Of Mice and Men:
Back in Time

A Webquest for 10th grade English

Designed by

Gail Snyder
gsnyder471@hotmail.com

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

INTRODUCTION
Imagine that you are able to step back in time - back to the decade of America’s Great Depression, 1930-1939. What would life be like for someone living then? What kind of education would you have? Where would you shop? What would you wear? What would you do for entertainment: go to the movies, watch television, listen to the radio? Now, what if you could become someone other than yourself? 

This is your chance to be someone else, someone different. You will assume the role of a person living in the 1930's. You may be anyone you want: a migrant worker, a dust bowl refugee, a city dweller, or a country farmer. If you wish, you may link your pretend person with someone else's and be brothers or sisters or mother and child. This your chance to assume a role!

TASK

In order to assume your new role, you will have to become an investigator. When your investigation is completed, you will make an oral presentation to the class, in character, utilizing Microsoft’s PowerPoint presentation format. You will be expected to know your background, education, occupation (student, farmer, secretary, etc.), geographical location and/or residence, family life, social/community life, entertainment, and any other  information about your life that you want to share. If you have met a famous person, or witnessed an exciting event of the 1930's, make sure you include it in your presentation.

Process
In order to be successful investigators, you will need to research the decade.
Web links have been set up for you in order to aid your investigation. However, before you can begin your investigation, you must make some decisions.

1) Decide on the role that you will assume.
2) If you are planning to link your person with someone else, now is the time to make that decision. Remember, each person will do their own investigation.
3) Once you have made these decisions, begin investigating the decade.
4) Everyone, regardless of role, must begin here with an overview of the 30’s 
    Decade.
5) Record the URL's which you visit through your research.
6) Using the Inspiration web tools, organize the information you have gathered.

Inspiration Web

Now that you are understanding the decade better, it is time for you to learn more about The Depression. Search through the web sites that follow to learn about The Great Despression, The Dust Bowl, and migrant workers. 

Evaluation
Each element of your webquest will be evaluated. As you work, check the rubric often to make sure you are on target to get the best grade possible. You will be graded in the following areas: research, role playing, and PowerPoint Presentation. A total of 75 points can be earned through this project.

	Beginning 10	Developing 15	Accomplished 20	Exemplary 25	Score
Research	Little or no historical research	Evidence of historical research which shows an emerging knowledge of 1930's decade.	Evidence of  historical research which demonstrates applicable knowledge of 1930's decade.	Evidence of  historical research which demonstrates an understanding of 1930's decade.
Role Playing	No evidence of role playing	Displays an emerging  knowledge of characteristics of role; Demonstrates an attempt to recreate a person through appearance.	Displays an applicable knowledge of characterisitics of role; Demonstrates application of role playing through appearance.	Displays a comprehensive understanding of the characterisitics of the role; Demonstrates the understanding through appearance and manner.
PowerPoint Presentation	Creates few slides with little content; Displays little  mastery of PowerPoint	Creates some slides which demonstrate research and an attempt at creative presentation.	Creates multiple slides which demonstrate complete research and a strong application of PowerPoint format.	Creates dynamic slides which demonstrate complete research and mastery of all facets of PowerPoint format.

Conclusion
Now that you have spent some time traveling back in time, what are your impressions of the 1930's? Was it an interesting time to be alive? Do you think life was easier, harder, simpler, or more complicated? What did you think of the price of items and the clothes people wore? Now take some time to write a journal reflecting on these questions. Include any other impressions about your work that you would like to share.


Credits & References

My thanks go out to the wonderful instructors of the eSecondary Academy Western Shore for all of their knowledge and patience in helping me to construct this Webquest. I would also like to thank the other participants in the Academy for their input and insight.