2009-11-12T10:27:00.000-08:00

Adapted from Mrs. Cassell's Lit Pages by L. Thomas, November 2009

Introduction
Welcome to the Animal Farm WebQuest! Today, we will go through several steps together that will help you better understand the novel and its implications in the world.

Task
A WebQuest is a way to get the best you can out of the internet. All of the searching has been done for you, so you can focus on what is important. You will be exposed to several websites, videos and images about Animal Farm and its historical setting. Using one of the people or events reviewed in the WebQuest, you will then create a project to present to your classmates and display in the classroom. This project will pull together the information you have learned from class discussions and the WebQuest.

Process
Review the websites, videos, and pictures under each section. Then answer the questions about the websites. Make sure that your answers are complete and well thought out. Give lots of details!

Tsar Nicholas II
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/nicholas_ii.shtml
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/historian/hist_figes_04_bread.html http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/nicholasii.htm

Question: Using what you have read about the Tsar's reign, how would his enemies have used the images in the video against him? Make sure you reference specific details.

Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/lenin_vladimir.shtml
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/B/bodies/cases/case02.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/marx_karl.shtml

Tomb of Karl Marx

Question: What can we infer about Marx and Lenin from the way they were buried?

Leon Trotsky and Josef Stalin
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/propaganda
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/trotsky_leon.shtml
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:TrotskySlayingtheDragon1918.jpg
http://www.oph.gov.au/images/petrov/pictures/PTV-i1424_l.jpg

Question: Trotsky and Stalin were both heavy users of propaganda. Describe the emotional impact of these propaganda pictures. What is each trying to get us to believe?

The Pravda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda

Question: How was the Pravda able to help the Communist party keep power? Do newspapers and television news programs show a bias today? In what ways can we tell if a news source is trying to influence our ideas?

The proletariat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proletariat
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/proletariat

Question: Communism was designed to give power to the lower classes. Why do you think the proletarians still remained at the bottom even after the revolution? Do you think this class of people will ever be in control? Why or why not?

Cheka/KGB/"Red Terror"
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/secr.html
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSterror.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUScheka.htm

Question: Briefly characterize the Checka and the "Red Terror." Are the techniques and actions used by the Cheka ever acceptable? Why or why not? Under what circumstances are they acceptable?

Collectivization and Stalin's Five Year Plans http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/collect.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/famine.html
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSfive.htm

Question: What are some of the reasons that Stalin's plan failed?

Adolf Hitler & Nazi Germany/Hitler's alliance with Stalin

http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII8.htm

Question: Describe how Stalin and Hitler are interacting in the cartoons. Was this truly a trusting alliance? Do you think Stalin was surprised when it failed?

Great Purges
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSpurge.htm
http://www.brama.com/ukraine/history/greatpurge/index.html

Question: Why do you think Stalin got rid of so many of his earliest supporters? Why did he execute and exile so many fellow Russians?

Matryoshka Dolls

Now that you have completed the WebQuest, you will put your new knowledge into a physical product. Matryoshka dolls are traditional dolls created in Russia.

Just like in Animal Farm, there are many layers to these dolls. Each carved doll fits inside a larger doll. Only by working through the outer layers can you get to the heart of the matter.

As you read the novel, you will notice similarities between characters and people from history. You will also notice that events from reality are mirrored in the novel. Your Matryoshka doll will help you take a closer look at these similarities.

The first thing you need to do is pick a character or event from the list I'll provide to use as your focus. By now, you should be familiar enough with the history to match it up as we read the novel. However, if you aren't quite sure what matches up with your character or event, we can work together to find the answer.

Your Matryoshka doll will have four layers:

Your first layer will include an illustration (or symbolic representation) of the real person or event from history. Make sure you do your best. Don't just slap something on there. It doesn't have to look realistic, but I need to know you put forth effort on this section. After you have completed all the rest of the layers, you will complete a Works Cited page on the back of this layer. You'll need to include all the websites, books, etc. that you used to create your doll.
Your second layer will provide the historical background on the person/event. Make sure you include lots of details here!
Your third section will include specific, detailed parallels between history and the novel.
The last layer will include an illustration of of the animal/event from the novel that the historical figure/event inspired.

Evaluation

The following is the rubric I will use to grade your WebQuest handout and Matryoshka doll:

Writing - Grammar
4--There are no grammatical mistakes in the doll.
3--There are no grammatical mistakes in the doll that distract the reader.
2--There are 1-2 grammatical mistakes in the doll that distract the reader.
1--There are several grammatical mistakes in the doll that greatly distract the reader.

Content and References- Accuracy
4--All facts in the doll are accurate and accurately cited.
3--90% of the facts in the doll are accurate and accurately cited.
2--80% of the facts in the doll are accurate but may be missing some citations.
1--Fewer than 80% of the facts in the doll are accurate and are missing most of the citations.

Content - Attractiveness
4--The doll has exceptionally attractive formatting, well-organized information, and the illustration goes well with the topic.
3--The doll has attractive formatting, well-organized information, and a fitting illustration.
2--The doll has well-organized information, but the illustration may not be completely related to the topic. The student rushed through the project.
1--The doll's formatting and organization of material are confusing to the reader, and the illustration is not related to the topic. It looks as if the student did not care how the finished product looked.

Handout
8--The handout is fully completed with a great amount of detail on each question.
6--The handout is fully completed but may have a some questions with few details.
4--The handout may not be fully completed.
2--Less than half of the handout is completed.

Conclusion
I hope that you enjoyed yourself during the WebQuest. You know have a much broader range of knowledge about a hugely important part of history.

Animal Farm Webquest