History or Fiction?History or Fiction?The truth behind The truth behind Johnny Tremain.Johnny Tremain.

A Web Quest for 8A Web Quest for 8thth Language Arts and Social Language Arts and Social StudiesStudies

Designed by Erica PreswoodDesigned by Erica Preswood EricaPreswood@averyschools.netEricaPreswood@averyschools.net

IntroductionIntroduction Task Task ProcessProcess EvaluationEvaluation ConclusionConclusion Credits Credits Teacher PagTeacher Pag

ee

IntroductionIntroduction As a class, we have been reading the As a class, we have been reading the

novel novel Johnny TremainJohnny Tremain and studying the and studying the American Revolution. The novel depicts American Revolution. The novel depicts many historical events mixed with many historical events mixed with memorable characters. memorable characters.

How do you the reader decide what is How do you the reader decide what is fact and what is fiction? fact and what is fiction?

With your literature circle group, you With your literature circle group, you will perform specific roles to help will perform specific roles to help determine the truth of the novel. determine the truth of the novel.

TaskTask Your literature circle group has now become an investigative team, Your literature circle group has now become an investigative team,

which will take on new roles. The roles will be central to the which will take on new roles. The roles will be central to the discovery of historical facts. Each role requires partners to work discovery of historical facts. Each role requires partners to work together to complete the required tasks.together to complete the required tasks.

Here are the new roles: Here are the new roles: 1. GPS Locators- you will locate the geographical locations named in 1. GPS Locators- you will locate the geographical locations named in the novel. Find any historical information/importance, pictures/maps, the novel. Find any historical information/importance, pictures/maps, and or other interesting facts. Use the information that you discover and or other interesting facts. Use the information that you discover to create a travel brochure.to create a travel brochure.

2. People Finders- you will compile a database of names from the 2. People Finders- you will compile a database of names from the novel. Collect the following information: birth/death date, home novel. Collect the following information: birth/death date, home town, education/career, interesting bio facts, and involvement in the town, education/career, interesting bio facts, and involvement in the revolution. Use your database to create a magazine.revolution. Use your database to create a magazine.

3. Event Reporters- you will compile a timeline of events from the 3. Event Reporters- you will compile a timeline of events from the novel. Research the events to discover more information such as novel. Research the events to discover more information such as who was involved, where the event occurred, and historical who was involved, where the event occurred, and historical importance/significance. You will utilize your information by creating importance/significance. You will utilize your information by creating a living timeline. a living timeline.

Each new role will present their information to the whole group. Each new role will present their information to the whole group. History or Fantasy? That is the question that each group will be History or Fantasy? That is the question that each group will be trying to determine. trying to determine.

ProcessProcess 1. You will be paired with someone from your 1. You will be paired with someone from your

literature circle group. literature circle group. 2. As a group you will decide which role you 2. As a group you will decide which role you

would like to perform.would like to perform. 3. Below you will find a link for your new role. 3. Below you will find a link for your new role.

Carefully follow the steps and beware of bias Carefully follow the steps and beware of bias and convincing characters.and convincing characters.

People FinderPeople Finderss

GPS LocatorGPS Locatorss

Event RepoEvent Reportersrters

GPS LocatorsGPS Locators1. Create a list of places from the novel.1. Create a list of places from the novel.

2. Determine if these locations existed during the American Revolution. To aid in your 2. Determine if these locations existed during the American Revolution. To aid in your researchresearch

endeavors, follow the links below to gather your information. endeavors, follow the links below to gather your information. Remember to look for the following information:Remember to look for the following information: historical information/importancehistorical information/importance pictures/mapspictures/maps other interesting factsother interesting factsFollow these links:Follow these links:

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle.htmlhttp://www.theamericanrevolution.org/hevents/bteapart.asphttp://www.theamericanrevolution.org/hevents/bteapart.asp

http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/timeline_of_events.htmlhttp://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/timeline_of_events.htmlhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations/Boston/Boston_and_Beyond.htmlhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations/Boston/Boston_and_Beyond.html

3. After collecting your information, you will create a travel brochure. You may use a computer software program to create your brochure, or you may create the brochure using traditional materials. The brochure should include:

-at least 5 locations of importance to the American Revolution mentioned in the novel

-maps and or pictures of the location-A brief description of the location including the information

that you were asked to research. Also include a quote from the novel containing the location (be sure to include the chapter number, section number, and page number).

-include a brief paragraph detailing places that you could not prove to exist

People FindersPeople Finders1. Make a list of the characters from the novel.1. Make a list of the characters from the novel.2. Determine if these people lived during the American Revolution. Follow the 2. Determine if these people lived during the American Revolution. Follow the

links below to research your list. Remember to compile the following links below to research your list. Remember to compile the following information to create a database:information to create a database:

birth/death dates birth/death dates home townhome towneducation/careereducation/careerinteresting bio factsinteresting bio factsinvolvement in the revolutioninvolvement in the revolution

Follow these links:Follow these links:http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/ipeople.asphttp://www.theamericanrevolution.org/ipeople.asp

http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/revolutionary_people.htmlhttp://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/revolutionary_people.html 3. Create a database in Excel using the information you discovered.3. Create a database in Excel using the information you discovered.4. Using the database, create a magazine that highlights the people of the 4. Using the database, create a magazine that highlights the people of the

American Revolution. Your magazine may be created using a computer American Revolution. Your magazine may be created using a computer software program, or you may use traditional materials. Your magazine software program, or you may use traditional materials. Your magazine should include:should include:- a cover similar to a modern magazine which includes: pictures, headlines, - a cover similar to a modern magazine which includes: pictures, headlines, and and

teasersteasers-a table of content -a table of content -bios for at least 5 people mentioned in the novel, whom you found really -bios for at least 5 people mentioned in the novel, whom you found really existed.existed.-a quote from the work mentioning the person (be sure to include the chapter -a quote from the work mentioning the person (be sure to include the chapter

number, section number, and page number).number, section number, and page number).-a brief paragraph detailing 5 people you could not prove ever lived-a brief paragraph detailing 5 people you could not prove ever lived

Event ReportersEvent Reporters1. Create a timeline of events from the novel.1. Create a timeline of events from the novel.2. Determine if these events actually occurred by researching the 2. Determine if these events actually occurred by researching the following links:following links:

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_timeline.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_timeline.htmlhttp://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/hevents.asphttp://www.theamericanrevolution.org/hevents.asp

3. You are going to create a “living timeline” of events. You may 3. You are going to create a “living timeline” of events. You may choose to be a reporter and create a news show, re-enact the choose to be a reporter and create a news show, re-enact the events, or another creative interpretation of “living timeline”. events, or another creative interpretation of “living timeline”.

Your report must include: Your report must include: -at least five true events that are mentioned in the -at least five true events that are mentioned in the

novel (be sure to note where in the novel specifically)novel (be sure to note where in the novel specifically)-discuss the importance of the event to the -discuss the importance of the event to the

American RevolutionAmerican Revolution-discuss the events that you discovered to be fiction-discuss the events that you discovered to be fiction-report should be creative and have props and costumes-report should be creative and have props and costumes-presentation should be well rehearsed and scripted-presentation should be well rehearsed and scripted

EvaluationEvaluationBegininng-1Begininng-1 Developing-2Developing-2 Accomplished-3Accomplished-3 Explemplary-4Explemplary-4 ScoreScore

Completed all Completed all taskstasks

Some tasks were Some tasks were completed with completed with missing or missing or incomplete incomplete informationinformation

Most tasks were Most tasks were completedcompleted

All tasks were All tasks were completed, but completed, but with missing or with missing or incomplete incomplete informationinformation

All tasks were All tasks were completed completed thoroughlythoroughly

Research Research Researched some Researched some of the required of the required Websites and Websites and provided some of provided some of the required the required informationinformation

Researched Researched required required Websites and Websites and provided some of provided some of the required the required informationinformation

Researched Researched required Websites required Websites and provided the and provided the majority of the majority of the required required informationinformation

Researched Researched required Websites required Websites and provided all of and provided all of the required the required informationinformation

ProductProduct Did not create a Did not create a complete productcomplete product

Product is Product is missing required missing required elements or is in elements or is in the wrong formatthe wrong format

Product has all the Product has all the required elements, required elements, but some elements but some elements are hard to find or are hard to find or product is not neat product is not neat and legibleand legible

Product has all the Product has all the required elements, required elements, and the product is and the product is creative, neat, and creative, neat, and legible.legible.

Partner Partner EvaluationEvaluation(to be answered by (to be answered by each partner to each partner to distinguish distinguish between grades)between grades)

I did none of the I did none of the work.work.

I did very little I did very little work.work.

I did some of the I did some of the work.work.

My partner and I My partner and I shared the project shared the project equally.equally.

PresentationPresentation Did not present.Did not present. Presented some Presented some information, but information, but hard to hard to understandunderstand

Presented needed Presented needed information with information with notes. Easy to notes. Easy to understand.understand.

Well prepared. Well prepared. Presented without Presented without reading from notesreading from notes

ConclusionConclusion You have now completed your research and You have now completed your research and

your products. You should realize the your products. You should realize the exquisite work of Ester Forbes and exquisite work of Ester Forbes and appreciate her magical weaving of appreciate her magical weaving of memorable characters into historical events memorable characters into historical events and places.and places.

Could Johnny Tremain have been an average Could Johnny Tremain have been an average boy in Boston?boy in Boston?

Here are some more links to help you Here are some more links to help you continue learning truth about the American continue learning truth about the American Revolution:Revolution:

http://www.history.com/http://www.history.com/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.htmlhttp://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.htmlhttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/

AmerRevolution.htmAmerRevolution.htm

CreditsCredits To create this Web-Quest, I utilized the To create this Web-Quest, I utilized the

template provided. I also used the template provided. I also used the Website www.webquest.org . Website www.webquest.org .

The book cover clipart was obtained from The book cover clipart was obtained from google images at google images at http://tweenreads.blogspot.com/2007/07/jhttp://tweenreads.blogspot.com/2007/07/johnny-tremain-by-esther-forbes.html .ohnny-tremain-by-esther-forbes.html .

Thanks to Esther Forbes for helping my Thanks to Esther Forbes for helping my students relate to the American students relate to the American Revolution.Revolution.

Thanks to my wonderful grade level team Thanks to my wonderful grade level team whom encourages integration of learning!whom encourages integration of learning!

Teacher PageTeacher PageSome notes:Some notes: Because of the many modifications due to PEP, Because of the many modifications due to PEP,

LEP, IEP, 504, and AIG plans, the assignments are LEP, IEP, 504, and AIG plans, the assignments are tiered for ability with modifications in mind. The tiered for ability with modifications in mind. The event reporters is the most complex of the event reporters is the most complex of the assignments with the GPS locators being the most assignments with the GPS locators being the most easily modified assignment. easily modified assignment.

This Web-quest should follow a thorough reading This Web-quest should follow a thorough reading of the novel.of the novel.

This Web-quest is not the entire unit of study; it is This Web-quest is not the entire unit of study; it is merely being used a a culminating activity in an merely being used a a culminating activity in an integrated unit of study that involves both integrated unit of study that involves both Language Arts classes and Social Studies classes.Language Arts classes and Social Studies classes.

Additional activities that student complete during Additional activities that student complete during the entire unit include: handicapped obstacle the entire unit include: handicapped obstacle course, create trade signs, family crests/cups, course, create trade signs, family crests/cups, write post cards from the Boston Tea Party, and write post cards from the Boston Tea Party, and participate in re-enactments of the Intolerable participate in re-enactments of the Intolerable Acts.Acts.