EDPSY 387- Major Project Report
A WebQuest

Heidi L. Adreon
Created Summer 2001

 
 
 

INTRODUCTION and GOALS

SUMMARY OF NOVEL

RATIONALE

CONTENTS OF WEB QUEST

         Before discussing my major project, a WebQuest, it is necessary to discuss the background of how the idea of this project came about.   Here is a list of goals that my WebQuest addresses:

1.  Students will practice their researching skills.
2.  Students will educate themselves about China's population control program.
3.  Students will create a poster applying their knowledge about China's program.
4.  Students will practice their speaking skills by presenting their posters to the class.
5.  Students will gain an appreciation for being an American citizen.
 

     In September and October of every school year, my 6th grade students read a novel called Among the Hidden.  It is a powerful story about government control written by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  In this novel, we are presented to a futuristic society where couples are only allowed to have two children.  We are introduced to the Garner family who have two children according to the government.  What society doesn't know is that the Garner family really has three children, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  Luke, a shadow child, is the third child forbidden by the Population Police.  During Luke's entire life, he has been forced to stay in hiding.  Fortunately for Luke, the Garner family has lived in the woods without any neighbors nearby.  Now a new subdivision is being constructed forcing Luke to stay inside all the time.  While Luke is in his house, he dreams of being able to go outside and communicate with others.  While observing the outside world in the confines of his attic bedroom, he notices another shadow child, Jen.  He makes contact with Jen and together they dream of being noticed.  Unfortunately for Jen, she goes a little too far in her quest for freedom jeopardizing her life.
 
 

     While reading this novel, students always question a government's right to enforce this population rule.  Their questions spark discussion about totalitarian societies and the different programs that are initiated without input from citizens.  Students are shocked to discover that countries do exist with population control programs.  In order for students to get a clearer understanding of how governments can be intrusive in people's personal lives, I have created a WebQuest introducing students to China's population control program.  In addition, students will evaluate this program and apply their knowledge of it by creating a poster.
 
 

     A WebQuest contains six blocks:  introduction, task, process, resources, evaluation and conclusion.  There are many different tasks that a WebQuest can have.  I have chosen to focus the task of my WebQuest on persuasion.  Usually a WebQuest sets up a fictitious scenario for the students.  For example,  "a committee has been chosen by the President of the United States to investigate the possibility of establishing a population control program in our country."  Students will persuade the president to believe that this type of program will be productive or counter productive for our country.  In the process portion of this WebQuest, students are led through a series of steps they must complete in a certain amount of time.  First, they will look over the resources that I have provided them about China's population control program.  Then students will create a poster persuading the president to believe a certain side.  On the web site, the criteria for the poster will be given in the evaluation section of this WebQuest.  When students have completed this task, they will present their posters to the class.  The conclusion section the WebQuest will contain whole class questions that can be discussed at the conclusion of students' presentaions.

Click image to see WebQuest!