Living By Values – A WebQuest on Universal Values

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what truly connects people across different cultures and backgrounds?



Values like honesty, respect, kindness, and responsibility guide how we treat others and make choices. In this WebQuest, you’ll explore these universal human values and understand how they apply in real-life situations. This activity will challenge you to look within, work with others, and create something meaningful for your school or community.

Compassion: A Call to Action | School of Social Ecology

Task

This WebQuest has two tasks:



🔸 Individual Task –Write a brief essay about a universal value that is most important to you. Explain the importance of it.

🔸 Group Task – Promote one universal value and encourage others to live by it by producing a creative product (poster, video, or skit) as a group.

Process

 

INDIVIDUAL TASK:

  1. Choose one universal value: honesty, respect, kindness, responsibility, or empathy.

  2. Reflect on your own life: Where have you shown this value? Why is it important to you?

  3. Write a short essay (300–500 words) explaining:

    • What the value means to you

    • How do you live it in your daily life

    • A real experience where you applied it

    • Why is this value important to society

GROUP TASK:

  1. Form a group of 4–5 members.

  2. Agree on one universal value to focus on.

  3. Brainstorm how to express the value creatively.

  4. Choose a format: skit, digital poster, slideshow, or short video.

  5. Work together to create your project.

  6. Present your output in class and upload it to your assigned platform (Google Classroom, etc.).

Resources:

Here are the tools you can use for the group task:

  • Canva – for digital posters/slides

  • Flip – for video creation

  • [Google Docs/Slides] – for writing and collaboration

  • Your own creativity and life experience!

Evaluation

Criteria

Excellent (5)

Good (4)

Fair (3)

Needs Work (1–2)

Personal Essay

Honest, personal, and thoughtful

Clear and meaningful

Some reflection shown

Lacks detail or effort

Connection to Value

Strong link to real life

Good examples

Basic connection

Unclear or weak link

Group Collaboration

Active, respectful, creative

Contributed well

Somewhat involved

Little participation

Group Output

Creative and inspiring

Clear and complete

Basic presentation

Lacks clarity or effort
Conclusion

Values are more than just words—they are the principles that guide our actions, decisions, and relationships. Through this WebQuest, you’ve taken time to reflect on what truly matters to you and worked with others to express those values creatively. As you move forward, may you carry not only new knowledge but also a deeper understanding of who you are and the kind of person you strive to be. Let your values light your path—both in and out of the classroom.

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education."

— Martin Luther King Jr.
Credits

Special thanks to Dr. Bernie Dodge of San Diego State University for developing the WebQuest model that inspired this activity. This project was part of my EDU 150: The Teaching Profession course at IQRA Development Academy.

All learning materials and references used in this WebQuest were taken from credible educational sources online, focusing on open educational content related to universal values and character development. The structure and content aim to support reflective, meaningful learning for high school students.

Created by: Charita G. Plaza

Date: May 4, 2025

School: IQRA Development Academy

Subject: Values Education – High School Level

Teacher Page

Title: Living By Values – A WebQuest on Universal Values

Subject: Values Education

Grade Level: High School (Grades 9–12)

Time Frame: 2–3 class sessions (45 minutes each)

Overview:

This WebQuest helps students explore universal values such as honesty, respect, kindness, and responsibility. It includes group and individual work to promote reflection, creativity, and moral reasoning.

Objectives:

  • Understand and reflect on the importance of universal values.
  • Apply values through personal essays and collaborative group tasks.
  • Practice self-expression, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Instructions for Teachers:

  • Guide students through each section of the WebQuest.
  • Facilitate group discussions and creative outputs.
  • Encourage honest and personal insights in the essay writing task.
  • Use the provided rubric for fair and consistent evaluation.

Created by: Charita G. Plaza, student of EDU 150: The Teaching Profession – IQRA Development Academy