What does it mean to be a good citizen?

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources

In this Web Quest (built primarily for 3rd grade), students

will discover what it means to be a good citizen, identify

ordinary people who are good citizens, and learn what

they can do to be good citizens and contribute to their

communities. Students will go to various web pages to

find information, think about the questions asked of them,

record/save/print their information, and eventually

pursue a way to contribute to their community or our

country. The students will also report back after they have

done some kind of community service or deed and reflect

on what it means to serve their community and country.

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources

Do you know what it means to be a good citizen? Did you know

that there are many qualities and characteristics that describe

people like you, your parents, and your teachers as good citizens?

You are going to travel around the web to search and identify the

characteristics of good citizens. You are also going to discover what

it means to be a good citizen and how you already have civic

responsibilities. Most importantly, you will meet many people who

have already made an impact in their community and are good

citizens! Ready to go? Pack your bags and head to the Task page!

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources

You will be expected to:

• List characteristics of good citizens• Explain the importance of acts of civil responsibility• Identify ordinary people who exemplify good

citizenship and discuss their contributions to their community

• Find nonprofit and civic organizations and explain how they serve the community

• Make suggestions as to how you can contribute to your community

• Record all your information in Microsoft Word, save, and print your work

• Serve your community or country in some way

Continue to the Process page to travel abroad!

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources

1. Go to http://www.goodcitizen.org/searchs%20-%205%20most%20common.html and read numbers 1, 2, 3, and 6. In a Microsoft Word Document, list the characteristics of a good citizen and what a good citizen does. What kind of beliefs does a good citizen have? After reading number 6, which quote did you like best and why? What does the quote mean and how does reading all the quotes make you feel? Does it compel you to be a more active citizen or do the quotes remind you of people you know? Please be sure to answer all the questions, save, and print your work!

2. Go to http://clerkkids.house.gov/congress/index.html and scroll down to read “What is the citizen’s role in the government?” In the same Word document, list the two constitutional responsibilities that are named. What are two ways (discussed in the second paragraph) that citizens can participate in the electoral process? How do these responsibilities and our participation affect our community and our country? How do they help our country? What would our nation be like if we did not fulfill our roles in the government? What can you do now to fulfill your role as an American citizen? Don’t forget to save and print your work!

3. Go to http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/honorees/2001/010422diffday_honorees.html#crayons and pick one tale of a 10th annual honoree who made a difference in their community. What did this person do and did they work with a team? How did their actions help other people? What makes this person or team a good citizen or group of citizens? Was their project easy or difficult to start and maintain? Answer these questions in a separate Word Document, save, and print your work!

4. Go to http://www.cleanwateraction.org/about and http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/why-your-support-matters. Since this is a non-profit organization, how are they able to maintain their organization and continue to work towards their goals? Who are they? What do they want to accomplish and what have they already accomplished? How do they accomplish their goals? Can this group be considered a good group of citizens? Record your answers in a Word Document, save, and print!

5. Go to http://www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov/kids/kids_ideas.htm or http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/ideas/index.html and find some way to make a difference in our community or our country. Volunteer or do some other activity that you find. In a separate word document, write about the project you did. Describe what you did and how it made you feel. Did you help others? How did this project make you a better citizen? How did this Web quest affect your feelings toward community service and serving our country? What can you do as you get older to continue being a good citizen? Try to include pictures, flyers, or anything else that can be presented to our class. Don’t forget to save and print your Word Document!

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources

There will be an “x” in each row

underneath the number of points

you will receive for that process. The number of points

you receive (1,2, or 3) will be recorded under “My Points”

1 point: Did not complete the process or did not answer the questions completely; did not print work

2 points: Answered most of the questions, had sufficient answers, had mostly correct use of grammar in report, printed work

3 points: Answered all of the questions, had correct use of grammar in the report with very few errors, printed report, had thoughtful and/or creative answers

My points

Process 1

Process 2

Process 3

Process 4

Total Points out of 12 possible points:

After I examine your work, I will record the total points you receive under the “Total Points” column

1-2 points 3-4 points 5-6 points Total Points (out of 6 points possible):

Process 5 Did some kind of community service for others, had a large number of grammatical errors in Word document, did not print report or turned in late, answered less than half of the questions, did not turn in good work and could have done much better

Did some kind of community service for others, had mostly correct use of language in Word document (made some errors), printed report, answered most of the questions; could have put more effort into the project

Did some kind of community service for others, correct use of language in Word document, printed report, answered all questions, and brought in some kind of flyer or pictures to show what you did, showed the best work possible

You will receive two grades for your work on this Web quest: one grade for Processes 1-4 and one grade for Process 5.

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources

Congratulations! You have put a lot of effort into completing all the

processes. Do you feel like you know more about what it means to be a

good citizen? Do you understand what you can do to help your

community and your country? If you need any more information about

what you can do to help your community, ask your parents to help you

look online for ways to volunteer, ask me to help during our trips to

library, or during free time in class. There are always people out there

who need your time and help! Thanks for working so hard!

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources

• http://www.goodcitizen.org/searchs%20-%205%20most%20common.html

• http://www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov/kids/kids_ideas.htm• http://www.cleanwateraction.org/about • http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/why-your-support-matters• http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/honorees/2001/010422diffday_ho

norees.html#crayons• http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/ideas/index.html• http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/index.html

– 3rd Grade Social Studies TEKS: 113.5B, 10A, 10C, 10D, 11A, 11B, 11C– Technology Applications Grades 3-5: 126.1B, 1A, 1B, 1E, 2A, 2C, 2D,

2E, 3, 4, 5, 7B, 8C, 10A• www.webquest.org• www.yahoo.com

– The completion of this webquest would not be possible without this search engine

• Teacher Page• Introduction• Task• Process• Evaluation• Conclusion• Resources