Introduction
It’s 1931 and your family is being effected by The Great Depression. What do you do? How will you survive? How will you find work? How will you supply for your family? You are now about to embark on a journey through the 1930s. You will discover what it was like to be a migrant worker in the Salinas Valley. After this web quest, you will gain a strong understanding of why John Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men and what influenced him to create such a strong piece of literature. A novel that brings life to real social issues; Of Mice and Men isabout poverty and dreams, friendship and loneliness, and despair and hope. In order to help you to understand the context of the novel and how it still resonates today, you are about to embark on a Web Quest that will lay the ground work for a deeper understanding of this simple, yet profound story.
Task
In this Web Quest you will be working and exploring web pages to answer questions in your designated section. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, the reading level might challenge you. Just answer the questions the best you can and ask for clarification from me if you need to.
Part 1: Background Information
Steinbeck was influenced by a variety of geographical, human, and social issues to write Of Mice and Men. Your job will be to explore some of these issues.
Part 2: Exploring Different Perspectives
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. You will explore the role that you draw from the cup.
2. Read through the websites given.
4. Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper or in a document. (MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR ANSWERS IN YOUR OWN WORDS). Points will be taken off for “cutting and pasting.” Once you have explored all the questions in your section, you will create a Slideshow presentation that reflects what you have learned through your journey.
Process
Geographers
Use the Internet Google search engine to answer these questions/statements specifically related to Geographers:
1. Describe the geographical features of the Salinas Valley in California.
2. Describe what types of jobs are available here.
4. When you think about the geographical features of the area, explain what kind of mood comes to mind and why.
5. Analyze what type of relationship John Steinbeck had with the Salinas Valley.
6. Explain why you think John Steinbeck chose this place as his setting for his novel.
7. For the visual component, create a map of the area with significant locations identified: Salinas, Monterey, Freemont Peak, and Gabilan Mountains etc.
Sociologists
Use the Internet Google search engine to answer these questions/statements specifically related to Sociologists:
1. Identify who migrant workers were and describe how were they affected by the Great Depression?
2. Summarize what happened to cause The Dust Bowl.
3. Do migrant workers exist today? Where? What kinds of jobs do they have?
4. Explain why workers wanted to come to California during the 1930s.
5. Describe the living conditions of migrant workers in California during this time.
6. For the visual portion of your presentation, develop a collage of photos of migrant workers of the 1930's and today.
Psychiatrists
Use the Internet Google search engine to answer these questions/statements specifically related to Psychiatrists:
1. Explain what a mental disability is and how it affects a person's everyday life.
2. List some of the difficulties in caring for a mentally disabled person.
3. Point out the different kinds of supports available for caregivers.
4. Analyze the role of friendship in caring for the mentally disabled.
5. For the visual portion of your presentation, create a collage of literature and films about the mentally disabled.
6. Describe how mentally disabled people were seen in the 1930. How are they seen today?
7. Explain what you think mentally disabled people add to our society.
8. Identify what the American Disabilities Act and IDEA is.
Biographers
Use the Internet Google search engine to answer these questions/statements specifically related to Biographers:
1. Point out the major facts about Steinbeck's life.
2. What philosophy of life is revealed in Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech?
3. Explain what influenced Steinbeck to write Of Mice and Men?
4. For the visual portion of your presentation, create a collage of Steinbeck’s life and work.
Historians
Use the Internet Google search engine to answer these questions/statements specifically related to Historians:
1. Discover and explain what The Great Depression was. Discuss some the causes and some of the effects of The Great Depression.
2. Identify what “Black Thursday” was.
3. Discuss how people manage to live during this time.
4. Explain the New Deal. Who created it and why is it significant.
5. Look at the Oral Histories and select one or two stories to share with us.
6. For your visual aid, create a poster of photos that represents the people and main events of the Great Depression.
Evaluation
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20--Excellent |
15--Good |
10--Fair |
5--Needs Improvement |
Score |
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Delivery |
-Holds attention of entire audience with the use of direct eye contact, seldom looking at notes
-Speaks with fluctuation in volume and inflection to maintain audience interest and emphasize key points |
-Consider use of direct eye contact with audience, but still returns to notes
-Speaks with satisfactory variation of volume and inflection |
-Displays minimal eye contact with audience, while reading mostly from the notes
-Speaks in uneven volume with little or no inflection
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-Holds no eye contact with audience, as entire report is read from notes
-Speaks in low volume and/ or monotonous tone, which causes audience to disengage |
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Content/ Organization |
-Covers topic in- depth with details and examples -Subject knowledge is excellent and all questions are addressed. |
-Includes essential knowledge about the topic. -Subject appears to be good. Some questions may not be addressed. |
-Includes minimal knowledge about the topic. -Some questions may not be addressed. |
-Content is minimal or contains many factual errors. -No questions are addressed. |
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Creativity |
-Visual aides (slides) were effective, organized, and helpful -Presentation exceeded the expectations
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-Visual aides were effective, organized, and helpful -Presentation met expectations but did not exceed. |
-Visual aides were present but not effective, organized or helpful |
-Visual aides were not present. |
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Comments:
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Conclusion
Your journey into the background and issues that influenced the writing of Of Mice and Men has come to an end, but the trip is far from over! You are now ready to embark on a literary journey into the world of George and Lennie, the Salinas Valley, migrant farm workers, loneliness and friendship, poverty and dreams, and despair and hope.