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Social Justice Faces: Take a Stand Against Hate!

A WebQuest on individuals who have worked (or are currently working) for social justice

Image courtesy of California University, Fullerton Social Justice Summit
 
Created By: Becky Tengs
beckytengs@pacificu.edu
 
Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits Teacher Page
 

 

Introduction

How can you make a difference in your community?

One way to make a different in your community is to be an advocate for social justice issues. To learn more about social justice, let's investigate some important figures who have worked to promote social justice in their communities.

After completing this WebQuest, you will be able to define social justice, research a social justice figure, create a Wordle about this figure, and write a letter about their cause!

Like Mahatma Gandhi says: "you must be the change you wish to see in the world."

 

Task
Select an individual who has made progress working for social justice. Research this individual and their cause. Who is this important figure? How have they worked for social justice? After completing the research:

1. Create a Wordle illustrating this individual and their cause

2. Write a letter to this individual describing how you could support their cause? If you are not interested in supporting their cause, explain why not.

"Unit the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained" -- Helen Keller
 
 

 

Process
1. Research Social Justice Organizations

Research a couple of social justice organizations in order to gain an understanding of what social justice activism involves.

Some suggested websites include:

The Free Child Project Social Justice Definitions
Children's Defense Fund Wikipedia: Social Justice
Community Alliance for Diversity What is Social Justice?
ACLU Oregon Students for Social Justice
Basic Rights Oregon Teaching Tolerance
   
2. Select & Research Influencial Advocate

Select an influencial advocate for social justice change. You may select someone you come across during the search above.

Or, select an individual from the list below:
Amartya Sen Ralph Nader Jesse Jackson
Noam Chomsky Ronald Takaki Harvey Milk
Audre Lorde Eleanor Roosevelt Frances Fox Piven
Howard Zinn John Muir Rachel Carson
Julia Butterfly Hill Wilma Mankiller Naomi Klein
Dennis Banks Cesar Chavez John Lewis
Rosa Parks Susan B. Anthony Mahatma Gandhi
Helen Keller Nelson Mandela Rigoberta Menchu Tum
Frederick Douglass Betty Friedan Marian Wright Edelman
     
 
These social justice figures can also be researched with Wikipedia, Bio, Heroes, Meet Amazing Americans, or a general Google search.
 

When completing your research, keep track of your sources in a word-processing document (i.e. which websites you use).

You should use at least (3) different websites.

 
3. Create a Wordle

Based on your research, create a wordle including at least 15 words about the influencial advocate for social justice change. Be sure to include the name of your selected person in your Wordle

How to create a Wordle

Go to http://www.wordle.net

Select "Create"

Insert at least 15 adjectives, verbs, sentences, quotes, and organizations to describe the individual you researched

Select "Randomize" to randomly change how your Wordle looks

Use the Edit, Language, Font, Layout, and Color menus to change the appearance of your Wordle.

Save to Gallery

Print

 
4. Print Wordle

After creating and arranging your Wordle, print it.

 
5. Write Letter to Inspirational Figure

Write a letter to this individual describing how you could support their cause?

If you are not interested in supporting their cause, explain why not.

The letter should be about a hand written page.
 
6. Share
After everyone has completed this project, students will be asked to share the product with classmates.

 

Evaluation
 
 

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

 Score
Organized Research Did not complete word processing document Completed word processing document, only included (1) resource Completed word processing document, only included (2) resources Completed word processing document, and included all (3) resources in an organized format  
Created Wordle Did not create Wordle Created Wordle, included <5 words, including name of individual Created Wordle, included <10 words, including name of individual Created Wordle, included <15 words, including name of individual  
Letter Did not write letter Wrote letter, but does not connect to social justice advocacy Wrote letter and connected it to social justice advocacy, but did not include how you can help Wrote letter and connected it to social justice advocacy, and included how you can help  
Conventions Many mispelled words, many incomplete sentances Many mispelled words, has complete sentances Some mispelled words, has complete sentances Words are spelled correctly, letter has complete sentances  

 

Conclusion

Now you should have an idea of what is means to work for social justice and how important figures have changed their world.

Is there a specific person you found inspiring?

Can social justice change the world?

Can it change your community?

How can you help? Is there a cause close to your heart?

 

Credits

California University Fullerton, Social Justice Summit

Wordle's completed by Mrs. Becky Tengs