Teacher
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Wait,
what is Rudy's Fantastic Journey? |
| Good question! Rudy's Fantastic Journey is a WebQuest built off the Naperville Community School District 203 standards of quality work and integrates Illinois state technology standards. This online activity was created specifically for a Beebe Elementary fourth grader for use during the Health unit. Third or fifth graders could easily use it as well, although the reading level of the students and an investigation prior to visit would be advised. Enjoy and if you have any questions, or comments, fell free to email me! |
On the board or in a simple power point, create the following and release one clue at a time. Students should silently guess what they think the object/thing is until you ask at the end: WHO AM I? - The leading cause of death in the United States kills me. - I am about the size of your fist. - You can feel me pulse through your body.
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Now that you have their attention, ask what a red blood cell does for the human body. Better yet, ask what would happen if you didn't have blood? Short answer - die, long answer...? Chances are your students will not be able to completely answer this (if they can, you might not want to do this WebQuest!). Inform the class that they’re going to learn about one of the systems of the human body through the eyes of a cell. Assign partners and hand out the research page. When the students arrive at the computer lab have them sit with their partners and begin with the introduction to Rudy's Fantastic Journey WebQuest. When I originally set this up I predicted the needs of the lab at two
twenty-minute sessions. If you can finish it in one shot do so and return
to the class with an opportunity to catch up aloud. |
Now that you're back in the classroom, it's time to take those facts and mold them into understanding. There are several potential activities that you could do, but the most important thing during these two days is to have the students understand what it would feel like to be Rudy. Here are a few lesson ideas: Lessons: Travel through the Heart - This is a great lesson if the physical education teacher is working with you during the unit. Students will travel through the different chambers of the heart on scooters, going to the lungs, to the body to deliver food & oxygen and removing trash. One could even have white blood cells trying to tag/eliminate viruses in the blood. Great game to create understanding! Imaginative
Journey through the Body - Sensory journeys are amazing
experiences where students close their eyes and you read a descriptive
experience that they use their skill of visualization to see what you're
saying. While this type of experience is fantastic, it will require a
bit of background and cannot be overused. I will be working on mine and
adding it to the WebQuest.* Online Resources
Videos
Texts
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Now that the students have all their information and experience, you may finally create something! Discuss the idea of a cartoon. You may even wish to present a few examples of Garfield or the Peanuts to get the idea on how to present a storyline. Depending upon your time constraints you may wish to give a mini-lesson on creating a storyboard or cartoons before trying Rudy's Fantastic Journey. Once you're ready to begin, download the six-panel cartoon (Microsoft Word 2000) sheet and Xerox it for the students. If you feel that six panels is too short, double side it and allow up to twelve frames for the final project. Make sure to review the rubric (Microsoft Word 2000) before you give them directions on how to create the cartoon. The general outcomes are that the cartoon should depict Rudy's travels through the heart, lungs, arteries, capillaries, veins, while meeting Warrick the white blood cell and Paige the platelet along the way. In the last cell he should reunite with his parents. When this is finished, it would be exciting to share them on a bulletin board or hang them up around the room and allow the student to walk around and see them before you grade them. If you have time for a movie, you may wish to see Fantastic Voyage (1966).
While the movie is quite old, the idea and visuals have yet to be duplicated
with allowable violence and language. Check with FilmValues.com (a great
site to check films for content before viewing them in class). |
If you have students who excel or are interested in creating continuing stories for Rudy, have them work on the extension activity (below the regular resources). By downloading the example (Microsoft Word 2000) you may show them that Rudy can go on a variety of journeys and give a new twist on the circulatory system. Unfortunately, some of the journeys are a bit morbid. As the students encounter these possibilities you should avail yourself to their concerns. Be cautious and supportive of the resulting questions. |
Item
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From
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Student
Information Collection Sheet
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bvessels1.jpg blood1.jpg |
http://web.buddyproject.org/web019/web019/
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circulation.gif
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http://www.ergonext.com/aa-science-msd/circulatory.htm
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Background
Information
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Links
for WebQuest
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So you want to create a WebQuest? Here are some helpful links: |
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All pictures created by Joshua Mika |
If you're interested in using any of the pictures located on this WebQuest, please contact me before using them. |
Sounds for Rudy's Fantastic Journey |
http://www.yram.com/sound-wav.htm
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*All
graphics were created by author, unless otherwise noted in credits.
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Rudy's
Fantastic Journey |
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Most likely at least one of your students will guess the heart. This
will lead to discussions and you introducing the Circulatory System.
