Preparation

=Planning for the Mystery Quest=

Try to pick a President from a timeline you are currently or about to study. You can pick any of the 44 Presidents. Here's a great website for research and Presidents: []
 * First, pick a President.**

Make sure you set up a time and date on this wiki, and fill out a registration form here: http://esc12presidentquest.wikispaces.com/Registration
 * Second, Register your class.**

Each class should plan for a 5-7 minute presentation. A normal presentation will go as follows: - Introduction of class and location - Presentation of clues (minimum of 4 clues Max of 8) - Viewing of other classes clues
 * Prepare your class**

Your presentation can include print graphics, computer graphics projected on a screen, posters, skits, clothing (dress up), etc... Each "clue" should answer a question about an important historic fact or event tied to your chosen President. If you have equipment attached to your Videoconference unit, (such as a DVD player, VCR etc...) you can incorporate that into the presentation. Talk to your technology person about available media resources that you can use to help with your Presentation. Prepare a visual (Poster or Graphic) with your answer we will reveal at the end of the Videoconference after every student has guessed.

Make sure you clearly communicate your clues. When making creative presentations, please make sure you are very clear to the clue that is being given. Visual cues of the clues is recommended. This can include a Powerpoint or poster and make sure you show them long enough to copy them.
 * Clearly communicate**

- As each class is presenting their clues, your class should be taking notes. - When all classes have given their clues, we will give 10 minutes for each class to research their answers. Classes must come to an agreement on their answers. - The last part of the Videoconference, we will start with the first class President and listen to each class' guess based on their research. Classes will mention how they did the research. (Internet, Textbook)
 * Research and Guess**
 * - This is a great time to BYOD! Have students use an iPad, smartphone, chromebook etc...to research!**

> **school has specific questions about your mystery.**
 * //Materials to Bring//**
 * //Bring all materials needed for your presentation. Bring research notes in case another //
 * ** Copy the note taking form for each student in the class. (Suggestion: if you have each student takes notes on each presentation, if a team figures out a mystery quickly they can help another team.) **
 * Bring any print materials for students to use in their research

Download Note Taking Form

Divide your students into teams. Each team will be responsible for discovering one mystery presented by the other classrooms. The students will have 10 minutes after the completion of all presentations to match the classrooms with their corresponding mystery, using books,the Internet, etc. Go over the agenda with students so that they understand the process for the day.
 * Preparation for the Event**

Have students practice the presentation. Time the presentation to make sure it is 7 minutes or less. Emphasize speaking slowly, loudly and clearly. The biggest issue with this project is audio. Remind students that everyone else is listening carefully to their presentation to take notes. The goal is to have the other students clearly hear the clues and be able to record the information. Communicating the clues understandably is crucial! If students are reading clues, have them read from note cards instead of paper. Rustling paper during a video conference can make it impossible to hear the clue.

Make sure students understand the process for asking one question of each classroom. After the half hour is up each team will be allowed to ask each classroom one question. Each school should come up with a question for all the other classrooms. The questions should be 'eliminating' questions. In other words if the students believe the town or city is this or that, they pose a question that eliminates one. The questions should be "yes or no" questions only! In addition, do not ask, "Is your country Canada?" as this type of question gives it away for the rest of the schools.

Prepare a visual to reveal the answer to your presentation. If possible write down the name of the person or event to show on the document camera or with a big poster so that other schools can easily tell whether or not they got it correct. Be creative here if you want!
 * Revealing The Answer**