|
The Mockingbird
Sings
A WebQuest for 8th Grade Language
Arts
Designed by
Marcia Hannan-Leonino
Christ the King Christian School
Introduction | Task
| Process | Resources |
Evaluation | Conclusion
| Credits
Introduction
The millennium committee has chosen Harper
Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, as the voice to be heard
into the next millenium. Your class has been chosen in a random drawing
to read and evaluate the book for a special evening broadcast where you
will present your findings to a live audience. It will require you to step
back into time as you read the book and "walk around in someone else's
skin" in order for you to prepare for your performance.?/font>
?
?
The Task
You will be working in groups of 3 or 4 students.
Each group will choose a topic
listed below. You will need to prepare the
topic for presentation according to
the requirements of the topic.
?
-
Create a 3-D map of the main setting and label
the parts important to the story.
-
Write and perform three vignettes illustrating
examples of stereotypes used in the book.
-
Examine typical Southern architecture that
was common in Maycomb during the 1930's. Determine how the setting was
crucial to the story line. In two separate skits, reenact a typical summer
evening in Maycomb in 1930 and contrast it with one that might occur today.
Props and costuming should be used.
-
Research the 1930's and Harper Lee's background.
Create a "This Is Your Life, Harper Lee" television show. Interview characters'
from her past on video tape to be viewed prior to her arrival "on stage."
-
Research the Gothic theme. Reenact two examples
of Gothic elements.
-
Write a reunion scene for Scout and Dill 10
years later.
-
Many groups of people have fallen victim to
prejudice over time. Reenact 2 examples of prejudice found in the novel;
write and perform two scenes of modern day examples of prejudice.
-
Reenact the trial of Tom Robinson; use a class
unfamiliar with the novel as your judge and jury. One student must represent
the defense and the other the prosecution.
The Process
-
You will be working in groups of 3 or 4 students.
-
Each group will choose a topic.
-
Each group will be required to research the
information needed for their topic as listed in the resources.
-
Each group will divide responsibilities and
keep individual?journals of their daily progress.
-
Each group will be required to take individual
notes on the resources and cite their sources in their journals.
-
Each group will work as a team to produce
videos, maps, skits, interviews based on the research reading and group
discussion of their topic. Document your work in your journal.
-
In the trial group, one person must serve
as the prosecution and the other the defense. Choose and prepare classmates
for their roles as witnesses from the facts in the novel.
Resources
Evaluation
?
-
Each member of the group will be given a grade
on an individual and group basis. You will be graded on your creativity,
effort, and accuracy.
-
You will be graded according to your individual
as well as group constructive use of time.
-
You will submit your journal on the day of
your group presentation for an individual grade based on your daily writing
and documentation.
-
You will receive a grade for your individual
performance.?/font>
-
You will receive a grade for your group presentation.
Evaluation Rubric:
?
|
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Score |
|
Journal
?/td>
|
Research documented with all applicable sources; chosen resources
must clearly define relevance to the topic.
Daily work fully documented and?neatly written.
|
Research documented with all possible sources; chosen sources show
relevance to the topic. Daily work recorded neatly.
|
Some research attempted; sources listed explained somewhat.
Incomplete journal entries;
entries briefly explained and somewhat legible.
|
Very little research attempted; sources incomplete.
Journal entries incomplete - sloppy or illegible.
|
?/td>
|
|
Individual Preparation
?/td>
|
Class time well utilized, consistently on task. All needed materials
available daily.
|
Good use of class time, generally on task.
All necessary materials generally available daily.
|
Class time somewhat well utilized. Most materials available.
|
Poor use of class time, and not prepared completely or consistently
on a daily basis.
|
?/td>
|
|
Group Work
?/td>
|
Effective use of teamwork on everyone's part. Excellent respect
of one another's ideas. Excellent preparation and use of time and materials.
All responsibilities shared.
|
Good use of teamwork on everyone's part.
Ideas fairly well respected.
Good use of time and materials.
Responsibilities fairly well divided.
|
Team effort some of the time. Ideas usually respected. Time and
materials somewhat used well.?
Responsibilities somewhat shared.
|
Little, if any, team effort. Time used ineffectively and?
materials used, when available.?Responsibilities poorly shared.
|
?/td>
|
|
Product
?/td>
|
Product was neat, complete, accurate, and detailed. Excellent utilization
of resource materials.?
On time.
|
Product was mostly neat, complete, accurate and detailed. Good
use of resource materials.?
On time.
|
Product was somewhat complete, fairly legible and accurate. Some
resource material used.?On time.
|
Product was late,?incomplete, inaccurate, or poorly written.
|
?/td>
|
Presentation/
Performance
|
Presentation was well rehearsed, entertaining, detailed, and logical.
Excellent use of props/costumes.
Completely explains the chosen topic.
|
Presentation was well rehearsed, entertaining for the most part,
and completely relevant to the topic. Good use of costumes/props.
|
Presentation was fairly enjoyable, preparation is somewhat evident,
generally related to the topic. Some props and/or costumes used.
|
Presentation was poor. Little effort went into the preparation;
relevance to the topic is unclear. Little, if any, use of costumes or props.
|
?/td>
|
Conclusion
After studying the background,
history, and major themes of the novel, you should now be able to understand
why To Kill A Mockingbird delivers a timeless message for young
and old alike. For a time, we are allowed to walk around in "Scout's skin."
Through her eyes we are able to see a world filled with spoken and unspoken
prejudices and stereotypes. Harper Lee causes us to draw our own eyes inward
to reexamine ourselves. This one woman's voice, coming at a time when only
a very few women wrote and published anything, can and will be heard and
remembered for years to come. Whose will be the voice of the new millennium?
Maybe it will be yours!
Credits?/font>
Photo courtesy of Think
Quest
Last updated
on August 15, 1999. Based on
a template from The
WebQuest Page
|