A Webquest

1
A Webquest
2
Introduction

• We will soon begin reading John Steinbecks
• novel, Of Mice and Men. The novel takes
• the reader on a journey through the lives of
• two men, Lennie and George. These
• two men become
• best friends and
• make big plans
• for the future.

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Introduction

• Today, each of you will be researching some of
  the background information about the novel.
  There is much to learn about the time period,
  setting, author, and other information important
  to the novel.
• Step 1 After you receive your topic, you will
  answer the questions ON YOUR OWN and will be
  turned in the day the group project is due
  (typed).
• Step 2 After everyone has individually answered
  the questions for their section, you will get
  together with your partner(s) and create a group
  presentation.

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The Quest

• Each group will be responsible for presenting
  information on one topic. The topics include the
  Dust Bowl the Great Depression migrant workers
  1930s culture the New Deal Salinas Valley and
  Soledad John Steinbeck and mental illness.

5
The Process and Presentation

• After everyone has completed their individual
  quest, the group will get together to prepare and
  present the information they found to the class
  in powerpoint form. (8 slide minimum.)
• Each member will be expected to participate in
  the oral presentation.

6
The Resources/Grading

• You will use the websites provided to find the
  information you need. Just click on the URL
  address, and the computer will go right to it.
• When you get to the websites, read over your
  information and answer the questions as
  completely as possible.
• Your individual answers that you turn in will be
  a minor grade.
• Your oral presentation and powerpoint will count
  as a major grade (group grade).

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The Great Depression

• Use the following links to answer the following
  questions
• What lead up to the stock market crash?
• Explain Black Thursday and Black Tuesday.
• What was the impact of the Crash?
• How and by whom was the term depression coined?
• What were some social problems during The Great
  Depression?
• How did the depression affect children?
• http//www.historylearningsite.co.uk/wall_street_c
  rash.htm
• http//www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpmech5.htm
• http//us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lectur
  e18.html
• http//newdeal.feri.org/eleanor/er2a.htm

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The Dust Bowl

• Use the links below to answer the following
  questions
• 1. What kind of severe weather conditions did
  the nation experience between 1935-1936?
• What caused the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma?
• What was Black Sunday?
• What is a snuster?
• How were students affected during a dust storm?
• What did the Dust Bowl era teach farmers?
• http//www.ccccok.org/museum/dustbowl.html
• http//www.weru.ksu.edu/new_weru/multimedia/dustbo
  wl/dustbowlpics.html
• http//www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/w
  ater_06.html

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Farmers/Migrant Workers

• Use the links below to answer the following
  questions
• Why were the farmers forced to migrate to
  California? What were some of the benefits for
  farmers living in California?
• What were the migrants called and why?
• How many migrants would enter California each
  month?
• Was California the promised land of the
  migrants dreams? Why or why not?
• 5. What did the migrants do to maintain a steady
  income?
• 6. How did WWII help the working conditions of
  some of the migrants?
• http//lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/afctshtml/tsme.html
• http//www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/w
  ater_06.html

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The American Culture in the 1930s

• Use the links below to find one interesting fact
  on the following topics
• Famous people Also, how much did
• Education the following items cost?
• Art and architecture milk
• Fads and fashions bread
• Literature steak
• Music car
• Radio house
• Science/Technology
• Theater and film Also, what was the average
  income?
• http//www.geocities.com/bettye_sutton/greatdepres
  sion.html
• http//www.thepeoplehistory.com/1930s.html

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The New Deal

• Use the links below to answer the following
  questions
• Who was the president at the beginning of the
  Great Depression? Who beat him in the 1932
  election? Why?
• What line did the president say in his inaugural
  address that quickly became a famous quote?
• What was the presidents first act when he got
  into office?
• What was the Hundred Days?
• Explain how the president created jobs for the
  unemployed. Include at least three specific
  examples.

http//www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USARnewdeal.h
tm http//www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0835397.
html http//historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/
12
John Steinbeck

• Use the links to answer the following questions
• When and where was John Steinbeck born? When and
  where did he die?
• Where did Steinbeck go to college? When did he
  graduate?
• What experience helped Steinbeck portray the
  lives of workers?
• What was Steinbecks first successful work?
• What two important awards did Steinbeck receive
  for his writings?
• When was Of Mice and Men published?
• Which works were made into a play and/or movie?
• http//www.britannica.com/eb/article-9069547/John-
  Steinbeck
• http//americanwriters.org/writers/steinbeck.asp

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Salinas Valley/Soledad, California

• Use the links below to answer the following
  questions
• Where is the Salinas Valley located?
• What county is it a part of?
• What does Soledad mean?
• What are some of the agricultural productw
  produced in Soledad?
• What makes the Salinas River so special?
• http//www.mtycounty.com/pgs-misc/salinas-river.ht
  ml
• http//salinaschamber.com/living_here.asp
• http//www.beachcalifornia.com/soled.html

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Mental Illness

• Use the links below to answer the following
  questions
• What are the causes of mental retardation?
• What are four signs of mental retardation?
• By what is a persons level (moderate to severe)
  of mental retardation defined?
• How common is mental retardation?
• What challenges might someone who is mentally
  retarded face when learning?
• http//www.prevention-news.com/1997/causes.htm
• http//www.hmc.psu.edu/childrens/healthinfo/m/ment
  alretardation.htm
• http//www.onestops.info/article.php?article_id54
  

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Good Luck on your Quest!