Connecticut+WebQuest

New Travel Posters Commissioned for Connecticut! The State of Connecticut Office of Tourism has decided to commission new travel posters for the State of Connecticut. Westover students have been asked to create these travel posters, which will reflect the many wonderful sites in our beautiful state. You will need to take a virtual tour of our state to become an expert on Connecticut. You will discover the many possible attractions and interesting facts that you could use to create travel posters for Connecticut. You will research these Connecticut attractions and facts and take notes in a WebQuest Journal. Then, you will create a travel poster based on your notes about Connecticut. You will discover many interesting and important facts about Connecticut, including:
 * Introduction: **
 * The Task: **
 * What borders Connecticut
 * What special geographical features are in Connecticut
 * What city our capital is
 * What the points of interest are in Connecticut
 * What the state flower, tree, bird, insect, and mammal are
 * What recreational activities are available
 * What our natural resources are
 * Who our state hero and heroine are
 * What famous people made Connecticut their home

You will present your posters to your guests at the culminating activity for this Focus.

1. Start your virtual tour of Connecticut by finding out about Connecticut’s special symbols. One of them might be good to use on a poster! Click below to see a chart of Connecticut symbols. Click on the boxes that will tell you about our state flower, tree, bird, insect, mammal, ship and fossil. Write their names on the appropriate lines in your Connecticut WebQuest Journal. Then choose three symbols you think might be good on the new travel poster and draw them in the three boxes in the journal. []
 * The Process: **

2. Your poster may include an outline of the state. You need to know what Connecticut looks like, where it is on the map and what borders it. Click below to see a map of Connecticut. Label our state and mark where Stamford is on the map in your Connecticut WebQuest Journal. Then write the states and body of water that border Connecticut in your Journal. []

3. Connecticut's Capital.

a. You might want to show Connecticut's capital on your poster. Click below to find out which city is our capital. Scan the page until you find it! []

b. Click below to see in what year Hartford became the capital of Connecticut and write the answer in your WebQuest Journal. []

c. Hartford is a large city. Click below to see a photograph of Hartford and draw a picture of it in your WebQuest Journal. []

4. Animals look good on travel posters. What animals are native to Connecticut? Click on the site below and look at the animals in the Critter Corner section. Is there an animal that you have never seen in Connecticut? Are there animals that you see in your own yard? Choose two Connecticut animals to draw in your WebQuest Journal. []

5. Connecticut has wonderful state parks. Take a look at the site below and click on the activities in the list to find three things to do in our state parks. Make a list in your WebQuest Journal and tell how it reminds you of something you’ve seen or done in your own life. []

6. There are many fascinating places of interest to visit in Connecticut. Explore each Web site below. Decide on three places you might like to visit and write them in your WebQuest Journal. Write what you would see or do there. Do you think you might use one for your travel poster?

Beardsley Zoo [|http://www.beardsleyzoo.org] Dinosaur State Park [|http://www.dinosaurstatepark.org] New England Air Museum [|http://www.neam.org] Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration [|http://www.mysticaquarium.org] Peabody Museum of Natural History [] The Shore Line Trolley Museum [|http://www.bera.org] The Barnum Museum ** [] **

Click here to learn more about P.T. Barnum ** [] **

7. You might want to include some interesting facts about the state on your poster. Click on the link below to find out the state’s nickname and what the name “Connecticut” means in the Native American language of the Algonquin Indians. Write this information in your WebQuest Journal. []

8. Some people like to travel because they enjoy learning about history. Did you know that our state has both a state hero and heroine?

**a. Our State Hero.** Our state hero was a spy. Click below to find out his name and write it in your WebQuest Journal. []

Using the website above, find out how old our state hero was when he died. You will have to do math to answer this question! Write the answer in your WebQuest Journal.

Our state hero had some famous last words. Find out what they were by using the website above and write his last words in your WebQuest Journal.

** b. Our State Heroine. ** Click below to find out more information about this fascinating woman, including her name, what she did that was so important, and why the fact that she was a white woman is important. Answer the questions in your WebQuest Journal. []

9. Did you know that many important historical figures made their homes in Connecticut? Click on the link below to find the names of a few famous state residents. In your WebQuest Journal, list five famous people who made Connecticut their home. Explain why they were famous. What was their role in history?

[]

10. Your virtual tour of Connecticut has led you to many sites and given you a lot of information about Connecticut. Now it is time to create a travel poster. Look over the notes you have taken in your WebQuest Journal and use the space provided to draw your design.

Pathfinder (Note: You must complete the Webquest first before using this Pathfinder) In addition to the websites above, the following websites will be of help to you as you create your travel posters: A. []

B. Images
 * Website #1 (pages 1-30 only) []

[]
 * Website #2

C. []

D. []

E. Facts, Map, and State Symbols []

F. Facts and Trivia
 * Website #1 []
 * Website #2 []

Evaluation: Complete the WebQuest rubric.

Conclusion: Congratulations! You have done a great job of designing a new travel poster for our state. Now click on the link below for some Connecticut fun! [|]

GLOGSTER LINK: [|www.edu.glogster.com]

** Note: ** **Stamford Public Schools is not responsible for any information or content provided by Web sites beyond this site.**