tkm

Jana Danos
St. Rosalie Middle School
June 2002

It's a sin to kill a mockingbird

Introduction:

Pretend it is the early 1930's in Southern Alabama. You are a black man accused of raping a white women. You are innocent, but many people do not believe you or do not want to believe you. Luckily, you have an excellent lawyer defending you. What will happen to you? Will you be found guilty or not guilty? Let's find out by doing this WebQuest on To Kill A Mockingbird.

Task:

Pre-reading Activity 1

Read these web sites on the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee. Using Microsoft Word, write a biography of her life. It must be at least 1 page doubled spaced.You must include one picture in your biography. Feel free to search for other internet sites on Harper Lee.

Pre-reading Activity 2:

Read about the characters in the story to become familiar with them. On a piece of loose-leaf, number your paper 1-10 and answer the following questions about the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird.

1. Who is the narrator of the story?
2. Who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell?
3. Who never comes out of his house?
4. Who is a lawyer and Scout and Jem's father?
5. Who is Jem and Scout's best friend?
6. Who is the maid for the Finch family?
7. Who is the white man that lives with a black women and has mixed children?
8. Who is the sheriff in Maycomb County?
9. Who is the meanest old women in Maycomb County that yells at Scout and Jem when they pass by her house?
10. Whose house burns down in the novel?

Post Reading Activity 1:

Now that you have read To Kill A Mockingbird, you should have a better insight into the characters. Take this quiz to test your knowledge on the characters.

Post-reading Activity 2:

Now you will test your comprehension by taking this online quiz. Submit your answers then show me your grade.

Post-reading Activity 3:

You will create a Placemat for To Kill A Mockingbird. Your placemat must have 4 images and 12 text boxes. The title of the book must go in the center. All of your text boxes must include quotes from the novel. Please number your text boxes because you will put the name of the person who said the quote on the back of your placemat.

Evaluation:

Pre-reading Activity 1:
Teacher will collect biographies and grade on content as well as grammar.
Pre-reading Activity 2:
The computer grades the test so the student must show the teacher his/her grade in order for the teacher to record it.
Post-reading Activity 1:
Answers are on the bottom of the page
Post-reading Activity 2:
Students must submit their answers and the computer will grade it. They must show the teacher their grade so he/she can record it.
Post-reading Activity3:
The student must print out a copy of their placemat with the answers to the quotes on the back. The teacher can grade on content, neatness, and originality.

Conclusion:

I hope everyone enjoyed reading To Kill A Mockingbird as much as I did. I hope you gathered an understanding of race relations back in the South in the 1930s.

Teacher's Guide to the Activity

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird

Author: Jana Danos

Date: June 2002

Description of Pre-reading Activity 1: Writing a biography
Description of Pre-reading Activity 2: Answering questions about characters
Description of Post-reading Activity 1: Internet quiz on characters
Description of Post-reading Activity 2: Internet quiz on comprehension
Description of Post-reading Activity 3: Creating a Placemat in Microsoft Word

Grade Level: 8th-10th grade

Objectives: Students will be able to use various Internet sites to write a biography, answer questions about the characters and the novel, and create a Placemat using Microsoft Word.

Background:
The basic time setting is in the South during the early twentieth century (1930s). Due to the Great Depression, poverty is a subject that affects many. Instead of using this as a binding
theme, the people in the town use it as an element of separation. Prejudice of every sort runs rampant throughout the town, and even though things are simply "not fair", the time frame has to be remembered. Many stories have already occurred before the course of the novel begins. The reader learns of Boo Radley, who appears to be the "town freak". Not much is really known of him, just hearsay stories that people whisper to one another and to their children to warn them of the evils that may occur (this is due to their fear of the unknown). One story that is told is regarding an incident with Radley's father, who is supposedly stabbed with a pair of scissors, while Boo is under the influence of the "wrong group of friends". Mrs. Dubose is a story within herself. Introduced as an annoying old lady, who always screams insulting remarks at the children, she seems like the typical crotchety elderly woman. One day, Jem gets so fed up that he destroys every flower in her garden. As a punishment he is required, by his father to read to Mrs. Dubose everyday.

Atticus is another prominent character throughout the novel. As a single parent, he faces the world, raising his two children with his maid, Calpurnia, (who experiences better conditions and responsibilities than other African Americans of her time, due to Atticus' beliefs). He has a reputation
for being an open-minded, fair man, overflowing with integrity. It is also learned that he is self-educated, and tries to indoctrinate his children to love education and literature as much as he does. The relationship he holds with his children should also be noted. Even though he is incredibly busy Atticus always seems to find time for Scout and Jem. He comforts them in their time of need, compromises, but always puts them back in their place, if they get out of hand. Tom Robinson, the accused, has a reputation within his own black community as an upright, honest, church-going family man. The Ewells, as a contrast to Robinson, aren't exactly noted for being model citizens. Bob Ewell, the father, has a reputation for being the town drunk, allowing his children to miss out on valuable education.

The major event that has started to unravel, prior to the novel is the case between Tom Robinson and the Ewells. Robinson, who was a hired hand, is accused of raping Ewell's daughter, Mayella. The case falls into Atticus' lap, not because he believes that Robinson is innocent, but because it is his job to prove the latter so.

Time Frame:
Pre-reading Activity 1: Take home assignment (1 week)
Pre-reading Activity 2: 15-20 minutes
Post-reading Activity 1: 10-15 minutes
Post-reading Activity 2: 10-20 minutes
Post-reading Activity 3: 90-minutes

Technical Requirements: Teacher must be familiar with the Internet and how to make a Placemat using Microsoft Word.

Instructions of How to Do WebQuest: (Placemat in Microsoft Word)
File: Page set-up
Margins top, bottom, left and right .8 all others 0
Paper size letter and orientation landscape

Table: Insert Table
Colums 6
Rows 4

Table: cell height and width
Place cursor in desired row
Exactly, 100 pts, uncheck allow row to break across page, next row.

Table: Draw Table will give you tools to modify the table in a fun fashion.

****You must unwrap your pictures:
Right click on picture
format
wrapping
No wrapping (none)
OK

Worksheet Answers:
Pre-reading Activity 2:
1. Scout (Jean Louise Finch)
2. Tom Robinson
3. Arthur (Boo) Radley
4. Atticus Finch
5. Charles Baker Harris (Dill)
6. Calpurnia
7. Dolphus Raymond
8. Heck Tate
9. Mrs. Dubose
10. Miss Maudie Atkinson

Extension and Follow-Up Activities:

http://www.members.accessus.net/~bradley/TKAMstudyguide.htm
(Study Guide Questions Chapters 1-31)

http://www.cliffnotes.com/tests/mockingbird/quiz.asp
(Internet Quiz)

http://www.gradesaver.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/readers/quiz.cgi?book=mockingbird&q_start=1&total_q=55
(Internet Quiz)