Si, se puedes!
The Life and Work of Cesar Chavez
Teacher Page

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Social Studies

Designed by

Amy Clark
clar8841@pacificu.edu

 

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page

 

Introduction

This lesson is designed to help students learn about the life and work of Cesar Chavez.  At the end of the lesson, students will conduct mock interviews with Cesar Chavez.  I encourage you to allow your students the opportunity to share their interviews with other classes in your school.  In this way, your students can help others to learn about Cesar Chavez, his life and work, and his important message. This lesson can be used on March 31st, the day that has been established by the State of California as a State holiday to honor the life and work of Cesar 
Chavez.  For more information on Cesar Chavez day, please visit:

 http://www.cesarechavezfoundation.org/

In this lesson, students will research the life and work of Cesar Chavez using internet resources.  Working in teams, students will then develop a series of questions and conduct a mock interview of Cesar Chavez. The interviews will be recorded on videotape.  Students will then edit their interviews and present them to the class.


 Learners

This lesson is designed for use with a fifth-grade classroom.  This lesson meets curriculur goals for Social Studies and English.

To complete this project, students will need basic computer skills, and also the ability to create simple concept maps.

Curriculum Standards

This lesson meets the following standards for Fifth Grade English and Social Sciences as outlined by the Oregon Department of Education:

Social Studies Standards Addressed

  • SS.05.HS.07  understand how individuals changed or significantly altered the course of history
  • SS.05.SA.05 identify a response or solution and explain why it makes sense using support from research

English Standards Addressed

  • EL.05.RE.17  read textbooks, biographical sketches, letters, diaries, directions, procedures, magazines, news stories, and almanacs
  • EL.05.RE.22  identify key facts and information after reading several passages or articles on the same topic
  • EL.05.SL.01  organize information to support spoken ideas with evidence and examples

This lesson also encourages teamwork and provides a collaborative learning experience.


 Process

1. Working in groups of three, and using internet resources, students will research the life and work of Cesar Chavez.

2. Students will develop a concept map to organize the information they have collected.  

3. Using the map as a resource, students will develop a series of 10-15 questions to ask Cesar Chavez during a mock interview.  These questions should address issues including his life, his work, and his feelings/perspectives.  

4. Using this set of questions,  students will conduct and videotape a mock interview with Cesar Chavez.  The interview will be videotaped.  The students will each be assigned a role in the process.  One student will play the role of Cesar Chavez, one will conduct the interviewer, and the third will videotape the process.

5. Working in their small groups, students will edit the video according to teacher's instructions.  The final product will be presented to the class

Length of lesson will vary according to the availability of resources (does each group have a computer?), and according to student's abilities.

 


 Resources Needed

  • one computer for each group (must have internet access)
  • digital videocamera and film (one is sufficient-can be shared!)
  • editing software (ie; imovie)

The following links will be helpful in the exploration of this topic:

http://www.cesarechavezfoundation.org/
http://www.chavezfoundation.org
http://www.ufw.org
http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=c_chavez
http://www.pbs.org/itvs/fightfields
http://www.medaloffreedom.com/CesarChavez.htm
http://www.library.eb.com/hispanic_heritage/article-9022718


Additional Resources

For Students:

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull and Yugi Morales
Cesar Chavez: A Strugle for Justice by Richard Griswold del Castillo
Cesar Chavez (People Who Made History)  Michelle E. Houle, ed.
Cesar Chavez: A Hero for Everyone by Gary Soto

For Teachers:

The Words of Cesar Chavez by Cesar Chavez, Richard J. Jensen and John C. Hammerback,eds.
The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement by Susan Ferris, Ricardo Sandoval, and Diana HembreeThe Moral Vision of Cesar Chavez by Frederick John Dalton


Evaluation

Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Score
Identify key factors after reading several articles on the same subject     Work does not specify any key factors or any links between resources. Work identifies at least one key factor that ties together multiple sources of research. Work identifies several key factors and shows multiple ties bet
Work identifies many key factors and  and provides a variety of links between resource materials.
Organize information to support spoken ideas Spoken ideas are not supported by examples and research.
Spoken ideas are supported by at least one tie to research.
 Spoken ideas are supported by several ties to research. Spoken ideas are supported by many examples which reflect ties to research.
work together cooperatively Student has difficulty staying on-task, and is disruptive in attempts to work within a group. Student shows some ability to work with others, and remains on-task inconsistently throughout the learning process.
Student remains mostly on-task, and shows ability to work with others throughout the learning process.
 Student remains on-task, contributes to the group experience, and works well with others throughout the learning process.
Understand how individuals change history Work does not reflect an understanding of how Chavez's work has changed history. Work reflects a minimal understanding of how Chavez's work has effected history, but does not provide any examples. Work reflects an understanding of how Chavez's work has affected history, including at least one example or reference to research. Work reflects a deep understanding of how Chavez's work has affected history, including mulitple  references to research and examples.





Conclusion

This lesson provides students with important information about the life and work of Cesar Chavez.  Cesar Chavez and the legacy of his work can serve as a lasting reminder to our students of the power of one voice.  The work of Cesar Chavez reminds us to look for non-violent ways to solve our problems. 

 I encourage you to look more deeply into the life and work of Cesar Chavez, and to use these and other materials to inspire your students to learn and to teach others about the life and work of this important man.


Credits & References

We all benefit from being generous with our work.  This webquest may be used for any educational and non-commercial purposes.
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Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page