Three quizzes to lighten up the end of term. Encourage your students to select their own avatar before they start (on their 'me' page). You will be amazed at how much this motivates them.

After you have run them, why not share results with the class using our Whiteboard Tool? (3-minute explanatory video here.)

Webquests develop critical thinking by providing a structure for students to compare several websites, and write a report. They are also brilliant fun! Our Xmas web quest takes the theme of Panto, and asks the students to compare three very visual and engaging websites on themes of character and plot. From an original idea by Gill Chesney-Green.

The report produced by each student is itself a mini-website, which students can put on to CD to take home and show their parents. Merry Christmas!

Teachers Notes

1. If you prefer to use your local panto as one of the examples, it is very quick and easy to create your own alternative version of this web quest by joining the Author Group. Here is the complete list.
2. As it's Christmas, I thought it would be cruel to do a proper marking rubric. Instead, please bear in mind these two principles:
   • commenting each page is quick and easy once you get the hang of using the software, and the kids really appreciate it.
   • the learning aim is to develop critical thinking. Please strongly praise students for stretching themselves to compare and contrast.

1. Start the lesson with the song itself. Best if you can get the kids singing it, but failing that here's an MP3. Remember that some schools block MP3s in case they contain unauthorised education, so download it in advance!
2. Introduce the idea that the carol can be seen as a catechism written in coded, metaphoric language. Most kids love codes, so there should be plenty of examples from their current subculture that you can draw on to introduce the concepts.
   
3. Set Quiz 1, allowing just one attempt each instead of the default 2. Tell the students this is the rehearsal, and that it is the Quiz 2 marks you will record/award prizes for. Quiz 1 puts all the feedback to the end. Advise students not to close the quiz when finished, becaue they will need the feedback. Whilst students are working, project the Analysis Whiteboard.
   
4. Use the whiteboard to briefly discuss the least-understood questions. Use this as an opportunity to point them toward good research sources and to bring out some peer support. Resist the temptation to start teaching! 5 minutes.
   
5. Allow students to work together in pairs to review their feedback, discuss and research. Timing for this really depends on the concentration span of the students, because the research opportunities are enormous.
6. Set Quiz 2. Note that you should not set this in advance. It is important to prevent students from starting it before they have completed their research. This puts the feedback after each question, which makes for better reinforcement. If you want to promote stronger competition at this point, project the Quiz Whiteboard. Use this with caution, as it can demoralise the low attainers.
7. Hand out praise and prizes!