Web Quest Lesson Plan

Introduction

Students have explored the topic of community. In this lesson, they will learn multiple definitions of the word “community.” Students will read an essay and visit two community-based Web sites. They will then answer questions based on what they read.

Lesson Description

Students will read an essay written by Studs Terkel called “This I Believe”
<www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4963443>. They will then browse through two Web site communities, Dogster <www.dogster.com> and Recipe Zaar <http://www.recipezaar.com/>, before answering questions about what they've read.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will identify different definitions of the word “community.”
2. Students will read about interest-based communities, and compare them to geographic communities.
3. Students will answer questions based on what they read.

Student Web Activity Questions and Possible Answers

1. What does Studs Terkel mean by a “community in action?”

Possible Answer: More gets accomplished when people work together as a group rather than alone.

2. According to Studs Terkel, how does an individual discover his or her own strength?

Possible Answers: An individual discovers his or her own strength by sharing ideas with other people. Shared beliefs are the foundation of a community.

3. Name three characteristics the authors of Dogster profiles would most likely have in common.

Possible Answers: They all own dogs, they are all proud of their dogs; they all like to talk about their dogs; they all need advice about their dogs; they all like to show off pictures of their dogs; they all have to put up with bad behavior from their dogs, etc.

4. People from what professions most likely use the Recipe Zaar Web site?

Possible Answer: chefs, caterers, food critics, restaurant owners, hotel managers, etc.

5. What communities do you belong to?

Possible Answers: I belong to the orchestra community, the dog-owner community, the lizard-lover community, the soccer community, my neighborhood community, my school community, etc.