History or Fiction?
The truth behind Johnny Tremain.
 A Web Quest for 8th Language Arts and Social Studies

•	Designed by Erica Preswood
•	Introduction
•	Task 
•	Process
•	Evaluation
•	Conclusion
•	Credits 
•	Teacher Page
Introduction
•	As a class, we have been reading the novel Johnny Tremain and studying the American Revolution. The novel depicts many historical events mixed with memorable characters. 

•	How do you the reader decide what is fact and what is fiction? 

•	With your literature circle group, you will perform specific roles to help determine the truth of the novel. 
Task
•	Your literature circle group has now become an investigative team, which will take on new roles. The roles will be central to the discovery of historical facts. Each role requires partners to work together to complete the required tasks.

•	Here are the new roles: 
1. GPS Locators- you will locate the geographical locations named in the novel. Find any historical information/importance, pictures/maps, and or other interesting facts. Use the information that you discover to create a travel brochure.

2. People Finders- you will compile a database of names from the novel. Collect the following information: birth/death date, home town, education/career, interesting bio facts, and involvement in the revolution. Use your database to create a magazine.

3. Event Reporters- you will compile a timeline of events from the novel. Research the events to discover more information such as who was involved, where the event occurred, and historical importance/significance. You will utilize your information by creating a living timeline. 

Each new role will present their information to the whole group. History or Fantasy? That is the question that each group will be trying to determine. 
Process
GPS Locators
1.  Create a list of places from the novel.

2. Determine if these locations existed during the American Revolution.  To aid in your research
    endeavors, follow the links below to gather your information.  
     Remember to look for the following information:
                                                    historical information/importance
                                                    pictures/maps
                                                    other interesting facts
Follow these links:
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle.html
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/hevents/bteapart.asp
http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/timeline_of_events.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations/Boston/Boston_and_Beyond.html 

3.  After collecting your information, you will create a travel brochure.  You may use a computer software program to create your brochure, or you may create the brochure using traditional materials.  The brochure should include:
              -at least 5 locations of importance to the American Revolution 
                mentioned in the novel 
		-maps and or pictures of the location
		-A brief description of the location including the information that you were            
                asked to research.  Also include a quote from the novel containing the         
                location (be sure to include the chapter number, section number, and page 
                number).
		-include a brief paragraph detailing places that you could not prove to exist

People Finders
1.  Make a list of the characters from the novel.
2.  Determine if these people lived during the American Revolution.  Follow the links below to research your list.  Remember to compile the following information to create a database:
			birth/death dates 
			home town
			education/career
			interesting bio facts
			involvement in the revolution
Follow these links:
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/ipeople.asp
http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/revolutionary_people.html 
3.  Create a database in Excel using the information you discovered.
4.  Using the database, create a magazine that highlights the people of the American Revolution.  Your magazine may be created using a computer software program, or you may use traditional materials.  Your magazine should include:
	- a cover similar to a modern magazine which includes:  pictures, headlines, and  
       teasers
	-a table of content  
	-bios for at least 5 people mentioned in the novel, whom you found really existed.
	-a quote from the work mentioning the person (be sure to include the chapter  
      number, section number, and page number).
	-a brief paragraph detailing 5 people you could not prove ever lived
Event Reporters
1.  Create a timeline of events from the novel.
2.  Determine if these events actually occurred by researching the   
     following links:
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_timeline.html
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/hevents.asp
3.  You are going to create a “living timeline” of events.  You may   
     choose to be a reporter and create a news show, re-enact the  
     events, or another creative interpretation of “living timeline”.  

Your report must include:  
		-at least five true events that are mentioned in the 
          novel (be sure to note where in the novel specifically)
		-discuss the importance of the event to the 
           American Revolution
		-discuss the events that you discovered to be fiction
		-report should be creative and have props and costumes
		-presentation should be well rehearsed and scripted
Evaluation
Conclusion
•	You have now completed your research and your products.  You should realize the exquisite work of Ester Forbes and appreciate her magical weaving of memorable characters into historical events and places.
•	Could Johnny Tremain have been an average boy in Boston?
•	Here are some more links to help you continue learning truth about the American Revolution:
http://www.history.com/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html
http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/AmerRevolution.htm

Credits
•	To create this Web-Quest, I utilized the template provided.  I also used the Website www.webquest.org .  
•	The book cover clipart was obtained from google images at http://tweenreads.blogspot.com/2007/07/johnny-tremain-by-esther-forbes.html .
•	Thanks to Esther Forbes for helping my students relate to the American Revolution.
•	Thanks to my wonderful grade level team whom encourages integration of learning!