From Baseball to Rock And Roll
A WebQuest for 5th Grade Social Studies
By Ann B. Canning, Ed.D.© 2006
Last updated June 20, 2006
John R. Fischetti."Time for a New Declaration,"1953.
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/images/296vc.jpg
#1 Introduction
Americans have always been fiercely proud of their independence since they first revolted against the oppression of British taxation without representation in 1776. However, even in those early decades there was a close tie through language and customs between the young nation represented in the title cartoon by Uncle Sam and the parent nation depicted by the character John Bull. Ideas and products traveled across the Atlantic ocean in both directions. Early 19th century Americans imported and adapted British sports such as cricket and rugby. 20th century English musicians imitated and improved American Rock and Roll.
In 2006, the most important sports event on this side of the Atlantic, the NFL Super Bowl, selected a British Rock and Roll group, The Rolling Stones, for the half time entertainment. When the Super Bowl began in 1967, pro football stood for marching bands, crew cuts and cold beer. When the Rolling Stones began earlier in the same decade, they represented a different kind of music, a different sort of hairstyle and different types of refreshments. So what does the intersection of these two entertainment superstars say about American/British popular culture? Have the Stones and therefore England moved closer to the values of the mainstream or has the mainstream moved closer to the values of the Stones?
This webquest will help you answer the question: How does interdependence change popular culture?
One of the striking features of American mass popular culture in the period after World War II is the widespread fascination with the British royal family. Prince William, second in line to inherit the throne is coming to America. You have been chosen to develop a welcoming exhibit of images that will greet the prince at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Your exhibit must appeal to Prince William’s tastes and favorite past times. It must also show the cultural interdependence between his country and our own. You and your team will review primary documents from the American Library of Congress and look for connections between British and American popular culture. Your findings will be displayed on PowerPoint slides. If you find a strong connection, the artifact will be included in the welcoming exhibit. We want Prince William to know that we value British culture in this country.
Information about Prince William ( Hint: Search on page for "sporting" and "favourite".)
- You will be assigned to a team of 3-4 students.
- Each team will be given a number from 1-6.
- Decide who will take the following roles:
- keyboarder: the person to click on links and perform other computer tasks.
- recorder: the person to write team answers on the worksheets
- time keeper: the person to guide the team through the process making certain all tasks are completed on time
- reporter: the person to present the team ideas to the class.
- If there are only 3 students, combine the roles of time keeper and reporter.
- Document Analysis
- Open the Image Table and find the documents that have been given to your team number.
- Click on the image links to view larger images.
- Click on the information links to find more facts.
- Use the Primary Source Analysis Worksheet to record your team thoughts.
- Team Decision
- Decide as a team if one or all of your artifacts should be included in the welcome exhibit for Prince William.
- To qualify, the artifact must demonstrate a clear interdependence or connection between America and Britain.
- Consider Prince William's favorite past times as well. (Hint: When you open the web page, click on Edit and search for "sporting" and "favorite".)
- Your goal is to show Prince William that you have learned which American sports originated in England and which Rock And Roll stars have influenced music on both sides of the Atlantic.
6. Power Point Slides
- Open the Power Point template and make a Power Point slide for each artifact that you want to nominate for the exhibit.
- Insert an image of your artifact on the slide.
- List at least two reasons why this artifact should be included in the welcome exhibit.
- Save the Welcome.ppt file with your Team # as the name.
- Share your Power Point slide(s) with your class.
You will have two group grades for this Webquest: one for the Welcome Exhibit Power Point and one for the Interdependence Metaphor. You will receive one individual grade for your role as a team player. The Power Point slide show is worth 20 points, the Metaphor is worth 40 points and your team player role is worth 40 points for a total of 100 points.
Welcome Exhibit Power Point Rubric
Team # ___ |
Beginning 6 |
Developing 12 |
Accomplished 18 |
Exemplary 20 |
Score |
Analyze primary documents
|
Did not complete the Analysis Worksheet |
Examined and described both documents. |
Examined, described and raised questions about both documents. Make connections. |
Examined, discussed, and compared both documents. Made connections that deepened understanding |
|
| Explain why both documents should be included in the Prince William Welcome Exhibit | Reason was not relevant | Reason was relevant but general | Reason was relevant and specific | Multiple specific reasons given that demonstrated significant connections to British culture and Prince William |
Interdependence Metaphor Rubric
Team # ___ |
Beginning 12 |
Developing 24 |
Accomplished 36 |
Exemplary 40 |
Score |
Demonstrate creativity through metaphor design
|
Metaphor design is incomplete or basic |
Metaphor design demonstrates some creativity but needs to be expanded. |
Metaphor design is creative and visually appealing |
Metaphor design is highly creative and aesthetically appealing |
|
| Explain metaphor's meaning and relationship to conceptual unit question | Explanation is unclear or does not demonstrate a logical relationship between the metaphor and the conceptual unit question | Explanation is mostly clear and demonstrates at least one connection between the metaphor and the conceptual unit question | Explanation is clear and demonstrates two or more connections between the metaphor and the conceptual unit question. | Explanation is clear and engaging and gives multiple connections between the metaphor and the conceptual unit question |
Individual Team Role Rubric
Team # ___ Student Name: __________ |
Beginning 12 |
Developing 24 |
Accomplished 36 |
Exemplary 40 |
Score |
Demonstrate individual responsibility
|
Student was sometimes careless and off task. Student did not complete several WebQuest assignments. |
Student usually worked in a careful manner, met most deadlines, and completed most tasks. |
Student always worked in a careful and timely manner and completed all individual and group related tasks. |
Student always worked in a careful and timely manner, completed all tasks, and offered valuable assistance to others. |
|
| Contribute to group interactions. | Student did not contribute to group discussion and interacted with group in a disruptive manner. | Student contributed minimally to group discussion, but participated in a mostly positive manner. | Student offered some ideas and contributed to group interaction in a positive and productive manner. | Student offered many relevant ideas and helped facilitate group interaction in a positive and productive manner. |
How does interdependence change popular culture? We have examined the interdependence between two countries, America and Britain. We have considered the impact of interdependence on the sports and music of these two countries. Interdependence is a much broader concept. It happens when any two things connect and because of the connection are changed. It may be people or language or objects.
Demonstrate your understanding of cultural interdependence by designing a visual metaphor for this concept with your team. A metaphor compares two unlike objects and explains their relationship. Example: Our nation’s healthcare system is a spider’s silk web. Its components are costly. It is time-consuming to navigate. It is very fragile, and one can easily fall through the cracks.
Examine the sample metaphor below and use the Metaphor Brainstorming Worksheet to design your own. Your metaphor for Interdependence will be a Word document that includes a graphic image (original or computer generated) and a verbal explanation.
Designed by Dr. Ann B. Canning, © 2006 , in partnership with the AAM staff at Waynesburg College.
Template created 2006 by Amy Martin, An Adventure of the American Mind at Waynesburg based on a template designed by Lisa Bradshaw, An Adventure of the American Mind - Colorado.
Many ideas for webquest content and worksheets were adapted by permission from An Adventure of the American Mind - Northern Virginia Partnership, Dr. Rhonda Clevenson, Director.
Last updated June 20, 2006