Introduction
In the 1960's, violence dominated the landscape. The Vietnam war, Civil Rights Protests, and the assaassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King. America was a society dominated by young people, listening to the Beatles, and watching color TV for the first time! Unfortunately, not all were prospering in this "peace out" revolution. That, my young friends, is where you come in...
Task
Cross the Lines.
How could you help these two groups come together? Plan an event that you think both the Socs and the Outsiders would attend, and could help the two sides get along! Your event should have multiple facets: event, food, decorations, games, organization, etc. All of these parts of the event should be somehow linked to details from the novel, and relate to both the Outsiders, and the Socs.
The team with the best idea will get to plan an actual event for Ms. Sellers class. Remember to include details from the book, about characters, events that take place, the community and culture, and ways to make both groups feel welcome at the same events. You may also want to outline some precautions or dangers you think you may face at the event, based on what you previously read. Your team should outline the events, with times, and then explain in paragraph form what each part of the event entails, and why you think it applies to each side (or if it applies to one side more than the other).
Good Luck! -Ms. S
Process
Choose a side: Become an outsider or Soc.
1) Select at least three characters from the novel to help you plan the party.
2) Use the interests and stories of these characters to help you plan your event
3) Explain how you will keep both sides interested, as well as how both sides will be reached by the event.
Be sure to include paragraphs description of your plan, and reasonings, for each of the following sections:
1) Music- What kinds of music will you have at this event? Explain why? Create a playlist to submit along with your description. Why did you choose each song, and which group does it reach (one group, or both?).
2) Food- What food would you serve? Why? Exlpain how this relates to the community that the Greasers, or Socs, come from.
3) Activities/Games- What would you have for people to do? What kind of games would you play at the game? Explain why these games would be relevant to the teenagers in the story.
4) Decorations- How would you decorate the party? Would you include separate decorations from the cultures of the East Side, and the West Side, or blend and mix them both? Exlplain the symbolism of your decorations, and how they may be recieved on both sides.
5) Location- Where would you have the party? It's about a 20 minute walk from the Eastside to the Westside. Would you have the party on one particular side of town, somewhere in the middle, or outside of town completely. Based on what you know of the community in the novel, explain your choice.
6) Invitations- While almost everyone will be invited to your event, who are some characters that you want to be sure are present. Are there any that you hope don't attend. List at least five characters you want at your event, and why. (Write a paragraph for each character).
7) Write one paragraph explaining why or why not you think this event may be helpful, and how effective you think your event would be.
*You may want to use research to support your planning for the event, as well as to help you analyze reasons and evidence from the book*
*Use parenthetical page numbers to cite details that support your decisions for events, especially when justifying your decisions with evidence from novel. Include pictures and/or graphics that outline/represent the vision or idea you have for the event.
Evaluation
Conclusion
Be sure that everyone in your group is contributing to planning your party/event. Teamwork is essential! You can even come up with a name for your group, if you choose! You will have 4 class days (one week, consecutively) to complete the planning of your event, and on the fifth day you will turn in the written portions, as well as "pitch" you event idea to the class! The teacher will offer daily checkpoints/deadlines, in order to help your group remain on track. Questions are welcomed!
Good Luck!
-Ms. S
Credits
The following resources used/to be used in this assignment:
Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. New York: Viking, 1967. Print.
*We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited*
Teacher Page
This final project should be completed after reading The Outsiders. Students will use the novel, as well as supporting historiacl evidence, to plan an event that reflects the themes of the story and setting of the novel. The information will be presented in the form of a planned event, which students will then vote on to determine which is the best/most effective.
This webquest was intended for high school students who have read The Outsiders.
Standards: SCCCR 2.1
SCCCR 3.2
SCCCR 5.1