HistoryQuest5: Beginnings to 1800

This week we’ve had several sessions of HistoryQuest5, another MysteryQuest-like format. Last year we tried this out with 2 sessions only; and this year we’ve expanded to 5 sessions. Classes began by sharing 5 clues on mystery people, events, documents, or inventions from the U.S. History timeline of Beginnings to 1800. This mystery person was [...]

MysteryQuest USA: The Potential of Ed Tech Funding

Today ISTE and the EdTech Action Network are leading a campaign to support federal funding of educational technology (EETT). So, what specifically, do educational technology dollars do in schools? One example of the power of educational technology for student learning is the MysteryQuest format. Today we have 11 4th and 5th grade classes from across [...]

HistoryQuest8: Sample Clues and Visuals

Yesterday and today we’ve had 5 sessions of HistoryQuest8: Civil War. Students are giving clues about people, events, inventions, documents, etc. from the Civil War, and trying to guess what everyone else has presented. We’re using the new short MysteryQuest format that works GREAT for middle school classes. We’ve had 4-5 classes in each 45 [...]

MysteryQuest USA and HistoryQuest5 Movies

Last week’s spring break project was to create sample videos of three MysteryQuest format programs. Each video is 6-10 minutes long and has a sample from each section of the videoconference. It’s a great way to learn about how these programs work. Unfortunately WordPress won’t let me embed the videos right here, so you’ll have [...]

Time to Register for Spring Quests

Registration is open for the spring “quest” events. You’ll need verified equipment in CAPspace to register. I can walk you through it quickly if needed. Just email me. Click the project links to visit the wiki with all the preparation materials. MysteryQuest USA This project is designed for 4th or 5th grade students studying US [...]

Successful Short MysteryQuest Format

Last summer, in the Jazz workshop, my middle and high school teachers helped me brainstorm a tighter schedule for MysteryQuests that would fit into an hour. The schedule would be: 4 groups x 5 min presentations = 20 min. for group presentations 15 minutes for research (can use computers from the start) SKIP the Q&A [...]

HistoryQuest8: Revolutionary War

Yesterday and today we’ve had several HistoryQuest8: Revolutionary War sessions. These ones have been nicely full with 3-5 classes in each session. The clues have been challenging, so the students have had to work hard. In face in one session, with 10 minutes to research, none of the classes guessed any of the answers! Still, [...]

HistoryQuest8: Revolutionary War

Yesterday and today I’ve been running our first attempt at HistoryQuest8: Revolutionary War. Last year we tried running it in the spring on the whole year’s curriculum and were only able to get enough classes to sign up for one session. This year, in talking to one of my teachers, we decided to try running [...]

Comments about MysteryQuest

I’m cleaning out my draft posts, and I found this little gem from April when I was running so many MysteryQuests. I love kid comments! It was great!  Problem solving at its best!  Really fun.  One student comment after I explained we would miss recess:  “That’s ok, this is a lot more fun than recess.”  [...]

HistoryQuest 8th Grade

Today was my first ever attempt at an 8th grade version of MysteryQuest – HistoryQuest8: 1754-1898. An 8th grade historyquest has been on my “wish list” for a few years now. Timing We made it an hour and thirty minutes to try to meet middle school schedules better. An hour would be even better for [...]