Life Without the Internet: Myth or Reality?

Introduction

Congratulations! You have been selected to take part in a social experiment that no one has ever survived... or have they?

Your mission — if you choose to accept it — is to find out whether a life without the Internet is even possible in 2026. You will become researchers, challengers, meme makers, and online safety experts. You'll track your own screen time, try to survive a few hours offline, create memes about the «no Wi-Fi panic», and discover the hidden rules of safe communication online. At the end, your team will present its findings and help create a class poster that could save your classmates from the biggest trap of the digital world. Are you ready to prove whether «Life Without the Internet» is a myth or a reality? The clock is ticking... and yes, you can still use your phone. For now.

Task

Your team will consist of four members, each with a different role:

🚫 Challenge Patrol — main duty is to test whether life without the Internet is possible. Spend 3 hours offline and record what was hard, what was easy, and what you did instead. (diary design)

📊 Statisticians — main duty is to calculate real screen time. Track how much time you spend on TikTok, Instagram, Telegram and games per day, then turn the numbers into an infographic. (infographic maker)

😂 Meme Makers — main duty is to capture the feelings of the digital generation. Create 3 memes about life without Wi-Fi, without a phone, or without social media. (Meme Generator)

🌐 Online Safety Experts — main duty is to protect the class. Find 5 rules for safe online communication and explain what cyberbullying is and how to stop it. (order design)

Your mission is to find out whether «Life Without the Internet» is a myth or a reality in 2026.

After you have completed your research, your team will present its findings and contribute to a class poster OR an Instagram/Telegram post «Rules for Safe Online Communication» that includes:

  • Results of the «3 Hours Without the Internet» challenge
  • Infographic of your daily screen time
  • Your best meme
  • Top 5 rules for safe online communication

Process

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Meet your team. Your teacher will divide you into groups of four. Each group is one editorial team.
  2. Get your role. Your teacher will assign (or you will choose) one of the four roles: Challenge Patrol, Statisticians, Meme Makers, or Online Safety Experts.
  3. Read your role description. It explains exactly what you must do and from what point of view you are working.
  4. Do your research. Use the links and resources listed under your role. You may also use your textbook, your own phone, or ask your teacher.
  5. Create your product. Each role produces one concrete result (a diary, an infographic, memes, or a poster).
  6. Share with your team. Meet together and explain what you found. Compare your results.
  7. Each team gives a short answer (30–60 seconds) to the main question: «Is life without the Internet a myth or a reality?»
  8. Contribute to the class poster OR an Instagram/Telegram post «Rules for Safe Online Communication».
  9. Present your work on the date your teacher sets.

Evaluation

EXPECTATIONS & SCORING RUBRIC

🚫 Challenge Patrol — Diary «3 Hours Without the Internet»

  1. Description + answers to all 4 questions. 15 POINTS.
  2. At least 3 emotions with reasons. 5 POINTS.

20 POINTS TOTAL: ______

📊 Statisticians — Infographic «My Screen Time»

  1. Data for 4 apps + totals. 15 POINTS.
  2. Clear chart + short conclusion. 5 POINTS.

20 POINTS TOTAL: ______

😂 Meme Makers — 3 Memes «Life Without the Internet»

  1. Three memes with captions. 15 POINTS.
  2. Explanation of humour for each (what the joke is and why it's funny to your generation). 5 POINTS.

20 POINTS TOTAL: ______

🌐 Online Safety Experts — Poster «5 Rules for Safe Online Communication»

  1. 5 rules + explanation for each. 10 POINTS.
  2. Definition of cyberbullying + 2 ways to stop it. 10 POINTS.

20 POINTS TOTAL: ______

🎤 Team Answer (30–60 seconds)

  1. Clear answer to the main question (spoken, 30–60 sec). 15 POINTS.
  2. Evidence from your product. 5 POINTS.

20 POINTS TOTAL: ______

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed your mission and found your own answer to the main question: Is life without the Internet a myth or a reality?

You have tracked your screen time, survived hours offline, created memes about the «no Wi-Fi panic», and discovered the rules of safe online communication. Now you know that the Internet is a powerful tool — but you decide how to use it.

Final Questions to Think About

  1. What surprised you most during this quest?
  2. Will you change anything about your online habits?
  3. What did you learn from your teammates?
  4. Is your answer to the main question the same as it was at the beginning?

Want to Go Further?

If you enjoyed this quest, you can continue with one of these projects:

  1. «7-Day Digital Detox Challenge» — spend one week tracking and reducing your screen time, then write a short report.
  2. «Media Literacy Guide» — create a guide for younger students (grades 5–7) on how to use the Internet safely.
  3. «Interview a Parent» — ask an adult how their life was different without the Internet, and present their story to the class.
  4. «Class Blog» — start a class blog or Telegram channel about healthy digital habits.
  5. «Fake News Detective» — learn how to spot fake news and create a checklist for your classmates.

Credits

This WebQuest was created for Grade 9 students as part of a Media Literacy project.

Author: Oksana Makarenko
Year: 2026

Resources:

Special thanks: to all Grade 9 students who took part in the «Life Without the Internet» challenge. 

Teacher Page

 

This WebQuest is designed for Grade 9 students and focuses on the topic of Mass Media, specifically the Internet, online communication, and digital habits. It develops critical thinking, media literacy, and safe online behaviour.

Lesson Overview

 

Item Details
Grade 9
Topic Mass Media: Internet, Online Communication
Duration 1–2 lessons (45–90 min)
Main question Is life without the Internet a myth or a reality?
Type Creative WebQuest (Dodge, 2002)
Language English 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the WebQuest, students will be able to:

  • Analyse their own Internet habits and screen time
  • Explain the role of the Internet in everyday communication
  • Identify the risks of online communication (cyberbullying, fake accounts)
  • Create a media product (meme, infographic, poster, diary)
  • Work in a team and present results

How to Organise the Lesson

Step 1 — Introduction (5 min)

Read the Introduction aloud or show it on the screen. Ask: «Could you live one day without the Internet?»

Step 2 — Teams and Roles (5 min)

Divide the class into groups of 4. Assign (or let students choose) one of the four roles:

  • 🚫 Challenge Patrol
  • 📊 Statisticians
  • 😂 Meme Makers
  • 🌐 Online Safety Experts

Step 3 — Work Time (20–25 min)

Students work in teams using the Process section. Teacher moves between teams and helps.

Step 4 — Presentation (10 min)

Each team presents their product (2–3 min). Answer the main question together.

Step 5 — Class Poster (5 min)

Create a shared poster: «Rules for Safe Online Communication».

Step 6 — Reflection (5 min)

Use the Conclusion section for final discussion.

Materials Needed

  • Phones (for screen time, memes, Canva)
  • Computers / tablets (optional)
  • Paper, markers, A3 sheets
  • Access to the WebQuest website

Tips for the Teacher

  • No Internet in class? Print the Process and Evaluation pages and work offline.
  • Mixed ability classes: pair stronger students with weaker ones in each team.
  • Time saving: assign the «Challenge Patrol» diary as homework the day before.
  • Differentiation:  students can draw memes by hand instead of using Canva.
  • Extension: use the extra projects from the Conclusion section.

Author's Note

This WebQuest was created as part of a Media Literacy project for Grade 9. It can be adapted for other grades (9–11) by changing the difficulty of tasks. Feel free to modify the roles, resources, or final product to fit your class.