RECONSTRUCTION : A
WebQuest
Introduction |
The Task | Resources
|
The Process | Learning
Advice
| Conclusion
- Introduction
TEACHING GUIDE
The period of rebuilding in the South after the Civil War was
called Reconstruction. This era had a profound impact on Afro-Americans
and race
relations which reverberate even today. In this WebQuest, Students will
explore,
analyze, construct, and evaluate important events that occurred between
1865
and 1877.
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The Tasks:
- Students will use the following links, plus
Chapter
18, Section 1 in their text , " American Nation", to write an essay on
the
status of Blacks in the South at the end of the Civil War.
- Students will compare and contrast the three
Reconstruction plans by making a chart and then determining :
- which favored the South
- which favored the newly freed people
- (Give reasons to back up each position)
- Explain the roles that each of the following
groups
played during this era, whether positive, negative, or both:
- carpetbaggers
- scalawags
- Ku Klux Klan
- freedmen
- Give a five minute presentation in which you
explain
the Election of 1876 and the resulting Compromise of 1877 and its
consequences
on race relations in the South
- Write a critical essay on what you think would
have
happened to Afro-Americans following the Civil War if Lincoln had lived
- Create a screen play dealing with some aspect
of
this period. Your effort will be filmed
- Study cartoons 37 - 49 from Harper's Weekly
1876,
then write an interpretation of the 1876 Election
Resources
The following are the linked sites needed to complete each of the
tasks
in this WebQuest. You will organize these sites into the proper
category
that deals with the task that is to be completed. Each task has several
sites
that should be used as your source of information. When you have
completed
all of the Tasks, take the Quiz on Reconstruction and finally the
On-Line
Test on Reconstruction.
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The Process
The class will be divided into six groups of four
to
five students. The first three tasks are the responsibility of
each
student. The final four tasks will be group work. This means that the
group as a whole will receive a group grade and an individual
participation grade. The group may work as a whole or it may decide to
divide the work so that more content can be covered more quickly. This
WebQuest is expected to be completed in four weeks. Students should do
the following:
- Read and review the tasks involved in this WebQuest ; then, meet
in your assigned groups to discuss strategy.
- Organize your resource list around the appropriate task. Each
task should have at least two sources.
- Each student must keep a Reconstruction: A WebQuest notebook with
important data from all "tasks".
- Essays are to be written by each individual; however,
brainstorming and the sharing of ideas may occur before the writing
process.
- On the tasks which require a group presentation, every member of
the group is expected to participate.
- Groups can combine to work on the screen play. (Two groups)
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Learning Advice
This WebQuest on Reconstruction will require that each student and
his/her group make a schedule so that each task will be covered in the
allotted time, four weeks. Some tasks may only take a few days to
complete. Others may require a much longer effort. If you go home each
night and think, " I have no social studies homework", something is
wrong. Work each class period and each night, you will be successful.
Let your teacher know about broken links or sites that do not work. If,
you run into obstacles, do not wait until the last minute to notify
your teacher. If members of your group are not working or doing their
share, let your teacher know. Everyone must carry their part of the
load.
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Conclusion
In writing this lesson, I had my very talented class in mind. These
students should not only know their history, but should be active
thinkers about the lessons our past teaches us. I expect the students
to not only know about the Reconstruction era but to investigate
and analyze the period and look at the ramifications it has on us today.
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This page written by Alfred L. Dean
Last updated 8/01/03
This page was adapted from Bernie Dodge
's WebQuest_Template1.html
by Tom March