Back in Time

1. Back in Time Of Mice and Men Webquest An introduction to Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

2. Introduction • Imagine that you are able to step back in time - back to the decade of America’s Great Depression, 1930-1939. • What would life be like for someone living then? What kind of education would you have? Where would you shop? What would you wear? What would you do for entertainment: go to the movies, watch television, listen to the radio? Now, what if you could become someone other than yourself? • This is your chance to be someone else, someone different. You will assume the role of a person living in the 1930's. You may be anyone you want: a migrant worker, a dust bowl refugee, a city dweller, or a country farmer. If you wish, you may link your pretend person with someone else's and be brothers or sisters or mother and child. This your chance to assume a role!

3. Task • In order to assume your new role, you will have to become an investigator. • When your investigation is completed, you will make an oral presentation to the class, in character, utilizing Microsoft’s PowerPoint presentation format. • You will be expected to know your background, education, occupation (student, farmer, secretary, etc.), geographical location and/or residence, family life, social/community life, entertainment, and any other  information about your life that you want to share. If you have met a famous person, or witnessed an exciting event of the 1930's, make sure you include it in your presentation.

4. Process • In order to be successful investigators, you will need to research the decade. Web links have been set up for you in order to aid your investigation. However, before you can begin your investigation, you must make some decisions. • 1) Decide on the role that you will assume. 2) If you are planning to link your person with someone else, now is the time to make that decision. Remember, each person will do their own investigation. 3) Once you have made these decisions, begin investigating the decade. 4) Everyone, regardless of role, must begin here with an overview of the 30’s Decade. 5) Record the URL's which you visit through your research. 6) Using the web tools, organize the information you have gathered.

5. Who am I?

6. Some things you might consider: The 1930's Decade The 1930's Decade

7. The Great Depression Now that you are understanding the decade better, it is time for you to learn more about The Depression. Search through the web sites that follow to learn about The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl, and migrant workers. 

8. Evaluation • Each element of your webquest will be evaluated. As you work, check the rubric often to make sure you are on target to get the best grade possible. You will be graded in the following areas: research, role playing, PowerPoint Presentation, and journal reflection paper. A total of 200 points can be earned through this project.

9. Each element of your Webquest will be evaluated. As you work, check the rubric often to make sure you are on target to get the best grade possible. You will be graded in the following areas: research, role playing, and PowerPoint Presentation. A total of 75 points can be earned through this project.      

10. Conclusion Now that you have spent some time traveling back in time, what are your impressions of the 1930's? Was it an interesting time to be alive? Do you think life was easier, harder, simpler, or more complicated? What did you think of the price of items and the clothes people wore? Now take some time to write a journal paper reflecting on these questions. Include any other impressions about your work that you would like to share.  This will be turned in for a grade!