Of Mice and Men Web Quest
Introduction
You are about to embark on a journey of 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. 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 ground work 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?
The Process and Resources
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, not things made just for schools, the reading level might
challenge you. Just focus on your section, answering the questions in it to the best of your ability.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Read through the files linked to your group.
2. Create a Google presentation with the answers to the questions in the presentation. BE CREATIVE AND
MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR ANSWERS IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Points will be taken off for “cutting
and pasting.”
3. Create a visual component describe within your role.
4. Be prepared as an individual to present to another group
Geographers- Team 1
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?
3. What was John Steinbeck's relationship to the Salinas Valley?
4. For the visual component, create a map of the area with significant locations identified: Salinas, Monterey,
Freemont Peak, Gabilan Mountains etc.
·
Setting and Significance - Outline of farmland
·
Steinbeck and Salinas- PPS Slideshow
·
Video on Connection to Salinas
Sociologists- Team 2 and 3
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Sociologists:
Team 2
1. What was the Great Depression?
2. What were some of the causes?
3. Describe the effects of the Great Depression in the United States and Internationally.
4. For the visual portion of your presentation, develop a collage of photos of the Great Depression of the 1930's.
Team 3
1. Who were the migrant workers, and how were they affected by the Great Depression?
2. Summarize what happened to cause The Dust Bowl.
3. How did Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal help migrant workers? Explain.
4. For the visual portion of your presentation, develop a collage of photos of migrant workers of the 1930's.
·
The Great Depression-Overview
·
The Migrant Experience – Overview
·
The Dust Bowl
·
Photos of the Great Depression
·
Migrant Workers today
·
FDR's New Deal Overview
Psychiatrists- Team 4
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, and what kinds of support are
available for caregivers?
3. What is the role of friendship in caring for the mentally disabled?
5. For the visual portion of your presentation, create a collage of at least 2 pieces of literature and 2 films about
the mentally disabled. State the disability and how it affects the plot line.
·
Mental Disability
·
Caregiver of mentally disabled resources
·
Friendship and the mentally disabled
·
Novels About Disabilities
·
Films with Mentally Disabled characters
·
Charlie
·
Being There
Biographers- Team 5
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.
·
Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
·
Steinbeck Biography
·
The Steinbeck County
·
Steinbeck's Works : On the link to the right, click 1929-1945, then John Steinbeck
·
Google Presentation of John Steinbeck's life
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! Once all information is shared your classmates and you will be 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.