A Webquest for high school students
by Lynette Carter, Tammara Chaffee, Scott Glandon, and Scott Walker
GCU – Team Red
Introduction
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
Introduction:
Caffeine is a natural component of chocolate, coffee and tea and is used as an
added energy boost in most colas and energy drinks. It is also found in diet pills
and over the counter pain relievers and medicines.
“Around 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine every single day in one form or
another. More than half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams
(mg) of caffeine every day, making it America’s most popular drug by far” (Bryant,
2010).
"Caffeine Collage" -- Copyright by Sharon McEachern
“It's important to know that caffeine is an addictive drug. Among its many actions,
it operates using the same mechanisms that amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin
use to stimulate the brain. Relatively speaking, caffeine's effects are milder than
amphetamines, cocaine and heroin, but it is manipulating the same channels in
the brain, and that is one of the things that gives caffeine its addictive qualities. If
you feel like you cannot function without it and must consume it every day, then
you may be addicted to caffeine” (Bryant, 2010).
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Introduction
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
The Task:
What does caffeine really do to your body? Many feel that caffeine is something that
helps them get through the day and is not bad for you. Others feel that caffeine is an
addictive drug that is very bad for a person to consume. Where do you fit in this
spectrum of people?
First: Read about caffeine and its effect on the body, brain, and emotions from the
sites listed. Keep a journal of your own caffeine consumption using the provided
Journal page in Resources. Reflect on any physical, mental, or emotional changes
you notice after 30 minutes and again after 2 hours. Record those also. After the
first week, meet with a group of 2 or 3 other students to discuss your findings.
Prepare a summary to present to the class using a chart, graph, or model.
Second: research the decaffeination process. Prepare three bullet points on a note
card for class discussion on the topic. Put your new knowledge to work by
formulating an educated opinion about the health consequences of using caffeine
and/or decaffeinated products.
Caffeine molecule courtesy of www.openscience.org
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Introduction
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
The Process:
1. Is caffeine bad for you? Use the internet to find your information. Some example
sites might help you on the Resources page. Make a conscious choice on where you
stand in this debate, based on the research and the effects that you found in the
class. List both positive effects and negative effects to help make your decision.
2. Prepare an argument based on your findings for a debate. Make your argument
based on the facts that you have found from reliable resources. Please include
information from at least three sources.
3. Record your findings along with the resources of the information that you found in
a notebook. Prepare a five paragraph paper on the effects of caffeine. Make sure
that your paper takes a stand one way or another. Do not have a paper that is in
the middle of the road.
4. Include in the paper the research that you found during the task section of this
project, and the information related to de-caffeinate products. Also, include items
that contain caffeine and their effects on you personally recorded in your Journal.
5. Your last item of business will be to find 5 pictures that make you think of caffeine
and include them in your paper. Below each picture, write a caption that explains
why you feel the picture relates to caffeine. Use at least four sources.
Return to top of Process.
Introduction
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
The Resources:
Sites about caffeine:
http://www.amazing-green-tea.com/green-tea-caffeine.html
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/caffeine.pdf
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/drugs-alcohol/caffeine.htm#
http://www.joyfullivingservices.com/coffee.html
http://www.howtodothings.com/health-fitness/how-to-endure-caffeine-withdrawal
http://www.medcarehealth.com/health-problems-prevention/2007/06/is-decafcoffee-bad-for-you/
http://www.womentowomen.com/fatigueandstress/effectsofcaffeine.aspx
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/16/health/webmd/main1051012.shtml
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20070919/Feature1.asp
Persuasive Writing Sites:
http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/how-to-write-a-persuasive-essay47488.html Three easy steps to writing a persuasive essay.
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Persuasive-Essay 5 paragraph persuasive tips.
Writing a 5 paragraph paper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY2pqCx6jOs A video on 5 paragraph essays.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev109.shtml More 5 paragraph
essay tips.
Journal of Caffeine Consumption
Date
Time
Product
Amount of
Caffeine
Reaction after 30 minutes
Return to top of Resources.
Reaction after 2 hours
Introduction
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
The Evaluation: The following rubric will help students evaluate each step of the WebQuest.
Task Rubric
Excellent 4 pts
Good 3 pts
Fair 2 pts
Poor 1 pt
Journal
Kept journal
every day for 7
days, recorded
effects after 30
min and after 2
hours on all 7
days.
Kept journal for
at least 5 days,
recorded effects
after 30 min and
after 2 hours for
at least 3 days.
Kept journal for
at least 3 days,
recorded effects
after 30 min
and after 2
hours for at
least 1 day.
Kept journal for
at least 1 day,
did not record
any effects.
Met with 1
other student.
Presented a
summary with
graph/chart or
model.
Did not meet
with any other
students.
Created a
summary.
Did not meet
with any other
students. Did
not create a
summary.
Research: used
at least two
sources.
Lists at least 3
positive effects
of caffeine in
narrative.
Lists at least 3
negative effects
of caffeine in
narrative.
Included from
journal: 3
caffeine items
you consumed
and lists their
effects.
Research: used
at least one
source.
Lists at least 2
positive effects
of caffeine in
narrative.
Lists at least 2
negative effects
of caffeine in
narrative.
Included from
journal: 2
caffeine items
you consumed
and lists their
effects.
Research: No
sources used.
Lists at least 1
positive effect
of caffeine in
narrative.
Lists at least 1
negative effect
of caffeine in
narrative.
Included from
journal: 1
caffeine item
you consumed
and lists its
effect.
Met with at
least 2 other
Discussion
students.
Summary using
Presented a
graph/chart/model summary with
graph/chart or
model.
5 Paragraph Paper
Research: used
at least three
sources.
Lists 4 positive
effects of
caffeine in
narrative.
Lists 4 negative
effects of
caffeine in
narrative.
Included from
journal: 4
caffeine items
you consumed
and lists their
effects.
Task Rubric
Excellent 4 pts
Good 3 pts
Fair 2 pts
Poor 1 pt
5 Pictures for
Paper
Included all 5
pictures and all
5 captions.
Used at least 4
sources.
Included at least
4 pictures and at
least 3 captions.
Used at least 3
sources.
Included at
least 3 pictures
and at least 2
captions.
Used at least 2
sources.
Included at
least 2 pictures
and at least 1
caption.
Used at least 1
source.
Grading:
13-16 pts = A
9-12 pts = B
5-8 pts = C
0-4 pts = D
Return to top of Evaluation.
Introduction
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
The Conclusion:
Caffeine is a product that is easily
accessible to a wide range of individuals
because it is in a wide variety of
products. According to
recipes.howstuffworks.com, even
decaffeinated products contain caffeine
since the process does not remove all
traces. Hopefully this assignment has
helped you realize how much caffeine
you consume on a regular basis.
What is your opinion? Will this
knowledge affect your own habits?
If you would like to complete more
research on caffeine or decaffeination,
please visit the National Library for
Medicine at Medline Plus.
During this process, you have discovered
the beneficial and harmful effects of daily
caffeine consumption. This should help
inform not only yourself, but the others
around you about the risks of too much
caffeine. You are more informed now
about how much caffeine is in popular
energy drinks (up to three times more
than a cup of coffee). New studies are
trying to force energy drink
manufacturers to list caffeine content.
Return to top of Conclusion.
References
Amazing Green Tea. (n.d.). Green Tea Caffeine – 4 Sure –fire Ways to Minimize Side Effects.
Retrieved July 19, 2010 from http://www.amazing-green-tea.com/green-tea-caffeine.html
B C Community Nutritionists Council, School Food Advisory Committee. (n.d.). Caffeine and
the Student Body. Retrieved July 18, 2010 from
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/caffeine.pdf
Brain, M. & Bryant, C.W. (2000). How Caffeine works. Retrieved July 19, 2010 from
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/drugs-alcohol/caffeine.htm#
Decaffeinated and Flavored Coffee – Good or Bad? (n.d.) Retrieved July 18, 2010 from
http://www.joyfullivingservices.com/coffee.html
Harris, B. (n.d.). How to Endure Caffeine Withdrawal: You Can Beat the Headaches. Retrieved
July 18, 2010 from http://www.howtodothings.com/health-fitness/how-to-endurecaffeine-withdrawal
Medcare Health. (2007). Is Decaf Coffee bad for you? Retrieved July 18, 2010 from
http://www.medcarehealth.com/health-problems-prevention/2007/06/is-decaf-coffee-badfor-you/
Pick, M. (2010). Caffeine pros and cons: effects of caffeine on your body. Retrieved July 19,
2010 from http://www.womentowomen.com/fatigueandstress/effectsofcaffeine.aspx
Smith, S. (2005). Decaf Coffee Questions Percolate. Retrieved July 18, 2010 from
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/16/health/webmd/main1051012.shtml
Sohn. E. (2007). The Buzz About Caffeine. Retrieved July 18, 2010 from
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20070919/Feature1.asp
All other references are on the Resources page.