Social Justice and Civil Rights

Focus: This WebQuest focuses student research in studying social justice and civil rights issues during a unit on the American Civil Rights Unit.  It excludes an area specifically on African American rights today as several lessons in the overall unit focus on that specific issue.  As a result, the students use this WebQuest to guide their research into other contemporary social justice issues and compare these with the lessons we can learn from the ACRM.

Objectives/Goals: The goal is for students to understand that the ACRM was not just a movement of the past, but an example of the many ongoing social justice and civil rights movements facing the United States, their community, and often the world as a whole.  Furthermore, the assignment helps them to develop critical analysis and reading skills as they must decipher what information from the websites is prevalent and what is not.  These students studied persuasive writing in their English classes earlier this year, and this assignment gives them an opportunity to utilize and enhance those skills.  Finally, the presentation gives them the chance to work on their public speaking skills and their artistic skills when designing their Power Point or poster.

Resources: Time allotted 3-4 days (classes are 90 minutes each).  One to look at the array of social justice issues facing us today, to pick the top 10 issues in which the class is most interested, and to pick groups and group topics.  The second will be spent completely in the library actually going through this WebQuest.  A third day, or part of a third day, will be given to the students to work in class to finalize their presentation and its materials.  Finally, the fourth day will be given to presentations themselves.  It should be noted, however, that this assessment wraps around the central portion of the unit, giving students a full two weeks between the time they do the WebQuest in class and when they give their presentations.

Credits: Almost all of the weblinks in this WebQuest are updated and maintained by the many great organizations that strive to uphold social justice and civil rights around the world.  The greatest respect and thanks goes to them.