The Harlem Renaissance

A WebQuest for 4th-6th Grade Social Science

Designed by

Carolyn Estelle
ceestelle@cuip.net

 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page


Introduction

The Harlem Renaissance was a very important period in African American history.  It was a time when  African American literature and the arts were taken seriously by the entire country.

The Harlem Renaissance began in the Manhattan, New York neighborhood of Harlem in the 1920's.  It was a community of African American artists who came together to have fun and to celebrate their heritage and culture.

You will now enter a "Time Machine" which will take you back 80 years to the Harlem  Renaissance.  Once there, you will mingle among famous African American writers, poets, musicians, dancers, painters and sculptors and experience the pride and accomplishments they felt.


The Task

While traveling in your "Time Machine," take plenty of notes because you will be working in teams to write a research report and create your own original works which will be presented to the class.




 


The Process

  1. You will work with 5-6 classmates, as Team 1, to research and write a report about 4 Harlem Renaissance writers and/or poets.  Your team will also create your own poetry and/or short story to present to the class.
  2. You will work with 5-6 classmates, as Team 2, to research and write a report about 4 Harlem Renaissance musicians and singers and will create a  song, rap, or instrumental to present to the class.
  3. You will work with 5-6 classmates, as Team 3, to research and write a report about 4 Harlem Renaissance painters and sculptors and will create a drawing, collage, or clay sculptor to present to the class.
  4. You  will work with 5-6 classmates, as Team 4, to research and write a report about 3 Harlem Renaissance dancers and will create a dance to present to the class.


Evaluation

Each team's performance will be evaluated using the rubric below:

 

Beginning

Developing

Accomplished

Exemplary

Score

Worked cooperatively in a group
 

1


2


3


4


 

 

Completed research report

 

1


2


3


4


 

 

Clear and accurate report

 

1


2


3


4


 

 

Creativity

1


2


3


4


 

 

Classroom presentation

1


2


3


4


 


Conclusion

Now that your travels have ended and you have returned to the year 2003, you should have learned what life for African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance was like.  You should have also learned that each of the people you researched and studied were great and ever-lasting contributors to the world of music, song and dance, writing and poetry, and painting and sculptor and that they should always be remembered, revered, and celebrated!


Credits & References






Thanks to Christopher Thomas, I could not have done this  without your help.

Special thanks to Anthony Estelle, for your constant love and encouragement.  I DID IT!!!