Activity Overview
The 5 Ws are a powerful and simple way for students to get an overview of a topic and better enhance their understanding. By creating a spider map or narrative storyboard that showcases the 5Ws, students can demonstrate their knowledge using concise descriptions and visual scenes. Giving students a visual with each category helps students to better understand and remember the details and importance of the topic.
In this activity, students will create a spider map that highlights important facts about the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Students will answer the following questions using 1-3 sentence answers in the description boxes as well as appropriate and meaningful illustrations:
- What was the transcontinental railroad?
- Who was involved?
- When was it constructed?
- Where was it constructed?
- Why was it constructed?
- How did it impact the United States and North America?
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a Spider Map highlighting important facts about the transcontinental railroad using the 5 Ws and H (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- For each cell, answer the question with a 1-3 sentence description.
- Create an illustration that represents each answer using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Requirements: Answer 5-6 questions about the transcontinental railroad and include appropriate illustrations for each.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 10 Points | Emerging 6 Points | Needs Improvement 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description is detailed and accurately answers the questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and How; clearly demonstrating student's thorough understanding. | The description is somewhat detailed and mostly answers the questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and How; demonstrating student's basic understanding. | The description is incomplete and does not answer the questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are appropriate to the topic. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
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Transcontinental Railroad
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