Student CenterNoState
Teacher CenterNoState
GLENCOE.com Home > OLC
Online Learning Center
Literature

Web Quest Lesson Plan

Introduction

Students have explored the topic of how to become who they want to be. In this lesson, students will learn about three more ways to become who they want to be: process, patience, and paying attention to details. After reading passages from three websites, students will write a short essay on the different skills they have used to become who they wanted to be.

Lesson Description

Students will read selected passages from Your Heroic Journey
<http://www.yourheroicjourney.com/Jan_01.shtml> and the Rider University website <http://www.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/workhard.html and then write an essay about a time when they used different skills to become who they wanted to be.

Instructional Objectives

  1. Students will identify the importance of process, patience, and paying attention to detail in order to reach a goal.
  2. Students will write about skills they have used in the past to reach a personal goal.
  3. Students will use examples from the Internet to help them write about a time when they were trying to reach a personal goal.

Student Web Activity Sample Essay

The John Pressgrove Award

     At the end of every year in my middle school, all of the teachers, students, and parents would come together for an awards ceremony. The ceremony recognized kids who had the highest grades in each class, those who excelled in sports, and those who had made a difference in the community. One award given every year at the ceremony was called the John Pressgrove Award.

     The John Pressgrove Award was an award given to a student who had been an inspiration and a leader in the arts programs at the school. In order to even be considered for this award, the student must have been involved in at least three out of these four activities: theater, debate, instrumental music, and vocal music. The award was even more special because the teacher who was in charge of each of these activities had to nominate a student from their activity for the award. Then the five teachers would vote on who was the most deserving of the award. At the end of sixth grade, I remember watching as an eighth grader received the award. I was in awe and quite envious. It wasn't so much that I wanted my name on the plaque. It was more like I greatly admired these people who were being honored for their efforts in all of the activities which I was also involved in. I wanted to be well-rounded like them. I wanted to be good at playing the violin, debate, and theater, and I wanted others to notice enough to give me an award.

     As the years went on, I forgot about the award. Instead, I patiently practiced my music and my speeches. I came into school an hour early every day to play with my school orchestra. I auditioned for plays and when I didn't get a part, I worked on the stage crew. I spent many weekends not going out with my friends, but competing in debate and forensics tournaments instead. It took a lot of hard work, but finally I was graduating from eighth grade, and it was time for my middle school awards ceremony.

     I sat there and listened as the names of students with the highest grades were called. Then they gave out awards for the athletes. Next, it was time for the John Pressgrove Award. It occurred to me that through all of my activities, I had become quite close to the five teachers who would choose the winner. Suddenly, my name was called. Though this was something I had thought about for a long time, I was completely surprised and extremely honored. It had been a long, hard process to become the person I wanted to be, the kind of person who would win this award. But in the end, it had been a lot of fun and so very worth it.

Log In

The resource you requested requires you to enter a username and password below:

Username:
Password: