WebQuest for 7^th Grade (Social Studies & Language Arts) Designed by Kelly Stevens & Beth Spataro	Ji-li Jiang Author of Red Scarf Girl

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

Setting the Scene

The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) was a period of great uproar in China. The story takes place in Shanghai, China, during the onset of Chairman Mao Ze-dong's Cultural Revolution. By 1949 Mao established a Communist state by defeating the former ruling party, the Nationalists.

In 1966, when Ji-li's story begins, Mao has just imposed the Cultural Revolution to cut people's ties to pre-Communist China. To start, schools and hospitals were closed and often destroyed. Mao Ze-dong enlisted help of the Red Guards (mostly high school and college students) to implement rules and to eliminate people’s ties to pre-Communist China. Having only grown up during the Communist state, many of the young people (Red Guards) had little understanding of China's pre-Communist past and were aggressively violent about enforcing these rules. They frequently terrorized people they felt were not good Communists, and those under suspicion often lost their positions or their memberships in the Communist Party. Countless others were sent to work camps. Some were thrown in jail or even killed.

The Task

While reading Red Scarf Girl you will learn more about the Chinese Cultural Revolution. In order for you to truly understand these events and to share with others your human rights knowledge, you will need to complete the activities in this WebQuest.

Once you have completed the novel and the other activities, you create a Power Point presentation to present to your peers.  The Pathfinders will present on March 7, 2008.

The Process

Follow these steps in order to successfully complete this WebQuest.

1. Reading Activity - Read the novel Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang.

2. Mapping Activity

« Go to the following link and print out the map of China.

Websites to assist you:

Lonely Planet

National Geographic

« Make sure your map has the following elements :

o Major cities - Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xian

o Major rivers - Yellow River, Yangtze River, Pearl River

o Major waters - Pacific Ocean, South China Sea

o Major Sites - Great Wall, Forbidden City

o Major places - Indicate the places in red that the main character encounters.

3. Timeline Activity

The Cultural Revolution has played an important part in the history of China. Using the following sites, create a timeline in MS Word. You must create a timeline of a minimum of 5 events that charts events leading up to the Cultural Revolution and ending with Mao's death in 1976. Write a 1 paragraph summary of each event you list. You will later link your timeline to a Power Point Presentation

MS Word Timeline Template

Websites to assist you:

Discovery China

Peoples Republic of China

Country Reports: China 

4. Writing Blog Activity

« You have learned a lot of important information regarding the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Write a detailed Blog from each of the categories in red below.

« Also, please begin your Blog with a title (the bog question you’re doing)

« Your first name only should appear at the bottom of each Blog.

« Don't forget that a good article contains the answers to the following questions: who? what? when? where? why?

« You will later link your Blogs to a Power Point Presentation

Reading Skills and Strategies Blog Categories

Evaluate Fact and Opinion:	Make Judgments and Decisions: (Choose 1 of the 3)	Understand Cause and Effect:	Recognize Point of View:
« Compile several of the sayings from the da-zi-bao, the propaganda posters criticizing the educational system. « Refer to the glossary at the back of the book if you need help with unfamiliar terms. « Lead a discussion to determine whether these sayings are composed mostly of fact or of opinion.	« Identify some of the most trying decisions Ji-li must make and discuss their outcomes. 1. How are her decisions complicated by the pressure to become an " " child according to Communist standards and to break with her " " family? 2. How are Ji-li's decisions influenced by the Communist propaganda? 3. How would you have made these same choices and what their decisions would have been.	« Frequently, Ji-li is shocked by the indifference with which people are interrogated and humiliated for seemingly simple things like the clothing they wear, family photographs, even using nicknames--anything that remotely represents the Four Olds. 1. What motivates the student inspectors, the Red Guards, and other citizens to interrogate people this way? Read Ji-li's epilogue (pages 265-272) as you discuss this question.	« Consider the differences in how various characters feel throughout the Cultural Revolution, and write a paragraph from the perspective of one of the following characters detailing significant details about the revolution to communicate to the world: « Ji-li « Ji-li's father « Ji-li’s brother « Ji-yong (Ji-li's friend from junior high school) « Chang Hong (Ji-li's grandmother)

Use these sites to help you gather additional information about Ji-li Jiang:

Ji-li Jiange Homepage

Interview with Ji-li Jiange

5. Power Point Presentation

Now that you have completed steps 1-4. I chose your partners that you will collaborate with to create a Power Point Presentation. You will all be presenting to one Social Studies core about the Cultural Revolution in China and Ji-li Jiang’s Red Scarf Girl. You will be the presenter/teacher, so be ready with all materials to fill 50 minutes of core time. If you need copies made, give to Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. George, Mr. Fields, or Mrs. Spataro at least 2 days prior to presentation date to proof and make copies.

Your Power Point should include:

« Title page with all your names

« Choose 1 of your maps to scan and include in the Power Point

« At least 5 slides describing the Cultural Revolution

« At least 5 pictures detailing the Cultural Revolution

« At least 1 slide describing Mao Ze-dong (with picture) and his strategies.

« At least 1 slide showing a Propaganda Poster used and a discussion question to hold

« Both your timelines linked (with detailed paragraphs)

o If your timelines in any case have similar events, you can either combine the two / or choose one

« At least 1 slide describing who Ji-Li Jiang is (include picture)

« At least 1 slide summarizing Red Scarf Girl

« Both your Writing Blogs linked

« Include Slide Transitions in between every slide

« Include at least 10 Custom Animations at any point in your presentation

« EVERYONE in your group should share in the development and presentation stage to receive full credit. Therefore, I’m not looking for 1 presenter or 1 developer – you ALL will do it ALL by sharing the workload!

Websites to assist you:

NC WiseOwl: Grolier Online

Mao Ze-dong from Dr. Dowling

BBC News on Mao Ze-dong

Propaganda Posters

GROUPS AND PRESENTATION CORES:

Core 1	Core 2	Core 3	Core 4
Daniel H. John B. Tiffany L. Rachel R. Mariah A. Bria S.	Tremayne S. Maya F. Kim G. Tyra S. Michael H. Jamie R-S.	Patrick C. Janna F. Erica H. Alliso Mc. Morgan T.	Austin W. Gavin B. Ramsey E. Maia C. Maddy S-L.

Evaluation

Rubric

Conclusion

Congratulations, you now have a clearer understanding of a devastating human rights violation in the 20th Century. Don't forget that the more we know of such historical events the less likely the chance of this kind of event happening again. It’s also, time for you to present to your peers.

---

Last updated January 2008.