Guided+Inquiry+Activity

While reading Harper Lee's //To Kill A Mockingbird//, my students have been completing a WebQuest on Jim Crow laws in order to provide a sense of the historical background of the text. My students have also been blogging about the book and have been completing the WebQuest via the class blog. I have adapted the WebQuest to fit my own needs and proper credit has been given. The link provided takes you to the WebQuest directions on my class blog.

Ms. Rives' Jim Crow WebQuest Adaptation

 **Jim Crow Webquest **                 **READ **** //__ALL__// ****INSTRUCTIONS BELOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR PROJECT. THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT YOUR GROUP, AND YOU INDIVIDUALLY, WILL BE EXPECTED TO DO. **  The novel //To Kill a Mockingbird// is about a young girl growing up in rural Alabama in the 1930's. Her father is a lawyer in the town assigned to defend Tom, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Taken for granted in the story is an understanding of Jim Crow Laws and culture. You will now investigate further on these laws and the people who were affected by the laws. You will work in teams of three to explore various websites that will help you gain a better understanding of the Jim Crow Era. Each one of you will take on the role of a historical researcher searching for information on the Jim Crow South. You will examine the birth of legal racial separation, the history of Jim Crow, and actual Jim Crow Laws; you will read the stories of individuals who overcame the odds and resisted Jim Crow Laws, listen to interviews of African-Americans who were directly affected by the restrictions set on them, look at racial turmoil throughout the US in this time period, and examine photographic evidence of the Jim Crow laws and their enforcement. Your mission as historical researchers is to uncover what it was really like to be black during a time of extreme racism and segregation, and to make an emotional connection to the lives of African-Americans. Without this understanding, the book will be much harder to comprehend. As historical researchers, you will be required to work as a group to complete this mission before you can begin reading //To Kill a Mockingbird//. Here is a description of what you and your group must do:  · A detailed response to each of the questions asked about a site and posted to the class blog.  · Individually write a personal response that reflects your research and your personal response to that research.  · In a research conference on the Jim Crow Era, you will share you team’s findings Before you do anything else, you must choose which role each group member will have: <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Navigator **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: This person will be responsible for navigating the web and making sure all URL's (web site addresses) are correct in the blog entry. <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Secretary: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> This person will be the recorder for the team and is responsible for making sure that the blog entry is completed. __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This will be the official blog for the group and all group members will get a grade for it. __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> All group members must participate in discussing what goes into the blog. Your research blog will begin once you enter the first site. Make sure that your group keeps a detailed blog, otherwise your mission will not be complete. <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Speaker: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> This person will be the spokesperson for your group during the research conference. __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Speaker's performance will count as a grade for the entire group. __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Make sure all group members help to prepare the presentation the Speaker will deliver. <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Be ready to tell me who has what role for each group when I come around and ask. Step One: Visit the [|Plessy v Ferguson] site to get background on the Supreme Court case that legalized racial separation in the United States. Make sure that in addition to whatever other information you find relevant, you answer the following questions: Who was Plessy? What was his complaint? How did the Supreme Court rule? Was it unanimous? How did that ruling set up the conditions for Jim Crow laws to be enacted and enforced? Discuss these questions as a group and complete the first entry of your group's research blog. Step Two: Visit [|The Origin of Jim Crow] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">to get background information on Jim Crow Laws. Create a timeline of events from 1883-1914 listing the major events on this site. Discuss this site together and complete the entry for your group's research blog. Step Three: Visit [|Examples of Jim Crow Laws] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. Here each team member will need to take individual notes. Each team member will choose 3 different laws (each law must come from a different state). How would you react to having to obey that particular law? These will be turned in with your homework. Discuss this site together and complete the entry for your group's research blog. Step Four: Visit [|Jim Crow Profiles] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. There is a list of 20 people and their profiles. Each group will choose //one// person to research. **Before you begin your research, you must get your choice approved by the teacher. Groups will be approved on a first-come, first-serve basis.** Each group member should take personalized notes on the individual being studied for use in your homework assignment. At minimum you should include the following information in your notes: name, date of birth, place of origin, major cause this person fought for, and major accomplishments. After each team member has completed his/her personal notes, make sure the research log has been completed for this part of the assignment. Step Five: Visit [|Jim Crow Narratives] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. This site has 15 people telling their own stories of living under Jim Crow. Your team will now listen to a recording of one of these interviews. **Before you begin your research, you must get your choice approved by the teacher. Groups will be approved on a first-come, first-serve basis.** After you listen to the interview, you should take a minute or two to record your personal responses to the interview in your own notes; this will be needed for your homework assignment. How did you feel while listening to this person’s story? What effect did hearing the person’s voice have on you? As you listened to the interview, could you hear emotions that are similar to your own? If so, describe what emotions you heard and how you know. Make sure that your group has completed the research blog for this part of the assignment. Step Six: A number of students wonder why this was so accepted. As a matter of fact, there was a great deal of racial turmoil in this period. Each group needs to pick one of the following incidents to explore further (warning--some of these sites have pictures of violent situations): [|Atlanta, Georgia] [|East St. Loius, Missouri] [|Elaine, Arkansas] [|Knoxville, Tennessee] [|Omaha, Nebraska] [|Rosewood, Florida] [|Springfield, Illinois] [|Tulsa, Oklahoma] [|Washington, DC] Step Seven: Visit [|Photographs of Signs Enforcing Racial Discrimination: Documentation by Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. Your group must choose one photograph and complete a [|Visual Literacy Guide] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (VLG). After your group has completed the VLG, make sure that the research blog for this part of the assignment has been completed. The VLG will be turned in with the research blog. Step Eight: Before you complete your research, make sure that your entire research blog has been filled in and submitted to the teacher. Step Nine: If you complete these steps in advance of the other groups, you should explore some other Jim Crow sites that are provided below. As a closing activity for this project your group will share your research findings with the class. You should view this session as a research conference where all the teams have come together to share their findings. In this presentation of your findings, concentrate on the unique research your group did. Each group should be prepared to briefly summarize the following information: <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The laws discussed within your groups (pick three--one from each group member?)  <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The person your group researched  <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The interview your group listened to  <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The incident of racial turmoil  <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The historical importance of the above  <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Your group's personal reaction to the findings  <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Remember that although your group's speaker will present your findings, this is a grade for the entire group. You are all expected to help prepare the presentation of the findings. This should be more than one member of the group reading the research to the rest of the class.
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Introduction __**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Mission __**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Process __**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Before you begin your research, you must get your choice approved by the teacher. **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Each group member should take personalized notes on the individual being studied for use in your homework assignment. At minimum you should include the following information in your notes: When did this event occur? What was the incident that started the riot? What happened to those responsible for starting the riot (if anything)? After each team member has completed his/her personal notes, make sure that you have completed the research blog for this part of the assignment.
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Research Conference __**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">

<span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**__<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Evaluation __**
 * || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">** A level work ** || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">** B level work ** || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">** C level work ** || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">** D level work ** ||
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">** Group Response ** || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> All team members contributed and stayed on task. Each student performed his/her assigned role. Students worked together as one complete unit to complete the mission. || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> All team members contributed and stayed on task. Each student performed his/her assigned role.  || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> Efforts for student collaboration were visible. Each student gave input, but group work did not yet come together as one unit.  || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> Students illustrated little to no group collaboration. Individual effort was unequal and one student took on the majority of the tasks.  ||
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">** Research Log ** || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> Each site logged in and all information for that site noted. All questions for each site were answered and at least one example given when needed. When appropriate, personal (and emotional) responses of group members noted and backed up with evidence from the site. || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> Each site logged in and all information for that site noted. All questions for each site were answered. Group members' personal reactions noted, but not always backed up with evidence from the site.  || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> Most sites logged in and some information for that site noted. Not all questions for each site were answered. Group members' personal reactions not always noted and not always backed up with evidence.  || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> Did not log in many sites visited. Did not answer many of the questions asked. Mainly did not note group members' personal reactions and provided little evidence for what reactions were mentioned.  ||
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">** Research Conference ** || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> The Speaker addressed all required elements of the presentation, and included some additional information in a well organized talk. The Speaker included historical importance and emotional effects. The Speaker was easy to hear and understand. || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> The Speaker addressed the required elements in a well-organized talk. The Speaker discussed the historical importance and emotional effects of the assignment. The Speaker could be heard and understood.  || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> The Speaker addressed some of the required elements, but not all of them. The presentation was organized and coherent. The Speaker needed to speak more loudly and/or more clearly.  || <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"> The Speaker did not address most of the the required elements of the presentation. The Speaker needed to speak more loudly and more clearly.  ||

<span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"> <span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**__<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Conclusion __**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> After investigation a number of sites related to the Jim Crow Laws, you should have a better understanding of the hardships that African Americans faced in this era. Jim Crow Laws affected all Americans, but African-Americans experienced the brutalities of segregation for many years. If you want to have a full understanding of what is going on in //To Kill a Mockingbird//, you have got to understand the extent to which Jim Crow laws had become part of the "normal" way Americans treated each other at this time. The goal of this assignment was to help you make an emotional connection to what Tom and other black people experienced, as well as gain historical knowledge of the Jim Crow South. The Legacy of Jim Crow lives on to this day. On 28 February, 2007, WRBL in Columbus, GA aired the following [|report] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. [|Who Was Jim Crow?] [|What Was Jim Crow?] [|The Plessy v. Ferguson Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States of America] [|Justice Harlan's Dissent to Plessy (excerpt)] [|The History of Jim Crow] [|Remembering Jim Crow]
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Why Is This Still Important? __**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For Further Research __**

<span style="display: block; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"> **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">End of Jim Crow Webquest ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"> This webquest was adapted from " [|Jim Crow South] <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">" by Tanya Mijajlovic.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Ms. Rives further adapted this assignment from “ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> Jim Crow Webquest <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">” by Mr. Belliveau