Introduction
Have you ever wanted to escape? Do you think it would be fascinating to be the King or Queen of your own kingdom? As you explore this novel, written by Katherine Paterson, you will be taken on a voyage across the water and into a mythical kingdom called Terabithia, shared by two unlikely best friends who face many hurdles but work hard to overcome. Enjoy your journey!
Task
Your task is to learn about the author of this novel, Katherine Paterson—who she is and why she wrote this book, and also to learn about Terabithia and its occupants, Jess and Leslie. You will advance through several processes that will make you more familiar with the book and its author, and then be given the opportunity to express your feelings and opinions about this award-winning literary work.
Process
A. Your first assignment is to complete the web scavenger hunt answering the following questions. Use the links to find your answers and write them down on the worksheet.
1. Why did Katherine Paterson write this novel?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terebithia
2. How many awards has the novel won?
http://www.terabithia.com/awards.html
3. What is Jess Aarons' greatest ambition?
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2839.Bridge_to_Terabithia
4. What year was Bridge to Terabithia published?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_%28novel%29
B. Now that you have read Bridge to Terabithia, your next job is to put together a presentation as if you were teaching someone else about this book. Using Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, create a presentation that includes the following:
*A summary of the book
*The characters in the book
*Whether or not you would recommend the book to a friend and why or why not
You can use your worksheet to write down notes as a guide, or just begin typing your document.
When you are finished, we will edit it together and print a copy.
C. Imagining you are Jess, write Leslie’s obituary. You will create this document in Microsoft Word, using no larger than 12 point font. Create an 8 inch by 3 inch vertical text box and include information about Leslie’s life and death. Be sure to include the dates of her birth and death (use your imagination for these,) and also attributes about her character and relationships with others. You should also search the web for a picture of Leslie (choose a graphic of someone you envision she looks like) to copy and paste into the top of your obituary.
When you are finished, we will edit it together and print a copy.
Evaluation
You will be evaluated using the rubric that is attached to your Webquest worksheet. Be sure to include all elements of the "process" in order to get full credit for the assignment!
Conclusion
Now that you have completed this webquest and read Bridge to Terabithia, it is my hope that you have a greater appreciation for this remarkable novel. It includes components of friendship, perseverance and triumph—three fantastic concepts we all encounter at some point in life. You also have the added benefit of the technological experience you gained by navigating all the processes. Congratulations on all your hard work!
Teacher Page
This webquest was created for the purpose of educating middle school students about this award-winning literary work. Friendship, strength and courage are all positive components of adolescence, and with students of this grade level beginning to enter into this stage of growth, this piece of literature is a great pre-cursor. The tech components of the quest encourage students to become familiar and comfortable with technology, and while they are the main focus of this quest, the possibilities with this novel are endless.