complete the process documentation section because it feels like "extra work".
Address the first two in the introduction. Address the third by allocating class time specifically for it.