Discovering the Power of Choice in The Giver

Introduction

Imagine a world without suffering, violence, or starvation, but also without color, music, or options.

In Lois Lowry's The Giver, Jonas learns what happens when a group of people gives up their independence in order to feel safe and be the same.



You will enter Jonas's world in this WebQuest to learn more about what freedom, individuality, and choice imply. You will utilize the internet to look at the book's topics and think about how they relate to our world today.

Task

Your task is to create a multimedia presentation that answers this question:

“Is it better to live in a world of safety and sameness, or one with freedom and risk?”

You will:

  1. Research the world of The Giver.

  2. Compare it to our world today.

  3. Support your opinion with examples from the novel and real-life connections.

  4. Present your findings in one of these formats (your choice):

    • Google Slides presentation

    • Video or digital poster

    • Written essay with visuals

Process

Follow these steps to complete your WebQuest:

  1. Read and Review: Revisit key chapters in The Giver where Jonas discovers memories of pain, love, and choice.

  2. Research: Use the listed websites to learn about the book’s setting, themes, and author.

  3. Reflect: Take notes on the pros and cons of living in Jonas’s society vs. ours.

  4. Create: Choose your project format (presentation, video, or essay).

  5. Cite Sources: Include at least two quotes from the novel and one resource from your research.

  6. Share: Present your final product to the class or upload it to the assignment link.

 

Use these websites to guide your exploration:

  1. Lois Lowry’s Official Site: https://www.loislowry.com/

  2. The Giver Study Guide (SparkNotes): https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/giver/

  3. The Giver Themes & Analysis (Schmoop): https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/giver

  4. Freedom vs. Safety Article: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ (search “freedom and safety”)

Evaluation

Your work will be graded using the rubric below:

Criteria 3 Points (Excellent) 2 Points (Good) 1 Point (Needs Work)
Introduction/Understanding Shows strong understanding of The Giver and its themes Shows basic understanding Shows limited or incorrect understanding
Task Completion All parts of the task completed with creativity and depth Most parts completed Few or incomplete parts
Use of Resources At least 3 sources used and properly cited 2 sources used or partially cited Less than 2 sources used or none cited
Organization & Presentation Clear, organized, engaging presentation Some organization or clarity issues Hard to follow or incomplete
Grammar & Effort Few to no errors; strong effort shown Some errors; good effort Many errors; limited effort
Reflection & Creativity Thoughtful, original reflection on freedom and choice Some reflection; somewhat original Little or no reflection or originality
Conclusion

Jonas learns in The Giver that real freedom comes with both happiness and sadness.

You learned what it means to make decisions and deal with the results by doing this WebQuest. These teachings apply to more than just fiction.



As you think about it, think about:



Do you wish to live in a world like Jonas's?



How do the decisions we make affect the world we live in now?



You are now in Jonas's shoes, and now you have a better idea of what it means to really live.

Credits

  1. Lois Lowry’s Official Site: https://www.loislowry.com/

  2. The Giver Study Guide (SparkNotes): https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/giver/

  3. The Giver Themes & Analysis (Schmoop): https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/giver

  4. Freedom vs. Safety Article: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ (search “freedom and safety”)