Juan Ponce de Leon Webquest

Introduction

Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth...Fact or Fantasy??

In the fictional novel, Tuck Everlasting, the Tuck's drank from a spring and now they do not age.  Sounds crazy, right?  Well, in the 1500's an explorer is thought to have come to the new world search for a Fountain of Youth similar to the one in the novel. 

Many historians disagree on the purpose for Juan Ponce De Leon's expedition.  Was Ponce de Leon searching for the fountain of youth or was he merely searching for riches?

Task

You are about to embark on a journey with a European Explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon!  

You've been given the task of recording the important information about Juan Ponce de Leon's purpose for his expedition and report back to the people of your group.  The people want to know why Juan Ponce de Leon started his expedition. 

You will spend several weeks recording your findings, and be able to answer the question "was Ponce de Leon searching for the fountain of youth or was he merely searching for riches?"

Process

1.  Research various websties, finding evidence support the theory that Juan Ponce de Leon was searching for the fountain of youth  and that he was merely searching for riches. 

2.  Read the information and paraphrase the facts in your own words on the graphic organizer research sheet.

3.  Be sure to cite the websites where you find the information on the back of your research sheet.

4.  On the last week of the novel, you will write a well composed response to research where you give your opinion of what Juan Ponce de Leon was searching for based on the research you collected.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/d/deleon.shtml

http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/people/ponce-de-leon-juan.html

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/worldhistory/juanponcedele…

http://fcit.usf.edu/Florida/lessons/de_leon/de_leon1.htm

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Pe-Pu/Ponce-de-Le-n-Juan.html

http://www.landofthebrave.info/ponce-de-leon-facts.htm

Evaluation

Louisiana Department of Education Rubric for Content

score Point

4

Consistent, though not

perfect, control;

many strengths present

3

Reseaonable control;

some strengths and some

weaknesses

2

Inconsistent control

the weaknesses outweight

the strengths

1

Little or no control

minimal attempt

central

idea
  • sharply focused central idea
  • shows a complete understanding of the task
  • clear central idea
  • shows a general understanding of the task
  • vague cnetral idea
  • shows a partial understanding of the task
  • unclear of absent central idea
  • shows a lack of understanding task
use of the passages and development
  • includes ample, well-chosen evidence from the passages to support central idea
  • evidence and ideas are developed thoroughly
  • details are specific, revelant, and accurate
  • includes sufficient and appropriate evidence from at least one of the passages to support central idea
  • evidence and ideas are developed adequately (may be uneven)
  • details are for the most part, relevant and accurate
  • includes insufficient or no evidence from the passages, or only smarizes or paraphrases passage information
  • evidence and ideas are not developed adequately
  • some information may be irrevlevant or inaccurate
  • includes minial or no evidence from the passages and/or the evience shows a misunderstanding of the passage.
  • minimal/no development
  • information is irrelevant, inaccurant, minimal, confusing
organization
  • evidence of planning and logical order allows reader to easily move through the composition
  • clear begining, middle, and ending contribute sense of wholeness
  • effective transitions
  • Logical order allows reader to move through the composition
  • has a begining and an ending
  • transitions
  • attempt at organization
  • digressions, repetitions
  • weak begining and ending
  • may lack transitions
  • random order
  • no begining or ending
  • difficult for the reader to move through the response.
Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Juan Ponce de Leon WebQuest and survived to share you stories.  You learned all about a European Explorer and his voyage to a new land.  You should be able to share the his reasons for exploration.  Using online resources can be fun and safe!

Teacher Page

This webuqest is for a 5th grade class.