Tag Archives: MysteryQuests

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.”  Quite the compliment!  Thanks for making it possible. -Linda Cokley in Missouri

HistoryQuest 8th Grade

Today was my first ever attempt at an 8th grade version of MysteryQuestHistoryQuest8: 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 that goal. Still enough classes were able to work it out that we had 4 schools interacting.

We were able to do all the clues in 30 minutes, and only after one extra creative presentation did the students need clues repeated.

Difficulty
Amazingly, these 8th graders seriously challenged each other! I was worried about the clues being too easy, since Google has made researching much easier. One class gave a latitude and longitude so everyone got that. But the other 3 classes clues were so hard that not everyone figured it out. We used 20 min to research, then another 5 minutes, then clarifying questions, then another 10 minutes to research.

Creativity
8th graders certainly weren’t old and boring with their presentations! We had singing clues, math problems, two trombones, rebus clues, clues with visuals only, and skits. One class sang the reveal of their clue, which all the other classes really enjoyed.

All in all, I think it went well. I would like to crunch it to an hour to make it easier for 8th grade to participate. I’m also thinking of narrowing it to just the Civil War. Any thoughts or comments?

The Circle of Sharing & Learning

Give and it shall be given unto you… (Luke 6:38).

This week for my studies I’ve been thinking about collaboration, and I’ve been getting ready for the beginning of 5 weeks of MysteryQuests and HistoryQuests starting April 20.

The “quests” started with us participating in Where in the USA with LearningSpace, an organization that closed its doors in 2004. Soon after we started running our own MysteryQuest USA, MysteryQuest World, and this year we added HistoryQuest5 and HistoryQuest8 to address new MI curriculum needs.

In the meantime, several spin-offs occurred, starting with Joan Roehre‘s Wisconsin History Mystery. She asked for permission to adapt our materials. So did Roxanne and Angela with Texas History Mystery, and Heather with MAGPI’s MysteryQuest USA.

It’s taken a few years, as they have grown their programs, but now the learning is coming back this direction. It circles around.

PPTs for Facilitation
Last fall I facilitated a Landmark Challenge for Roxanne and discovered the beauty of PowerPoint visuals to supplement the visuals. I’m a visual learner, and have a hard time with audible only instructions. Why didn’t I think of that before? So this week I asked Roxanne for her Texas History Mystery PPTs so I could get them up and running for my quests next week. The PowerPoints include:

  • A reminder to mute
  • The agenda
  • List of schools/teachers participating
  • Some little puzzles to guess related to the topic
  • A reminder on materials

Tips for Camera Ready Presentations
Heather just posted a great list of tips for camera ready presentations. I’ve incorporated this link into my “presentation reminders” email for my quests. What a great list!

So, are you wondering if you should share “your stuff”? Then… my answer is, YES, of course! The returns will come back to you eventually! As others use, modify, and improve “your stuff” it gets better!

What are YOU sharing with the K12 videoconferencing world?

MysteryQuest and HistoryQuest Update

I just updated the MysteryQuest and HistoryQuest websites so you can see how many openings are left in each session. Some of the sessions are filling up quickly, others have a little more room.

MysteryQuest World Website

MysteryQuest USA Website

HistoryQuest 8 Website

HistoryQuest 5 Website

Note: If the $35 cost is a problem for you, I do have a few scholarships available, particularly for the middle school sessions (MQ World and HistoryQuest8). Please email me to discuss further.

Also, if you’re having any issues with equipment or verification in CAPspace so that you can register, I can help you past that little hurdle too.

MysteryQuest and HistoryQuest Registrations Open

Registration is open for the following “quest” events. The sessions are $35 each. You’ll need verified equipment in CAPspace to register. I can walk you through it quickly if needed. Just email me.

MysteryQuest USA

This project is designed for 4th or 5th grade students studying US geography. Through video conference technology, students are able to meet other students while learning about cities and states in the United States. Prior to the video conference each classroom will create a presentation with clues about their state and city. The other classrooms, using maps, the Internet, textbooks, and other resources, will try to discover the mystery location presented by each participating classrooms.

MysteryQuest World

(Asia, Americas, Middle East and Europe this year)

This project is designed for middle school students studying world geography. Through video conference technology students are able to meet other students while learning about cities and countries in the world. Prior to the video conference each classroom will create a presentation with clues about their ONE mystery country and city. The other classrooms, using maps, the Internet, textbooks, and other resources, will try to discover the mystery location presented by each participating classrooms.

HistoryQuest5: Beginnings to 1800

This project is designed for 5th grade students studying US History. Through video conference technology, students are able to meet other students while learning about United States history.

Prior to the video conference each classroom will create a presentation with clues about a mystery person, event, invention, issue/problem or section from a document. The other classrooms, using maps, the Internet, textbooks, and other resources, will try to discover the history mystery presented by each participating classroom.

HistoryQuest8: 1754-1898

This project is designed for 8th grade students studying US History. Through video conference technology, students are able to meet other students while learning about United States history.

Prior to the video conference each classroom will create a presentation with clues about a mystery person, event, invention, issue/problem or section from a document. The other classrooms, using maps, the Internet, textbooks, and other resources, will try to discover the history mystery presented by each participating classroom.

Hope you can join us this year! Let me know if you have any questions or difficulties.

Update on This Year's MysteryQuests

Just a quick heads-up for those of you who like to participate in the Berrien RESA MysteryQuest events: MysteryQuest World, MysteryQuest USA, and the new US HistoryQuest5 and US HistoryQuest8 (websites almost done).

Registration
IP VerifiedRegistration for these events will be in CAPspace. We’re piloting a new type of registration in CAPspace. So, you’ll need to have verified equipment to be able to register. You can tell if you have an IP icon on your profile (login and click My Profile).

I’m hoping to open registration for April & May MysteryQuest sessions the week of March 2. So if you’re anxious to get a spot in my MysteryQuests this year, make sure your profile is connected to verified equipment in CAPspace. Let me know if you have trouble with that.

Cost
This year’s MysteryQuest sessions will be $35 for each participating class. If you usually have several classes participate and need a discount, let me know and we can work something out.

Hope you can join us for one ore more MysteryQuests!

Pausing for Posters

I’ve been seeing a lot of posters in the last several MysteryQuest USA session. They are still really hard to do well. In today’s afternoon session, Washington Elem, California did an excellent job. I think it was their first time too.

The students had very clear posters with big writing and just the short bit of information that had to be written down. The students came up, held up the poster, waited a bit. Then they read the information from the back of the poster. Reading from the back helps the student hold the poster still and straight to the camera. After reading the clues, they paused again! It was wonderful that they didn’t run off so quickly! Made note taking much easier. Great job, Washington Elementary!