Teacher Notes for Forrest Gump WebQuest
This unit is an interdisciplinary lesson combining physical education, geography, history, and math for fourth and fifth graders. The unit will extend over two nine-week grading periods. The unit relies on cooperation between classroom teachers and Phys. Ed. Specialists to encourage running for fitness and an interest in geography. Students will participate in a running program in which they will try to accumulate mileage individually and as a class. The mileage will be plotted on a map as students try to help Forrest run across the country, as they learn about cities, states, historical areas, national parks, etc., that Forrest runs through. Rubrics for evaluating the fitness component and PowerPoint presentations are available by clicking on the links below:

PowerPoint
Fitness

Goals and Objectives
The goals of this unit are to increase personal physical fitness, to increase knowledge of geography and history of the United States, and to apply basic math skills to real world situations.

Objectives:

1. Students will increase their physical fitness by participating in regular walking and running activities.
2. Students will develop a habit of running to improve fitness, health, and weight management.
3. Students will measure pulse rate as an indication of exercise intensity.
4. Students will increase their knowledge of geography by investigating the geography of the areas Forrest runs through.
5. Students will increase their knowledge of history by investigating important historical sites or events associated with the areas Forrest runs through.
6. Students will demonstrate math skills by figuring mileages and mileage differences between areas Forrest runs through.
7. Students will demonstrate map skills by computing mileages using a scale of miles.
8. Students will use the Internet to research historical and geographical facts.
9. Students will express preferences for geographical regions.
10. Students will demonstrate oral presentation skills by giving PowerPoint presentation.
11. Students will demonstrate PowerPoint design skills by creating PowerPoint presentation.

Keeping the Running Record
The success of this unit will depend on the cooperation of the classroom teachers who choose to do this WebQuest. With only two class periods a week of Physical Education, classroom teachers need to augment the fitness program for their students. This program will give classroom teachers a program to follow when they take their children to the playground rather than devote the time to only free play. Similar programs done in the past have shown that most students like the challenge of running for a purpose and will ask the teacher for more opportunities to go out and run.
    Our running track is 1/8 of a mile around the four white poles. When you take your children out to run, be sure that they run around all four poles. If they do so give them a marker to carry with which to count their laps. (Stirring sticks are available from the P.E. department). After time is up, have students record their laps on their Student Running Record. Email the number of laps your class ran as a whole, and your class's destination, to Mr. Marriner. On the map outside the gym, the Physical Education Department will move Forrest Gump the number of miles your class ran toward its destination.

A Note on Measuring the Pulse
Students often have trouble counting their pulse while feeling for it manually. One way to help them get the idea of counting the pulse is to use modeling clay and a straw or stirring stick. Just make a wad of modeling clay, stick a stirring stick in the clay, and place the "pulse meter" on the radial artery, just above the base of the thumb. The students can then count the number of times the stick twitches. This visual cue is often more effective than the tactile one in getting children used to counting the heart beats.

Geography Component
The WebQuest Worksheet is to be used as a fact gathering tool by students to help them select a destination where Forrest can run. They should use the information to produce a PowerPoint presentation. The class will decide by vote which of the proposed destinations will be their goal for the week. Everyone in the class will be working toward the same goal. Teachers may have to advise students to arrive at realistic goals.

Suggestions for Use of the Forrest Gump WebQuest
This webquest was designed for use at Malpass Corner Elementary School in Burgaw, NC. Particulars of our situation will need to be adapted for use at other schools.
    Teachers may want to adjust the geography component of this webquest to meet the objectives for their grade level. For instance, Forrest Gump could run from state capital to state capital, or from National Park to National Park, etc., depending on the areas being studied. Likewise, the webquest could focus more on climate and terrain of the areas passed through rather than historical or recreational aspects.

Terms of Use
This webquest may be used as is or altered by educators to fit their needs provided credit is given to the webquest's original author and the webquest is not represented as the work of another, and so long as it is not used for monetary gain.

Harry R. Marriner
Malpass Corner Elementary School
Burgaw, NC 28425
hrm7884@uncwil.edu