Introduction

Picture this: you and a team of learners are presented with the task of creating a newspaper focusing on key events of the 1950s. Each group member will take on the role of newspaper reporter and gather information using the Internet.

In the following WebQuest, you will use the power of teamwork and the abundant resources on the Internet to learn all about 1950s. Each group will be assigned a headline news story from the list below.

1. The Korean Conflict
2. McCartheyism
3. The Rosenberg Spy Trial
4. Brown v Board of Education
5. Segregation and Little Rock, Arkansas
6. The Montgomery Bus Boycott

The Quest

What was the biggest headline news story of the 1950s?

The Process and Resources

Each group will:

• Write a newspaper using an assigned topic as the headline story.
• Report on a second major news event of the time period (based on student research).
• Research/report on specialty stories of the time period; sports, fashion or entertainment.
• Include an editorial on the headline news event.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

• Little Rock Central High School, Fortieth Anniversary
• Supreme Court Decision: Brown v. the Board of Education
• The Korean Conflict
• The Rosenberg Trial
• Senator Joseph McCarthy
• The Montgomery Bus Boycott

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

 

Editor

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Editor:

As editor you are responsible for putting the newspaper together. You must make sure that all column and articles are submitted and properly placed in the issue. The editor must also write an editorial which focuses on the main story.

• The Fabulous 1950s
• The Decade 1950s
• History Channel: Fifties

Headline Correspondent 1

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Headline Correspondent:

As headline correspondent you are responsible for researching the topic and writing the headline news story for the paper.

• The Fabulous 1950s
• The Decade 1950s
• History Channel: Fifties

Correspondent

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Correspondent:

As correspondent you are responsible for selecting a second major news event of the time period and to research/write an article for the paper.

• The Fabulous 1950s
• The Decade 1950s
• History Channel: Fifties

Specialty Editor

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Specialty Editor:

As specialty editor you will cover at least two specialty topics of the time period (sports, fashion, entertainment) and research/write specialty articles for the paper.

• The Fabulous 1950s
• The Decade 1950s
• History Channel: Fifties

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different aspect of 1950s. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now come together and create your newspaper.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

Your class was divided into six groups, each creating a newspaper with a different headline news story. Compare your newspaper with your classmates. How does your newspaper hold up? How could you have made it better?

Conclusion

You should be proud of yourselves for completing this task! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of 1950s could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.