A WebQuest for 6th Grade Social Studies
Designed by James Ly and Stacy Hong
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
Introduction
Congratulations! After much thought and analysis, you have been carefully chosen to travel through time to the year 200 BC. You will be joined on your time traveling quest through the ages by 6 other brave explorers. Now that you know what era you will be traveling to and who will join you you must be wondering where you will be going, well...you and your traveling companions be be thrown back through time to Ancient China! Here you will have the opportunity to observe life as it was over two-thousand years ago. WARNING! In order for this experience of a lifetime to work and history to not be altered forever you and your traveling group MUST choose a social class to live in while you are on your journey. So that no suspicions are raised each one of you must join a different social group. Good luck on your experience of a lifetime and remember once you go back into time you will become a person from whichever social class you have chosen.
Task
You will be assuming the role of a person in one of the Han dynasty's social classes. You will choose to become a person from one of the following social classes: Artisans, The Imperial family, Merchants, Nobles, Officials, Peasants, Slaves, or Soldiers. You will learn about the social class you are entering and write a journal entry as a person from that class. Then you will gather with your group and create a short dramatization to present what you have learned.
Process
Step 1. Learn some background information about life in the Han Dynasty.
Take a look at these sites: Daily Life in Ancient China
Links to Information on the Han Dynasty
Step 2. Assume the role of a person from a social class.
Click on one of the pictures below to read about a social class you have chosen.
Imperial Family Nobles Soldiers Officials
Step 3. Write a journal entry.
In your journal entry describe with detail: Who you are? What you did? Who you came in contact with? *Remember you are assuming a role; write this journal entry as if you were really there.
Step 4. Gather with the rest of your group and discuss what you have discovered.
Regroup with your traveling companions and take turns sharing what you have learned about your specific social class. After everyone has had a turn expressing what they have learned, begin brainstorming ideas about preparing a short dramatization.
Step 5. Work on group dramatization.
As a group decide where you what the scene to take place and how to present the information you learned about the social classes of the Han dynasty. The dramatization is about 3-5 minutes long and you must create a storyboard and develop a script that has lines for each person.
Step 6. Present the dramatization.
Your group will present the storyboard and script of the dramatization to the teacher so he/she can follow along. As a group, you will set up the scene, give a brief introduction, and present your dramatization. At the end of the presentation your group will be required to clarify or answer any questions asked by the teacher or your audience.
Evaluation
Students will be graded both on individual and group work. Each student will be graded on the following:
|
Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Journal Entry
|
Entry is included, but has no information relating to the topic. | Entry is included, but the description is vague and unclear. | Entry includes a detailed description of a person from a social class. | Entry includes a well developed person and establishes their role in society. | |
|
Group Discussion
|
Discussion does not relate to task. | Shows little effort and establishes minimal ideas for dramatization. | Full participation and ideas are shared and discussed among group members. | Discussion is interactive and engaging. Ideas are effective and well organized. | |
|
Storyboard
|
Shows no connection to script and is irrelevant to topic. | Provides little detail and creativity. | Well organized and compliments script. | Realistic, imaginative, and great visual of time period. | |
|
Script
|
Shows no connection to storyboard and is irrelevant to topic. | Vividly describes characteristics of this era. | Participation of all group members and script compliments storyboard. | Creatively written and props are used to enhance time period. | |
|
Dramatization Presentation
|
Shows little or no effort. | Lacks enthusiasm and motivation. | Well organized and creative. | Enthusiastic, engaging, and accurately reflects time period. |
Conclusion
Good Job, you have just completed research, role taking, journaling, and a dramatization on Ancient life in China during the Han dynasty. Hopefully, you have gained a greater understanding of how life was lived long ago. Did you notice anything that was the same as it is now? What was different? By understanding the past and the people that lived at that time we are better able to notice how life has changed and how in some instances life has remained very similar to the present day.
Credits & References
Pictures:
Links to WebQuest templates:
"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (James Ly and Stacy Hong) on (July 3, 2003). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL."
Last updated on 07/03/03. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page