Introduction
We have just come across very mean posts online about your friend "Tiny," one of the kids in our school. He's a shy 11 year old, weighs over 200 lbs., and walks around with his head hanging down. Tyler -- his real name -- lives down the street from the school but is always late. He gets angry and cries when classmates make fat jokes, and eats to cope with his problems.
As you already know, Tyler watches a lot of martial arts movies and is a fan of Jackie Chan, Steven Seagal, and the amazing Ronda Rousey. You've also heard that your Martial Arts Center is offering only 2 free memberships for one year to children ages 10-12.
Your assignment is to convince him and his parents about the health benefits of practicing a martial art and take him to the Center before the offer expires.
Task
You and your team have 2 tasks to complete in order for Tyler to start geting in shape, stop the bullying, and improve his self-esteem.
1. Discover which form of martial arts is Tyler most interested in
a. Research the definition of martial arts and their purposes.
b. Make a comprehensive list of martial arts and their benefits.
c. Search for other martial arts centers in the area that also offer free 1-year memberships to
pre-teens.
2. Present your findings
a. Write Tyler's reasons for choosing to practice a specific martial art.
b. Whether he enrolled at the Martial Arts Center or somewhere else.
c. If the parents didn't give him permission, write down the reasons.
d. Orally present these findings to the rest of the class.
Process
Step 1: Get in groups of 4 students.Step 2: Visit the following websites to read about the history and benefits of martial arts: a. http://www.livestrong.com/article/338321-what-are-the-benefits-of-martial-arts-for-kids/ b. http://breakingmuscle.com/family-kids/7-reasons-why-your-child-should-practice- martial-arts c. http://www.parenting.com/article/karate-kids-the-benefits-of-martial-arts d. http://www.delgadokarate.com/karate_kids_programs.htmlStep 4: Use the information and Tyler's opinions and preferences to choose the most low-impact martial art he could start with.Step 5: Write a one page summary of your findings.Step 6: Present this information orally to the class.Step 7: Each team member will select one martial art (e.g., Capoeira, Aikido) and write a one page informational paper about it. (This is an independent activity.) Include these points: a. Brief history b. Health & fitness benefits c. How this martial art can enhance your sense of personal safety
Evaluation
Your team will be evaluated on a scale of 1-3 for different criteria. 1 = Unsatisfactory 2 = Marginal 3 = Excellent This rubric explains the requirements in more detail:
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Self-Assessment Rubric |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
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Following Directions |
I did not follow direc-tions and had a difficult time understanding what to do.
|
I followed directions, but had a difficult time staying on task and had to be reminded at times. |
I followed all directions and was always on task. |
|
Working in Your Group |
I was unable to work well with my group. I did not help my group.
|
I had difficulties with my group, but I helped my group somewhat. |
I had no problems working with my group. |
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Use of Resources
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I did not use the resources. |
I used some resources well. |
I used all the resources I had to finish my reports. |
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One-Page Summary of Personal Findings
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It was sloppy and missing key details. |
It was okay, but something was missing. |
The summary was neat, concise, and coherent. |
|
Individual Written Report
|
It was sloppy and missing parts. |
It was okay, but something was missing. |
The report was neat and all parts were included. |
Conclusion
Through this WebQuest, students have learned:
(1) How to conduct research entirely online through a combination of programs that include links to websites.
(2) Demonstrate personally and socially responsible behaviors, and how to care for and respect themselves and others.
(3) Strategies to protect themselves from bullying.
(4) The health benefits of practicing martial arts.
Credits
Special thanks to:
(1) www.shutterstock.com for image #258094289 used in the Introduction to this WebQuest.
(2) Bronx Martial Arts Academy; for teaching our children to be better people.
Teacher Page
References
Hedrie, A. (2015). Karate kids: The benefits of martial arts. Retrieved from http://www.parenting.com/article/karate-kids-the-benefits-of-martial-arts
McCarron, J. (2015). What are the benefits of martial arts for kids? Retrieved from
Stevens, E.C. (2015). 7 Reasons why your child should practice martial arts. Retrieved from http://breakingmuscle.com/family-kids/7-reasons-why-your-child-should-practice-martial-arts
Other Sources
Global Children’s Fund’s How to Be a Street Smart Kid.
Standards
NYS Learning Standards -- Elementary Health Education
Standard 2 – A Safe and Healthy Environment
Students will demonstrate personally and socially responsible behaviors. They will care for and respect themselves
and others. They will recognize threats to the environ-ment and offer appropriate strategies to minimize them.