Of Mice and Men

Introduction

Introduction

You are about to embark on a journey back to 1930's

Through close reading, collaboration and reflection you will gain an understanding of what it was like to be a migrant worker in the Salinas Valley of California during the 1930's, during the Great Depression. By completing the pre-reading task, you will end with deeper understanding of this simple, yet profound story. 

 

John Steinbeck wrote OF MICE AND MEN as a vehicle to express his social conscience about the period. OF MICE AND MEN is a novel about poverty and dreams, friendship and loneliness, and despair and hope. Through the memorable characters of George and Lennie, Steinbeck paints a portrait of enduring friendship that you won't soon forget. In order to help you to understand the context of the novel and how it still resonates today, you are about to embark on a Web Quest that will lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of this simple, yet profound story. 

The Quest

What are the background issues that led to Steinbeck's writing of this novella about profound friendship and social issues? 

Task

In this Web Quest you will be working and exploring web pages to answer questions in your designated section. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, the reading level might challenge you. Just answer the questions the best you can and ask for clarification from me if you need to.

Part 1: Background Information

Steinbeck was influenced by a variety of geographical, human, and social issues to write Of Mice and Men. Your job will be to explore some of these issues.

Part 2: Exploring Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. You will explore the role that you draw from the cup.

2. Log onto Googe Classroom and create a doc-share with group mates

3. Read through the websites given.

4. Answer the questions on your shared doc ( Your responses must be in your own words). Points will be taken off for “cutting and pasting.”

5. Once you have explored all the questions in your section, you will create a visual presentation that reflects what you have learned through your journey. 

Process

Geographers

Use the link below to answer the questions/statements specifically related to geography.

http://sits.sjsu.edu/context/geographical/

  1. Geographers

    Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Geographers:

    1. What are the geographical features of the Salinas Valley in California?

    2. What kinds of jobs are available here?

     

    4.  When you think about the geographical features of the area, what kind of mood comes to mind and why?

    5. What was John Steinbeck's relationship to the Salinas Valley?

     

    6.  Why do you think he chose this place as the setting of his novel?  Explain.

    7. For the visual component, create a map of the area with significant locations identified: Salinas, Monterey, Freemont Peak, Gabilan Mountains etc.

    Sociologists

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Sociologists:

1. What was the Great Depression?

2. What were some of the causes?

3. Who were the migrant workers and how were they affected by the Great Depression?

 

4.  Summarize what happened to cause The Dust Bowl.

5. Do migrant workers exist today? Where? What kinds of jobs do they have?

6. For the visual portion of your presentation, develop a collage of photos of migrant workers of the 1930's.

Psychiatrists

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Psychiatrists:

1. What is a mental disability and how does it affect a person's everyday life?

2. What are some of the difficulties in caring for a mentally disabled person?

3. What kinds of support are available for caregivers?

4. What is the role of friendship in caring for the mentally disabled?

5. For the visual portion of your presentation, create a collage of literature and films about the mentally disabled.

Biographers

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Biographers:

1. Present the major facts about Steinbeck's life.

2. What philosophy of life is revealed in Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech?

3. What influenced Steinbeck to write Of Mice and Men?

4. For the visual portion of your presentation, create a collage of Steinbeck’s life and work.

Evaluation

Brown: OM&M Web Quest - Rubric

 

Exceptional

All points earned

Admirable

-3 points

Developing

-6 points

 

Needs Improvement

-10 points

 

Use of Internet (Links Provided)

Successfully uses suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Usually able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Occasionally able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested Internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.

 

Web Quests Tasks Completed

All areas of the project were addressed and handled with a high degree of sophistication. Project is interesting and completed.

The project is only partially completed. The project submitted demonstrates a great deal of thought. (Between 75% and 100% complete)

The project is only partially completed. The project submitted demonstrates a moderate level of thought. (Between 50% and 75% complete)

The project is incomplete, and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the development of the project, and/or project is less than 50% complete.

Project – creativity & attention to details

Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the presentation.

    

Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance to presentation.

   

   

Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the presentation content.

    

Use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation content.

Time Use

Classroom time was used to work on the project. Conversations were not disruptive and focused on the work.

Classroom time was used to work on the project the majority of the time. Conversations were not disruptive and focused on the work.

Classroom time was used to work on the project the majority of the time, but conversations often were disruptive or did not focus on the work.

The Student did not use classroom time to work on the project the majority of the time and/or was highly disruptive.

    

Grammar, Format, and Spelling

 

The final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.

   

The final body of work had 1-2 errors related to grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.

  

The final body of work had 3-5 grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.

The final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Your journey into the background and issues that influenced the writing of Of Mice and Men has come to an end, but the trip is far from over! You are now ready to embark on a literary journey into the world of George and Lennie, the Salinas Valley, migrant farm workers, loneliness and friendship, poverty and dreams, and despair and hope.