1. Introduction	2. The Task	3. Process
4. Resources	5. Evaluation	6. Conclusion

Introduction

As you study about Allegany County, Maryland in grade three, you are probably starting to learn a lot more about the place in which YOU live. Would you like to take a class field trip so that you can see in person what you have learned about! There are many interesting places to visit and things to see in Allegany County, Maryland. There are rivers, canals, lakes, museums, and historic buildings, just to name a few! You won't have to travel very far from home!

Do you think that it is important to learn about interesting places in your own county?

Do you like to travel?

Do you think that a field trip to visit interesting places right here in Allegany County would be fun?

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The Task

Imagine that you could choose your own field trip destination. You could choose to visit one interesting place in Allegany County. If your teacher allowed YOU to choose your own field trip, where would you want to go?

1. What would you write in a paragraph to persuade your teacher that your choice was the best choice for a class field trip?

2. How would you figure out how much money would be needed to pay for the school bus, your lunch and any other expenses?

3. How would you design a poster to display your paragraph and any other interesting information that you found out? (OPTIONAL)

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Process

Step 1: Read about four places in Allegany County before you choose just one to research.

• To help you choose which one to research, click on ALL of the information below.
• Canal Place
• History House (Gordon-Roberts House)
• Thrasher Carriage Museum
• Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Step 2: Choose one of these places to research as a possible field trip destination. Which one do YOU want to learn more about? You will research only ONE of these places.

Step 3: Research your destination. Answer these questions:

• Where is it located? (Address)
• What is important about this place?
• What will you see when you get there?
• What costs will be involved? (Are there any admission costs? What will the bus trip cost? Will you bring your lunch or buy it? How long will it take you to get there?)

Think for yourself:

• What other questions will you need to answer?
• What extra information will you need?

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Resources

Here are some resources to use.

*****Remember to click the "Back" button to return to this webquest.*****

Click here to find out more about Canal Place.

Click here to find out more about History House (Gordon-Roberts House).

Click here to find out more about the Thrasher Carriage Museum.

Click here to find out more about the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.

All students: Click HERE to figure out how much your trip will cost.

Step 4: Find another student or students who chose to do research about the same destination. Discuss with the others what information you have found about this destination. This will help you think about what to tell your teacher when you write your persuasive paragraph.

Step 5: Write a paragraph to persuade your teacher to actually take you on the trip. Remember, each student in your class will write a paragraph about the one destination that he/she fully researched. Discuss in your paragraph

• Why should the teacher take your class on this field trip?
• What would the field trip cost?
• What interesting things would you see if you visited this place?

Make sure that you are writing a persuasive paragraph. Click HERE for some tips to help you organize your ideas.

Step 6: If you have extra time, design a poster on which you can display your paragraph. You may want to include drawings or pictures of any other interesting information about the destination that you have written about.

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Evaluation

Evaluate your paragraph before doing the final copy!

	0 points	1 point	2 points	3 points	SCORE
Development	The writer seldom uses good language choices.	The writer sometimes uses good language choices.	The writer frequently uses good language choices.	The writer consistently uses good language choices.	_______
Organization	The paragraph is not organized.	The paragraph is slightly organized.	The paragraph is organized, with minor flaws.	The paragraph is very organized.	_______
Subject (use questions in step 5 to help)	The writer does not address the subject.	The writer sometimes addresses the subject.	The writer usually addresses the subject.	The writer addresses the subject very well.	_______
Mechanics	The writer seldom uses correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization. 5 or more mistakes	The writer sometimes uses correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization. 3-5 mistakes	The writer frequently uses correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization. 1-2 mistakes	The writer always uses correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization. No mistakes	_______
				TOTAL POINTS

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Conclusion

You learned about 4 different places to visit in Allegany County, Maryland. You chose one place to research more fully. You wrote a persuasive paragraph, and perhaps had time to make a poster. I hope that you were able to persuade your teacher to take you on a trip to the destination of YOUR choice!

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