Fort Ross, a unique monument to Russian and American history, rich in mysteries, hidden in many beautiful and interesting places, where  the past and  the present have been  so  gently and tightly interwoven.

The purpose of this webquest is our endeavor to feel the spirit of nations and people living then and now, to read the wise Book of Fort Ross History with many pages of glory, filled with legends and romantic sides of life there and hard work and   then to create a virtual tour in the quest format to this magic place to find answers, keys and solutions to our present-day situation in the world.

Travelling is the best education. Webquest travelling means building competences and skills together with the desire to learn, create and develop. Tasks-based (project- based) learning is the food for mind, practice and progress.

 

While creating the quest students are supposed to ignite creative thinking, practice reading skills, use IT tools and technology to help them explore  Fort Ross surroundings, learn about progressive-minded Russian people  who realized their mission in America “with God high above, the Tsar far away”, and discover the bonds of friendship, peaceful co-existence with native people that lived in those lands long before “Russian invasion” and  find answers to the following questions:

-what secrets and mysteries  the Rotchev house can  reveal; 

-what the  blue waves of  Sandy Cove and the Russian River and Bodega Bay  may whisper about; 

-what stories the old trees in the  historic Orchard Garden can tell  visitors about;   

-what interesting places connected with  the history  of Russia, 3 team–winners of the Contest in the year 2014-2015, visited and what impressed them most of all in the USA last summer.

 

 Grade level:  Secondary school students (senior) and all those who show interest in US-Russia relations, history, geography and English, global peace and volunteering.

 

Curriculum: English language, English literature, English Studies, History.

 

Keywords: Fort Ross, culture, relations, contribution, future, webquest, teamwork, collaboration, joy of learning and researching, traveling across ocean and time.