The Cricket in Times Square By George Selden

1
The Cricket in Times Square By George Selden

• A Web Quest designed by
• Sharlene Pollard, Teacher,
• Centre Elementary School

4th Grade English/ Language Arts To design a
classroom newspaper
2
Content Standards

• English
• 2.) Apply knowledge of text features to gain
  meaning.
• 5.) Interpret passages in print material.
• 19.) Use appropriate reference sources for a
  variety of purposes.
• 21.) Use the writing process with assistance when
  composing different forms of written expression.
• 23.) Know and apply principles of grammar and
  usage in writing, speaking, and presenting and
  apply mechanics in writing.
• 28.) Write meaningful sentences and paragraphs.
• 31.) Use computers for expression.
• 33.) Organize and present information using a
  variety of media and student-produced text.
• Science
• 2.) Use appropriate tools and technology
  resources to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
• 25.) Describe life cycles of various animals.
• Social Studies
• 1.) Extend the development of map and globe
  skills.
• 3.) Apply reference skills in independent
  investigations of selected topics.
• 4.) Comprehend the geographic link between
  Alabama and regions of the United States.

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Introduction

• The Cricket In Times Square is the story of a
  Cricket named Chester from Connecticut who takes
  a ride in a picnic basket to Times Square in New
  York. He meets several interesting friends
  including Tucker Mouse, Harry Cat, and a young
  boy named Mario Bellinis. Chester Cricket has
  many exciting adventures with Mario, Tucker, and
  Harry. They soon realize that Chester is a
  wonderful musician and he performs at the
  Bellinis newsstand. Later, Chester becomes
  homesick and decides to return to Connecticut
  with many wonderful memories of New York City and
  his newly found friends.
• In this Web Quest you will explore the adventures
  of creating a classroom newspaper. You will
  research crickets, design headlines for the
  newspaper, create a Cricket poem, write an
  article about a New York landmark, and design a
  newspaper advertisement for Chesters next
  performance. The classroom newspaper can be
  presented to other 4th grade classes.

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Task

• The task for this Web Quest is to create a
  newspaper called Cricket Times. After reading
  the book The Cricket in Times Square by George
  Selden, you will select five groups of students
  (3-4 students per group) to create different
  aspects of the newspaper. All five groups will
  put their research results together to form the
  Cricket Times newspaper and present it to other
  classes in their school.

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Process (Pg. 1)

• The Process to Complete this Web Quest is as
  follows
• 1. Read the book The Cricket in Times Square by
  George Selden with your class. Discuss the
  adventures of Chester, Harry, and Tucker Mouse.
  Discuss the importance of newspapers in our
  society.
• 2. Divide students into five groups. Assign each
  group one task to perform to help complete your
  classroom newspaper.
• 3. The group task are as follows
• a. Group 1 - Research crickets. Write a short
  article describing the life of a cricket.
  Describe what it eats, where is its habitat, what
  is the impact on the Ecosystem, its behaviors,
  and predators. Use the website
  http//insected.arizona.edu/cricketinfo.htm. Use
  the data collection sheet to record your results.

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Process (Pg. 2)

• b. Group 2 Design the front page for the
  newspaper. Use the Microsoft Publisher program
  to design the front page of your newspaper.
  Select the Publications by Wizard tab and use
  quick publications to design your layout. You
  can change the pictures to a cricket by double
  clicking on the picture and selecting another
  photo from the insert Clip art box.
• c. Group 3 Create a Cricket Poem for you
  newspaper.
• Line 1 If I were a cricket.
• Line 2 Tell where it is found.
• Line 3 Tell one thing it could do.
• Line 4 Tell another thing it could do.
• Line 5 If I were a cricket.
• Use the website http//ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/
  2000/2132.html to help you find information about
  crickets. You can also find helpful information
  and and listen to a song of the crickets at
  http//www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/c-september.html.
  

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Process (Pg. 3)

• d. Group 4 Research and write an article
  about a famous landmark in New York City. Use
  the data collection sheet to record your results.
  You may select one of the following landmarks
  The Statue of Liberty or Central Park.
• The Statue of Liberty use the website
  http//www.nps.gov/stli/. Click on Educational
  Programs and then click on State of Liberty
  History.
• Central Park Use the website
  http//www.centralpark.org/ Click on History.
• e. Group 5 Design a newspaper advertisement
  for Chesters next performance. Use the
  Microsoft Publisher Program. Click on
  advertisements and select the layout of your
  choice. Be sure to include an interesting title,
  place, time of Chesters performance, and types
  of music he plays. You may include Clip Art.

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Group 1Data Collection Sheet/ Study Guide

• Cricket Information
• 1. What does it eat?
• 2. What is the habitat of a cricket?
• 3. List two cricket predators.
• 4. List one interesting behavior of the cricket.
• 5. What is the impact on the Ecosystem?
  Positive
  Negative

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Group 2Data Collection Sheet/ Study Guide

• Design the Front Page of the Newspaper
• 1. Title of your paper ________________
• 2. Created by ______________________
• 3. Date ___________________________
• 4. Design you selected ______________
• 5. Photo you selected _______________

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Group 3Data Collection Sheet/ Study Guide

• Create a Cricket Poem
• Line 1 If I were a cricket.
• Line 2 Tell where it is found.
• Line 3 Tell one thing it could do.
• Line 4 Tell another thing it could do.
• Line 5 If I were a cricket.

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Group 4 (Pg. 1)Data Collection Sheet/ Study Guide

• Research a Famous Landmark of New York City
• The Statue of Liberty Use the instructed
  website to collect the information.
• 1. Who gave the Statue of Liberty to the USA and
  why?
• 2. How old is the Statue of Liberty?
• 3. Who designed the sculpture?
• 4. When did President Ronald Reagan decide to
  restore the Statue of Liberty?
• 5. How much did it cost?
• 6. How tall is the Statue from the heel to the
  top of the head?
• 7. How many windows are in the crown?
• 8. What do the windows symbolize?
• 9. What do the 7 rays of the statues crown
  represent?
• 10. What is written on the tablet the Statue of
  Liberty holds in her left hand?

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Group 4 (Pg. 2)Data Collection Sheet/Study Guide

• Central Park Use the instructed website to
  collect the information.
• 1. The rich history of Central Park dates back
  to the mid _____.
• 2. Central Park was the first __________ public
  park in the U.S.
• 3. What city is Central Park located?
  ___________________
• 4. In 1857, the Central Park Commission held the
  countrys first landscape design contest. Which
  design was selected?
• 5. How many workers were needed to complete the
  park?
• 6. By 1865, the park received more than
  __________ visitors per year.
• 7. The zoo was established in what year? _______
• 8. Central Park continues to be shaped by the
  public that uses it, from the joggers, disco
  roller skaters, and _____________ leagues to bird
  _____________ and nature lovers.

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Group 5Data Collection Sheet/ Study Guide

• Design a Newspaper Advertisement
• 1. Title ___________________________________
• 2. Place of Chesters performance _____________
• 3. Time of Chesters performance _____________
• 4. Type of music Chester plays
• _______________________________
• _______________________________
• _______________________________
• _______________________________
• 5. Clip Art you selected _____________________
• 6. For more information please call
  _____________
• 7. Cost of admission _________________________

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Conclusion

• Instruct students to work together to combine
  all of their research into one newspaper. They
  will present their Cricket Times to other 4th
  grade classes and describe the work involved in
  designing a newspaper.

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Evaluation Individual learners will be graded
according to the following rubric

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Bibliography

• Microsoft Publisher
• http//insected.arizona.edu/cricketinfo.htm
• http//ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2132.html
• http//www.pca.state.mn/kids/c-september.htm
• http//www.nps.gov/stli/
• http//www.centralpark.org/