outwit

outlast

outsmart

"MORE THAN MORTAL"
INVESTIGATOR CHALLENGE
Sponsored by ARI
Association of Retired Immortals

A WebQuest Where Logic Triumphs
Created and Designed by Carole Tauber
carole_tauber@fc.mcps.k12.md.us
April 2001

Introduction

Task

Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

Teacher

INTRODUCTION~

ARI, Association of Retired Immortals, is searching for a team of mortals to help plan the gods and goddesses' retirement and ensure their safety. The organization's prestige is unparalleled, and their members, the Olympians, can afford anything. Unfortunately, when the immortals leave Mount Olympus and enter the "REAL" world, some may try to take advantage of them. ARI wants an expert investigating team to provide protection and sound advice for the Olympians. They are looking for a mortal team with the one magnificent trait that has eluded immortals~LOGIC.

THE TASK~

You are among a group of mortals who must prove that they are MORE THAN MORTAL. It will require cunning, skill, creativity, intelligence, and logic. The Association of Retired Immortals is tricky and selective; it will not make this task easy. ARI warns: BEWARE the traps. There is BOGUS information out there. ALLOW logic to guide your path, and then, perhaps, the job will be yours!
You will be competing for the title of MORE THAN MORTAL against others solving the same challenges. There will be three triumphant mortals, one for each set of challenges. Triumph will be achieved through logical and clever responses to your designated tasks.

CHALLENGE #1
The Olympians are considering getting a pet, and one has been suggested to them. Your first challenge is to visit the site, read the information, and evaluate Barney. He has been suggested as a good pet, but the Association of Retired Immortals is questioning the reliablity of the information. Use the evaluation form to assess the information and determine whether this site's claims are authentic. Would Barney be a good pet?

CHALLENGE #2
The Olympians are wealthy beyond imagination. Many stockbrokers and bankers are anxious to have them as clients. They are encouraging the Olympians to buy Velcro. Read the information, and evaluate whether Velcro, as described at this site, is a worthwhile investment. Use the evaluation form to assess the information's authenticity and determine if Velcro, as described at this stie, is a sound investment.

CHALLENGE #3
The male Olympians have heard that cats react adversely to men with facial hair. The female Olympians want to visit ancient Egypt because as members of the ARI (Olympian Association of Retired Immortals), they can travel anywhere. Cats are worshipped in ancient Egypt. This may be a problem for the men (Zeus, Hephaestus, and Poseidon). You be the judge. Decide whether the information the Olympians have received about bearded men and cats is authentic. Use the evaluation form to assess the information for your final report to ARI.

CHALLENGE #4
There have been a series of strange occurrences in and around Mount Olympus that no one has been able to explain. Your next challenge, suggested by Hades, is to solve the case of "The River Styxx." Record your solution and place it in your final report.

CHALLENGE #5
This challenge was suggested by Demeter, goddess of the harvest. She has opened a chain of Burger Goddess restaurants on Mount Olympus and has had some problems with vandalism. She is counting on the profits from the Burger Goddesses to fund her annual Spring Festival. Her challenge is titled, "Ambrosia Burger." Record your solution and place it in your final report.

CHALLENGE #6
This final challenge was developed from stories about Tartarus, the bottomless pit in the center of Earth. It is the least known myth about the successful escape from this bottomless pit. It is called, "Thinking My Way Out." Record the solution and place it in your final report.

Evaluation

Your final report must be complete. The quality of your investigation will be judged based on the Association of Retired Immortals' MORE THAN MORTAL rubric of excellence. It should include:

one web site evaluation
one mystery solution

 

 

Conclusion

At the conclusion of this WebQuest students will know and be able to:

classify events, describe characters, and explain precisely what has occurred
apply existing knowledge to a puzzle by writing a logical interpretation
analyze, categorize, and differentiate characters and events
collect and organize facts
assess and evaluate opinions in the process of reaching a logical conclusion
draw conclusions about text and support them with textual evidence and experience (M.L.O. 2.2.2)
explain the usefulness of text (M.L.O. 2.3.2)
assess the adequacy, accuracy, and appropriateness of an author's details to support claims (M.L.O. 2.4.5)

 

Teacher