Scavenger Hunt: Instructions
Objective: To acquaint students with the many aspects of Thomas Jefferson's life using a Web-site scavenger hunt. Students can either work in small groups, as a class, or individually.
Tip: Use the "Choose Your Own Time outline of all the topics covered in the "Day in the Life" section of "Jefferson." It will be very helpful.
Preparation:
- Important!: Set defaults of the students' browser so that links do not change color when followed. In Netscape, one does this by selecting Options, then General Preferences, then Colors. From this page, in the "Use My Colors For" box, click to mark an "x" in the boxes for "links" and "followed links." Click on the colored rectangle, and then select a color by clicking on the color wheel that will appear. Choose the same color for links and followed links. In Internet Explorer, the procedure is similar and is found under: View/Options/General.
- "Bookmark" addresses of scavenger hunt web pageand
of the "Day in the Life".
- Print a hard copy of the scavenger hunt questions for every student or for every group of students.
- Print a hard copy of the scavenger hunt answer key to facilitate in the concluding discussion.
- Introduce lesson and have a short discussion with class to discuss what they know about Thomas Jefferson, perhaps drawing on the Introductory Quiz.
- Pass out a hard copy of the scavenger hunt questions for every student or for every group of students.
- Have students find the answers to the scavenger hunt by exploring the "Jefferson" section of the Monticello Web site.
- Review answers with the class. Visit the instructor's page on the Web site (at http://www.monticello.org/plans/hunt3.html) to learn more.
- Lead a discussion to see how much the students have added to their understanding of Jefferson and life at Monticello. Some possible discussion openers are:
- What did you learn that surprised you about Thomas Jefferson?
- If Jefferson was so accomplished and so well respected for all of his accomplishments, how could he have owned slaves?
- If you could meet Jefferson today, what would like to ask him?
- Do you think Jefferson was a better president because he was interested in so many things?
- Do you think that modern presidents have as many interests and talents as Jefferson? Can you think of any hobbies or interests of modern-day presidents?
- Do you think Thomas Jefferson is a good role model for people today?
- What did you learn that surprised you about Thomas Jefferson?