History of the United States Armed Forces- Exploring the Branches of the Unites States Military

Introduction

This is a webquest to explore and build a timeline of the United States Military Branches including the formation of the specific branch of service, the types of equipment and technology used, the unique challenges and changes they have encountered and the major battles or military action that they have been involved in since the time of conception.

Task

This activity is an exploration of one of the five military branches. You will be exploring the history and challenges that members of your branch of the military face on a daily basis. Your ultimate goal is to complete a three dimensional timeline of your assigned military branch and a presentation that you will use to teach others about your military branch and the challenges they experienced. To complete this assignment and create the timeline and presentation, you must first complete the following tasks. Each team will receive a folder with the handouts, a pack of index cards, and books related to a specific branch of the military.

Task 1- Military Branch Scavenger Hunt

Use the questions in your folder labeled Military Scavenger Hunt Questions to find out more about your branch of the military. There are links that have the answers located in the credits tab. I organized the links by the different military branches and if it had information about all of the branches, then I labeled it general information.

Task 2 - Military Pictionary

Create a poster of the uniform, symbol, technology or equipment that shows or represents your branch of the military and the changes through the years. Be creative!

Task 3- The Date Game

Using the index cards and the links in the credits tab (located on the left under the conclusion tab), create note cards. On each card you need to put a date and a fact about your military branch. Use this to find out when your miltary branch was created and what they have done to serve the United States and the people up until today. Make sure to include facts about allies and enemies, leaders that have had important roles, major battles they fought, and the geography or places that the fighting took place. Then work together to connect the cards into one giant timeline. This is the information you will use to build your final project, a three dimensional timeline. You may also want to gather pictures and maps in your folder as you work on this task.

Task 4- Jeopardy in War

Use the Jeopardy link to create a game. https://jeopardylabs.com/. Your jeopardy game should have these catagories: WWI, WWII, Vietnam War, Korean War, and Gulf War. As you build your game make sure all of the questions and answers are about your military branch and what they did in each of the wars. Hint: To find the facts, you will need to use the links list in the Credits tab (located on the left under the conclusion tab). Use the links that are for your military branch.

Task 5- Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day

Use the Compare / contrast graphic organizer to show the similarities and differences between the two holidays. When you are done creating the graphic organizer, write a letter to a person that is or was in your branch of the armed forces thanking them for their service. Include some of the facts you found out about Veteran's Day or Memorial day in your letter to support why you appreciate their service. Hint: Remember that your letter should have clues that show you understand the difference between the two holidays without sounding like a report. It should also show you thank and appreciate the reader.

Task 6 - Day at the Museum

During your trip to the Military Museum, work with your group to complete the final task. While at the museum, find four important dates for each person in your group and write the date and the fact about that date on an index card. The index cards and a bag to store them in will be provided during the field trip. Each person in the group should do their own four cards and each card should have the name of the person in the group that created it on the back. Your group will also need to take at least ten pictures at the museum, so talk with your group about bringing a camera, cell phone or ipad to take photos. You will be using the index cards when you do your timeline (Task 3) and you will use your pictures to create your final presentation.

Process

Task 1- Military Scavenger Hunt Reminders

- Make sure you have the scavenger hunt worksheet from your folder.

- Make sure you use the website information located in the "credits" tab of this webquest.

- Make sure the worksheet has all group members names and the branch of military you are researching at the top.

Task 2 - Military Pictionary Reminders

- Make sure you decide on how you are going to organize your drawing to show changes through the years.

- Decide if you are going to use drawings or print pictures from the computer. You can also do both.

- Make sure you label the items and provide dates and a caption of what you have drawn or pictured.

Task 3 - The Date Game Reminders

- Make your note cards as you go along. Don't forget to include a date and key people involved in the event.

- Include pictures or maps with the facts.

- Make sure you use the website information located in the "credits" tab of this webquest.

Task 4 - Jeopardy Game Reminders

- Make sure you have the questions you create in jeopardy format. (the answer is what we see and must be in a question

format)

- Click on the numbers to create the questions.

- Make sure you use the catagories given to you in under the task tab.

- Cut and paste the finally jeopardy game url in Edsby and send it to Mrs. McClure.

Task 5 - Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day Reminders

- Use the Compare / contrast graphic organizer to show the similarities and differences between the two holidays.

- Write a letter to a person that is or was in your branch of the armed forces thanking them for their service. Include some of

the facts you found out about Veteran's Day or Memorial day in your letter to support why you appreciate their service.

- Make sure your letter uses proper letter writing format. (See the links in the teacher's page for a format link for letter

writing.)

- Remember that your letter should have clues that show you understand the difference between the two holidays without

sounding like a report. It should also show you thank and appreciate the reader.

Task 6 - A Day at the Museum Reminders

- Your group needs to take at least ten pictures while touring the museum.

- Remember to use your pictures to complete the final technology project.

(See the conclusion tab)

- Remember to put your name, a date and a fact about that date on an index card. Four index cards per group member.

- Make sure you are getting a variety of dates about your military branch. You may want to talk to your group before about

topics or dates you would like to do individually, so you do not duplicate your cards.

- Look for dates or events that you are missing in the timeline you already started at school.

Conclusion

Final Projects

Create a 3-D or Interactive Graphic Timeline

Create a timeline using the index cards that you made. Your timeline should have pictures and be 3-D or have something that makes it standout while showing the infomation chronologically.

Create a Presentation Using Technology

Use all of the information you have learned in each of the tasks to create a digital presentation. You may use any platform you would like to create this presentation. It will need to be 3-5 minutes in length and you will present this to the class to illustrate what you have learned about your branch of the military.