The Last Spin WebQuest: Teacher Page

By Ed McBain / Evan Hunter

The story: The Last Spin (print version)

A story about teenage street gangs and how they solve problems.

A WebQuest on teenage street gangs. Created by Nellie Deutsch

Introduction

Students will learn about street gangs and answer the following questions:

1. What are teenage street gangs?

2. How do street gangs solve their problems?

3. What are some Violent and non-violent ways of solving problems?

4. How can schools help?

5. How can parents help?

6. How can friends help?

Curriculum Standards:

Students will conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They will gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Presentation | Introduction | Teacher Notes | Student

Task

The students will play the roles of reporters for a national teen magazine. Their editor has asked the team to find out

why a teenager called Danny committed suicide. Their mission is to cover the story from four angles.

Reporter 1:

One team member will check for background information on teen gangs and write a profile of Danny based on their

findings.

Reporter 2:

One student will check the schools for information on how they deal with teen gangs: The student will write a program on

how to prevent and deal with the issue of teenage gangs.

Reporter 3:

One of the students will speak to Danny's parents and write an interview with his parents based on findings on parental

involvement or lack of it.. How can parents help? Student will record the conversation or film it using video.

Reporter 4:

One student will speak to Danny's girlfriend and write the interview.

Can friends help? Could she have prevented Danny from belonging to the gang? What could

          she have done? The student may record the conversation or film it using video.

Students will find out all they can about Danny and why a teenager such as he would take his own life.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Presentation | Introduction | Teacher Notes | Student

Process

1. Working collaboratively on a team is a skill that can be developed. Students will read about team organization.

2. Students will make sure their team members understand their roles.

3. Students will read the resources that are useful to their team final report. They will access the links and resources to

     answer questions.

4. Students will Keep a journal of their individual and team sources for the reference or bibliography page.

5. Students will prepare a presentation of their work.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Presentation | Introduction | Teacher Notes | Student

Resources

A list of Internet resources for the tasks

Background information on teen street gangs:

1. http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/gangs.asp

          2. http://associations.smsu.edu/nogangs/everything.html

3. http://www.iir.com/nygc/

4. http://www.gangwar.com/dynamics.htm

5. http://www.ecis.com/~noslo/gang.html#Background

6. http://associations.smsu.edu/nogangs/

7. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4111/nogangs.html

8. http://www.stedwards.edu/educ/eanes/whatare.html

Prevention Programs

1. http://www.gangwar.com/

2. http://www.focusas.com/Gangs.html

What can schools do?

1. http://www.ncjrs.org/html/ojjdp/jjbul2000_8_2/contents.html

2. http://www.stedwards.edu/educ/eanes/schools.html

What can families do?

1. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/familyworks/gangs-01.html

2. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/familyworks/gangs-05.html

3. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/familyworks/gangs-04.html

4. http://www.gangsorus.com/parents.html

5. http://www.high-point.net/police/high_point_street_gangs.cfm

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Presentation | Introduction | Teacher Notes | Student

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated for three aspects of their work: individual writing report (25 points), final team writing report

(50 points) and team presentation (25 points).

Evaluation for WebQuests: Teachers are encouraged to evaluate the WebQuest by using the following criteria:

http://bestwebquests.com/bwq/matrix.asp

Conclusion

Street teen gangs are a national problem that needs the public's attention.

Which people in Danny's life might have had the best chance to save him: his parents, school, girl friend, or friends?

Reflection

Reflect on the WebQuest.

Students will write a team summary and fill in the individual feedback form with their comments and feedback on the on

the WebQuest project.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Presentation | Introduction | Teacher Notes | Student

Presentation

Students will present their team findings. They will plan carefully so that the presentation is creative, original

and appealing. Students will be evaluated as a team for the presentation.

Teacher Notes

Lesson Title: The Last Spin by Evan Hunter

Curricular Area: Literature

Grade Level: 9-12

Goal/Purpose:

The students will play the roles of reporters for a national teen magazine. Their editor has asked the team to find out why a teenager called Danny committed suicide. Their mission is to cover the story from four angles. See the Task: http://www.nelliemuller.com/The_Last_Spin_Student_Task.htm

Length of Lesson: approximately 2 weeks

Materials: Computers, MS Office applications, Projector and Internet access

Interdisciplinary Connections: Language Arts

Teacher Resources: The Last Spin by Evan Hunter

Prerequisite Learning:

1. MS PowerPoint, MS Word and use of projector

    http://www.nelliemuller.com/Computer_Technology_Tutorials_for_Teachers.htm

2. Reading and full understanding of The Last Spin by Evan Hunter

3. Plagiarism, copyright issues and citing resources:

    http://www.nelliemuller.com/Copyright_Fair_Use_Education.htm

    http://www.nelliemuller.com/Copyright_Fair_Use_and_Plagiarism.htm

4. How to summarize resource material and ideas from the Internet:

    http://www.nelliemuller.com/summary_march30.htm

Suggestions:

1. Print out student part of the WebQuest and journal for reference when working offline.

2. Hold class or group discussions throughout the process to discuss information and issues that may arise.

3. Ask for team work progress throughout the process. This can be done in a team journal.

4. Discuss plagiarism and copyright issues and how to give credit by citing resources.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Presentation | Introduction | Teacher Notes | Student

WebQuest template adapted from Spartanburg County School District Three

Last updated February 7, 2005 by Nellie Deutsch