Number

The

Stars

 

Swaptree.com

 

A Webquest in Racism

Created by:  Jennifer Treasure

 

www.freewebs.com

Title:  Number the Stars

 

Introduction:

We have been reading about racism against the Jews in the book Number the Stars.  Racism exists in the United States today.  You have been chosen by President Obama to come up with a feasible (workable) solution to the problem of racism in America. As you know, racism is shown against Ellen because she is Jewish.  Racism comes in many forms.  Racists are people who treat persons who are of a different race or nationality in an unfair way simply because of that difference.  Examples of racism may include discriminating in housing, employment, education or health care.

 

 

Task: 

You will use the PPA to analyze the problem of racism.

1. Your task is to write a letter to President Obama with an idea that will help solve the problem of racism in America today in one of the areas mentioned above. 

2. You will be required to read your letter to the class. 

 

 

Process: 

To accomplish this assignment, you will each select one aspect of racism (housing, employment, education, health care, etc.).  You will use the six steps of the PPA to:

 

·       Define the Problem

·       Gather the evidence

·       Identify the causes

·       Evaluate the existing public policy

·       Develop three new policies

·       Select the best policy

 

The information you obtain in completing the worksheets of the PPA will be applied to writing your letter to the President.

 

Each short paragraph of your letter should focus on a different step (in order) from the PPA. 

 

Your final paragraph of the letter should be a strong recommendation for your best policy based on its feasibility and effectiveness (step 6).

 

Please use a business letter format.

 

Your letter will include an inside address, a greeting, a body of three paragraphs, a closing and a signature.  You will type your letter in Microsoft Word, please use Times New Roman font and size 14. 

 

Your inside address should be:

 

 

President Barak Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D. C.  20500

aacncdp.org

 

 

Resources:

·       LTG page

·       http://race.eserver.org/fight-against-racism-today.html

·       http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/racism-in-america-faq.htm

·       http://library.thinkquest.org/28172/rarise.htm

·       http://anti-racismonline.org

·http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/211605/the-4-causes-of-racism-pg2.html?cat=47

·http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/221501/racism_in_america_what_has_to_happen.html?cat=9

·       http://soundvision.com/info/racism/statistics.asp

·       www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-race.html

·       http://www.enotes.com/topics/civil-rights

 

Number The Stars Ellen

http://photostock13.in/.../raciam.jpg

 

Search engines:

 

·       https://www.google.com/

·       http://www.teachervision.com

·       http://www.kids.net.au/

 

 

Evaluation: 

I will evaluate your letter using the following rubric. 

 

Criteria

4

3

2

1

Clarity

Letter is written with ideas expressed clearly with complete understanding of content.

Letter is written with ideas expressed clearly with some understanding of content.

Letter contains some understanding of ideas.

Letter contains little or no understanding of content.

Grammar

Punctuation and business letter format evident.

Some lack of punctuation and business letter format is used correctly.

Some punctuation and some business letter format is used.

Little or no punctuation.  Business letter format not followed.

Spelling

No spelling errors.

1-4 spelling errors.

5-9 spelling errors.

10 or more spelling errors.

 

Grading will be as follows:  A  12-10 points

B   7-9 points

C   4-6 points

D   1-3 points

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: 

In your letter to the President you should have a better understanding of racism.  I congratulate you on the completion of this task.  I am sure the President Obama will be happy to hear your great ideas to help solve the problem of racism in the United States today. 

There are many great books available to further explore the issues of racism against the Jews during WWII.  Please see the titles and authors listed below.  I will accept a compare and contrast paper on the book for extra credit.  Please compare and contrast the lives of one of the characters in Number the Stars with the life of the main character in the book you choose.  Please give at least two ways the characters are alike and two ways they are different.  I will approve any other books that may not be on the list.

 

Suggestions for books for the extra credit assignment.

 

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

Someone Named Eva by Joan Wolf

Hitler’s Daughter by Jackie French

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Numbers by David A. Paulsen

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Gentle Hands  by M.E. Kerr

 

 

Standards:

 

ELA

 

Standard 1:  Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

 

Standard 3:  Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.

 

Standard 4:  Students will read, write, listen and speak for social interaction.

 

Math, Science and Technology

 

Standard 2:  Students will access, generate, process and transfer information using appropriate technologies.

 

Standard 5:  Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy various needs.

 

Standard 7:  Students will apply knowledge and thinking skills and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.

 

www.anti-racismonline.org/Assets/Mari-and-dayla-2web.jpg