Explaining the History of Sports: A Webquest

Explaining the History of Sports: A Webquest
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Webquest on Sports

Overview

Sports have been part of our lives for many decades; in some cases, they have even been around for centuries, in some forms. As time passes and technology moves forward, however, our recreation styles change to fit with the new aspects of our lives. In the future, it is entirely possible that the sports we watch so avidly now will be completely forgotten, replaced by new and exciting games.

Task

It is 2110 and recreation has changed drastically. Using this webquest on sports, you and your team are to create an electronic training manual to help teach children about 21st century sports. From your manual, 22nd century children should be able to explain when each sport was invented and by whom, to play a basic game, and to name and describe some of the most famous players or events connected with each game. This will be like an e-book for someone to read.

Your manual may include PowerPoint slides, Photo Story for Windows shows, or other videos, in addition to the required text. You must include written information for football, basketball, and baseball; you may choose to add volleyball, hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. Each sport discussion must include the following three sections: origins and history, basic rules for play, and famous athletes and events. You should have 300-450 words per sport, plus two graphics for each. The graphics may be for different sections or for just one. If you use graphics from the Internet or from books or magazines, be sure to cite the sources of the pictures.

Procedure

Before you begin, read the grading rubric to be sure you know what to include in your project.

Use these websites to gather your information. Make notes as you read the information; be sure you have the answers to all the questions listed below. You may also add other facts, if you choose.

  • Football

https://www.ducksters.com/sports/footballrules.php

https://www.profootballhof.com/default.aspx

  • Basketball

https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/basics/basics.html

https://www.hoophall.com/

  • Baseball

https://www.youthbaseballbasics.com/very_basic_rules.shtml

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at https://baseballhall.org/

The origins and history should trace the beginnings of the game and the development of its popularity. Make a paragraph to answer each of these questions; add pictures, PowerPoint slides, or videos to make it more interesting.

  • Who invented the game?
  • When was the game invented?
  • Was the game invented for a particular purpose, like a school, or did it come from another, older game?
  • When and where was it first played professionally?

The basic rules section is a description of how to play the game; you do not need all the detailed rules–only those that someone who has never played would need to know to get started. Think about how you would explain the game to six- or seven-year-olds who have never played before. Again, write a paragraph for each of the questions and add graphics or multimedia slides and clips to make it exciting. Be sure to answer these questions:

  • What is the object of the game? How do you win?
  • What equipment do you need to play the game?
  • How many people do you need for a team?
  • How do you score in the game?
  • What are the basic steps for playing?
  • What are the most important rules?

In the famous athletes and events section, you should describe at least two people or major events, such as the Super Bowl, the World Series, the NBA Championships, or the All-Star games. When describing the players, focus on their sports careers, rather than a birth-to-death biography. You should include the answers to these questions, along with pictures and other interesting graphics.

For Famous Players:

  • What team or teams was the player on?
  • What position did he or she play?
  • What statistics or contributions made him or her an important player?

For Famous Events

  • When did the event take place?
  • Where did the event take place? Was it in different places every year, or was it always at the same place?
  • Who played in the events? How were the teams chosen?

Find the Sports Webquest Rubric here.