Create Your Own Utopia Webquest

After students have read The Giver, many are often frustrated by the lack of choices the members of the community have and the state of ignorance in which Jonas and the other community members live.  The community in The Giver was created as a utopian society; however, things went very wrong in this “perfect world.”

You will work in teams of 4 to create your own utopia.  your team will research the concept of "utopia" and utopian communities found around the world today.  Each member of your team will then be assigned a specific aspect of the community to research and design.  You will meet as a group to discuss the development of the community and to make some group decisions.  Then your group will create a PowerPoint presentation and a persuasive brochure to showcase your utopia.  Continue reading this WebQuest for a more detailed explanation of each of the steps involved in this process.

Step One: What is Utopia?

Use the websites below to research the concept of "utopia"  The second website has lots of detailed information on utopia.  As a team, decide which parts are relevant to your project and split the reading up into sections.  That way, each member can read a section and report back to the group.

Do your research and share the information with your group members.  Asa group, come up with a definition of utopia.  Tell what utopia means to your group.  You should discuss the following questions in your group before coming up with the definition.  Use your imagination.  Be creative.  This is your chance to designe your idea of a perfect world.  

Be sure that your definition contains the answer to the following questions:

1. What kind of government would exist in your perfect society?
2. What would the educational system be like?
3. How would the community members receive medical care?
4. What kind of money would you use (if any) and how would it be distributed to the community members?
5. What kinds of recreation or leisure activities would be available to your community members?  How would they participate in these?

Explore these two websites:

Definition of Utopia

Utopian Philosophy -- hot to achieve it, merging reality and utopia and views of what utopia may be like

Step Two: Assignment of Roles

After you have created your own definition of utopia, you need to assign roles to your group members.  You may do this one of two ways:

1. Write each role on a scrap of paper and draw out of a hat OR
2. Discuss which role suits each person in your group the best, and assign them

The roles you will be assigning are described below:

Leader -- The leader is responsible for the team members getting along and making progress in their tasks.  you are also the liasion betwen your team and the teacher.  You will be responsible for planning the tupe of government your community will implement.

Developer -- You will responsible for mapping out the community, making sure to include natural resources found on your land like lakes and farmland.  You will draw out the design for the community.

Planner -- You will research issues like education and medicine.  You will be the team's expert on these issues.  You will design the health care system of the community.

Accountant -- You will be the team expert on financial issues like what monetary system the community will use, how the money will be distributed, and how it will be generated throughout the community.  You will be responsible for designing the banking system, if you use one.  you will also be responsible for designing the money for the community

EVERYONE will assist in the role of RECREATION DIRECTOR.  You will decide what kinds of leisure activities will be available in your community.  You will also be responsible for how they are implemented.  You will design activities for the rest of the community to enjoy and will be responsible for making sure they run smoothly.

Step Three: Research

Your group will use the following websites to research various utopian communities that actually exist in the world todayd.  Each of you should look for information that correlates with the role you have been assigned.

For instance, if you are the leader, you will look for ideas on how to set up the government of your community.  Everyone will look for ideas relating to leisure activities.  If you find interesting information that does not fit into any of the roles assigned, write it down for later.

Here are the websites:

The Acorn Community of Virginia

The Farm in Tennessee

Twin Oaks Community in Virginia

Victory City -- A City Under One Roof

After you finish your research, you will share it with the rest of your group members.  The group meeting agenda is listed below.  The answers to the questions on the agenda must be written down and handed in to your teacher for a grade.

• Draw a chart that shows how the government in your community will work.  Explain in detail the role of each person or group in your community.
• Sketch a map of what your community will look like.  You will have to refine it and make it better later.  Every building and area should be clearly labeled.  Don't forget to include lakes, parking (if needed), public buildings, medical buildings, schools, dwellings, recreational areas, etc.  An aerial view will be fine.
• Draw a chart or diagram depicting what your education system will be like.  Don't forget to include details about when kids go to school and for how long and what types of things will be taught at each level.
• Draw a chart or diagram depicting how your community members will receive health care, include information on who provides the care, what kind of care people can receive at which facilities, where people go for serious illnesses, prescriptions, etc.
• Draw a picture of what your dwellings will look like.  You should include an outside drawing as well as an aerial view of the inside.  Be sure to label everything in the dwelling.
• Draw a picture of the money your community will use.  Draw a chart or diagram depciting how people will receive money and how it will be used.  If you are not using money in your community, explain how people will receive goods and services.
• Describe the different types of recreation that will be offered in your community.  Include information on how they will be used by the people of the community (following a schedule, first come, first served, etc.)

After you have finished your group meeting, turn in the answers to the above questions to your teacher with all of your names on it.  

Step Four: Developing Your Presentation