The Roaring 1920's WebQuest
An Internet WebQuest on The Roaring 1920's
http://www.bluenotegirl.com/wo/links.html
Name
Introduction
The 1920's was a truly exciting decade in American history -- today we might say it 'rocked;'
back then, it 'roared.' In all aspects of life, fashion, music, literature, sports, economics, social
reform, politics, things were happening, and happening fast. Using the Internet, you'll soon know
just what was going on.
The Quest
The radio was a big part of everyday life in the 20's. Your task is to create a radio broadcast
that your team will perform by researching a variety of sites on the decade and writing an
historically accurate program.
The Process and Resources
In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group
member will contribute to the Task by providing one segment of the broadcast. As a member of
the group you will explore Webpages about The Roaring 1920's. Because these are real
Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools (and not by me), the reading level
might challenge you.
Segment 1 will be one national news story, and one commercial.
Segment 2 will be one story about crime or criminals, and one story about either music or
literature.
Segment 3 will be one story about fashion, and one about the economy.
Segment 4 will be one sports story, and interview one non-political person living at the time
(can be anyone famous, a movie star, musician, gangster, author, Scopes trial person, etc.).
You will write out your segment and turn in the written copy at the time of the performance.
Each segment must be at least a half page typed (single spaced, size 12 font) or a full page handwritten.
Step 1 - Background Information
Read the selection titled: September 29, 1920: Radio Goes Commercial.
Step 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives
All social studies classes will meet in the West Computer Lab on the designated days.
1. As a group, decide who will do what segment of the broadcast. You will then research
information for your segment.
2. Read through the files for your segment. When you look at the files on the computer, make
notes about what information you want to include in your segment of the broadcast. Be sure to
write your segment in your own words and as if it were an actual broadcast in the 1920s. Do not
write it as if it were a school report!
3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from
so you can quickly go back to it if you need to get more information.
4. Remember that your audience cannot see you, they can only hear your voice. Your stories
should be true to history, and as interesting as possible.
Step 3 – Putting It All Together
You have all learned about a different part of The Roaring 1920's and written a segment for a
radio broadcast. You must complete the Quest as a group. Each of you will bring a segment to the
group to be compiled into the final radio broadcast. Write out your segment ahead of time so
that you are not wasting the group’s time.
You will need to decide if you should have one person introduce all the segments, or if different
people introduce each other.
• How will you put the broadcast together? How will you ensure that it will be interesting
as well accurate?
• Each story should only be about a minute long, so that in all, your broadcast is no longer
than 10 minutes.
• Find time to practice, and offer each other helpful suggestions. Practice listening without
being able to see the broadcasters. Anybody consider sound effects? When you're truly
ready, there will be no 'dead air space,' meaning, one segment will flow automatically into
the next with no arguing or bossing around in the background!
Step 4 - Performance
Your group will perform your segments of the broadcast in class. Points will be deducted
if your group is not prepared on time. Scripts may be read (not memorized) but make sure you
practice so that it goes smoothly and sounds interesting. You must turn in a written copy to me on
the day of the performance.
Grading: Each student will be graded individually on the following:
Quality of information (content) 10 points
Quality of format (how information is presented) 5 points
Presentation (seriousness while presenting, animation, etc.) 5 points
Cooperation with group members 5 points
Five points will be taken off if you do not turn in a written copy of your segment.
Created by Cheryl Bussert
Forest Park Middle School
Segment Guidelines
Use the links on my website and the guiding questions below to find information and write your
stories. Remember, these questions are only guiding questions, you should be thinking of your
own questions and making the story complete and interesting.
Hint: To create an authentic segment, try adding some 1920s slang! See my links page for a link
to a page with 1920s slang.
Segment 1: National news and one Commercial
1. What was going on in politics? Who got elected when? What was going on in the
country? Choose one event or political figure (make it American!) to feature.
2. What products were being advertised in the 1920's? Choose one and write a
commercial. If you don't know enough about the product, where can you go to find out
more about it?
Segment 2: Criminals and Music or Literature
1. What were some of the famous crime stories of the times? Choose one to report on.
2. What was 'hot' in music? Who was performing it? OR What was 'hot' in literature? Who
was writing it?
Segment 3: Fashion and Economy
1. What was the news in fashion? Women's, men's, children's clothes -- what were they
wearing that was new? How was it different from what came before it? Choose one or
two items to focus on.
2. What was happening in business? What was happening to people's money? How did it
impact their lives? Choose one event or trend to report.
Segment 4: Sports and Interview
1. Who were the stars of what sports? What kind of accomplishments did they make?
Choose one sport to report on or one sports figure to feature.
2. Who was famous enough (non-political) to have something to say on a radio interview?
What would the interviewer ask of this famous person? What might the person's response
be? Remember - don't change history, just report it. Write out the questions and the
answers for the broadcast. You may have someone from your group or a different group
pretend to be the person you are interviewing and read the answers.
Roaring Twenties Webquest
Radio Broadcast Rubric
Name ________________________
8-10 points
Information in
the stories is
complete and
easy to
understand –
nothing major
left out
4-5 points
Stories are
written as if they
just happened
like real news
stories
5-7 points
Some
information is
left out or is
difficult to
understand
3-6 points
Stories are
confusing and
has information
left out
0-2 points
Student did not
complete story
or it does not
make sense
1-2 points
Stories are
mostly written in
past tense
0 points
Stories are
completely
written in past
tense, like a
school report
Presentation
Presenter was
serious but
animated as if on
the radio
Cooperation
with group
Presenter was
prepared on the
work day and
cooperated with
the group
3 points
Stories are
mostly written as
if they just
happened; some
references to the
past
Presenter was
mostly serious
and kept the
stories
interesting
Presenter had
most of the
stories written
on the work day
and mostly
cooperated with
the group
Written copy
turned in
Total
Yes / No
Presenter was
laughing and/or
read the stories
with little
animation
Presenter did not
have much of
the stories
written on the
work day and
had difficulty
working with the
group
5 points taken off if written copy of
stories is not turned in
Quality of
information
Quality of
format
Comments:
Presenter read
with no
animation or was
laughing a lot
Presenter did not
have anything
written on the
work day and
did not
cooperate with
the group