A Woman’s Place:
A WebQuest about Jewish Women in
Jewish History
Century Magazine has decided to run a feature on
Jewish women who have significantly impacted Jewish history. They have asked a
panel of historians to nominate the Jewish women of their choice. The
historians have narrowed down the list to the following women (in no particular
order):
Golda Meir
Sarah the Matriarch
Henrietta Szold
Devorah the Prophetess
Bruria the Scholar
Emma Lazarus
Anne Frank
Esther the Queen
Hannah Senesh
Dona Gracia Nasi
Nechama Leibowitz
Sara Schenirer
Rahel Bluwstein
Now the readers of the magazine will vote for the
woman that they consider to have made the greatest impact in Jewish history.
You, as a journalist at Century Magazine have been asked to write the biography
of one of the personalities. In your biography, you must convince readers why
they should vote for this personality.
You
are one of the journalists assigned to this story. Each journalist will take
one of the women from the list above (either the one that you can most identify
with and most interests you or that is allocated to you by the editor) and
write a series of biographical features on her, in order to convince the readers
of Century Magazine to vote for this personality.
In order to do this you must follow the following
format (as requested by the editor!) and complete the tasks in each stage. Your
editor will be checking your work at each stage, so remember to keep your work
organized! The resulting article in its finished state will be printed in
Century Magazine (or perhaps your school newspaper).
Stage One - Research
You must carry out an in-depth research on the personality
that you have been assigned (using the online resources suggested below as well
as any other resources that your editor can recommend to you). Make sure to
include the following information:
Full name
Place of birth
When she lived (birth date and if she has died, her
date of death)
Historical Context
Childhood experiences
Her education
Life experiences
Skills/talents
Personality
Greatest influences she had (role models, etc.)
Her impact on the Jewish people and Jewish history
Stage Two - Biography
Now you have carried out your research, you must
write the biographical piece. Use all the information asked of you in stage one
and any other interesting facts to compile a comprehensive biography of the
woman from Jewish history that you have been allocated.
Remember, you are trying to convince your readers
that this is the woman that has made the most important impact on Jewish
history, so make your biography exciting!
For help on writing biographies and examples of
biographies check out the resources found below under “General Biography
Sites”.
Stage Three - In a Jewish Historical
Perspective
You must now write a few paragraphs explaining to
your readers exactly why you think that this personality has made the greatest
impact on Jewish History. Include why she has had a great impact on YOUR life.
In this article you must build a convincing argument as to why the readers
should vote for this woman.
Stage Four - A Day in the Life
As a secondary feature, compose a “day in the life
of” feature on the personality. This can either take the form of a diary entry
in the fictitious diary of the personality (you may wish to choose an important
or special day in her life or an important date in Jewish history that she
played a part) or you may just wish to capture her life by taking an average
day from her life and writing her schedule. This is a creative writing piece
(you should try to keep to the facts but will not have enough information from
you research alone to do this) and your editor will be noting your creativity.
Stage Five - Interview
As a secondary feature, write a fictitious
interview with the personality. You must first think of interesting and probing
questions about her life and experiences and her impact on Jewish history. You
must then decide how you think she would answer those questions. You must try
and express her personality through her answers, and at the same Century
portray an insight into the events that shaped her life and her contribution to
Jewish history. This is creative writing (you should try to keep to the facts
but will not have enough information from you research alone to do this) and
your editor will be noting your creativity.
Stage Six – Presentation
You have now completed your research and writing on
the personality. All you have to do now is present it in an attractive way to
your readers (or more importantly to your editor!). If you have knowledge of
desktop publisher software then use that, but if not, you can still do a good
job using a word processor. If you can find pictures to include in the feature,
all the better. After putting it together in an attractive and organized
manner, hand it in to your editor.
Extension Work
If
you have time and want to impress your editor, you may wish to write one last
piece on a Jewish woman that has had a tremendous affect on your own personal
life and that the rest of world doesn’t know about. You may wish to write about
a family member such as your mother, grandmother or sister, or a teacher or
friend. In this article, you should explain why she is special to you and the
affect that she has had on your life, and why she would be at the top of your
list of Jewish women who have greatly impacted your life.
General Biography/reference sites
http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/biomaker.htm (Biography maker)
http://www.infoplease.com/people.html
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/biowomen.html (Jewish women)
Sarah the Matriarch
As well as the following online resources, there
are many offline resources that you and your school may have to help you
complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/Sarah.html
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0112.htm (Text: Genesis 12)
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0113.htm (Text: Genesis 13)
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0116.htm (Text: Genesis 16)
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0117.htm (Text: Genesis 17)
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0118.htm (Text: Genesis 18)
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0120.htm (Text: Genesis 20)
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0121.htm (Text: Genesis 21)
Devorah the Prophetess
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/deborah.html
http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=112073
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0704.htm (Text: Judges 4)
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0705.htm (Text: Judges 5)
Esther the Queen
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0817739.html
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3301.htm (Text: The Book of
Esther)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther (Text: The Book of
Esther)
Beruriah
the Scholar
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=112056
http://zahavy.com/beruriah.htm
http://www.shisler.com/Theo/Service/TwoJewels.asp
Dona Gracia Nasi (Patroness and Philanthropist)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.jhom.com/personalities/dona_gracia/index.htm
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/960425_Ancona.html
http://www.jsites.net/stamps/15.html
http://www.sefarad.org/publication/lm/049/html/page46.html
Emma Lazarus (Poet and Writer)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/loc/Lazarus.html
http://www.soros.org/emma/html/emma_.html
http://www.jwa.org/exhibits/lazarus/el1.htm
http://www.fau.edu/library/brody40.htm
http://www.miriamscup.com/LazarusBiog.htm
Henrietta Szold (Founder of Hadassah
and Jewish activist)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/Szold.html
http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/people/bios/soldz.html
http://amuseum.org/jahf/virtour/page14.html
http://www.jwa.org/exhibits/szold/
http://www.miriamscup.com/SzoldBiog.htm
http://www.fuchsmizrachi.org/henrietta_szold.htm
Rahel Bluwstein (Poet and Pioneer)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/bluwstein.html
http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/people/bios/rahel.html
http://www.ithl.org.il/author_info.asp?id=207
Sara
Schenirer (Founder of the Beth Jacob Movement)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/jo/tworld/schenirer.html
http://www.innernet.org.il/printArticle.php?id=367
http://www.naomiragen.com/Articles/JewishWomen.htm
Hannah
Szenes (Paratrooper and Poet)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/szenes.html
http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/view.asp?id=1376
http://www.utoronto.ca/wjudaism/encyclopedia/e_s.html
http://www.miriamscup.com/SzenesBiog.htm
http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/people/bios/hannah.html
http://www.hannahsenesh.org.il/documents/frameseteng.html
Anne Frank (Diarist)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/frank.html
http://www.annefrank.com/1_life.htm
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=2&lid=2&flashid=2
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/lp_res/AnneFrankBioShort.html
http://www.annefrank.dk/Annefrank.htm
Golda Meir (Politician)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.wic.org/bio/gmeir.htm
http://jajz-ed.org.il/100/people/bios/golda.htm
http://www.ou.org/chagim/yomhaatzmauth/golda.html
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/meir.html
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_golda_meir.htm
http://www.uwm.edu/Library/digilib/Golda/index.html
Nechama
Leibowitz (Scholar)
As
well as the following online resources, there are many offline resources that
you and your school may have to help you complete your research.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/nleib.html
http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/lezikaronolam/nehama/nehama.htm
http://www.lookstein.org/nechama.htm
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/torani/nehama/indexgil.html (examples of her work)
Congratulations!
You have written an important article on Jewish women in history. Often, the role
of Jewish women in Jewish history goes unnoticed. By completing this WebQuest,
you have helped keep their memories alive. We all look forward to seeing
your article published in Century Magazine!
This
rubric provides the grading standards for your WebQuest.
Task
|
Beginning
|
Developing
|
Accomplished
|
Exemplary
|
Maximum
Mark
|
|
Stage 1 Research |
1-5 Little evidence of research. Questions addressed
inaccurately. |
6-10 Evidence of some research. Most
questions addressed accurately. No additional information provided. |
11-15 Evidence of good research (use of
resources listed here). All questions asked addressed accurately. Further
information found. |
15-20 Evidence of extensive research
(beyond the resources listed here). All questions asked addressed accurately.
Further information found. |
20 |
|
Stage 2 Biography of first choice |
1-5 Incomplete biography. Details are inaccurate.
Poorly written. Organization and presentation is poor. |
6-10 Complete biography. Details are
accurate. Fairly written. No interesting further facts. Organization
and presentation is poor. |
11-15 All details are accurate. Thorough
biography. Some interesting facts given. Well written. Organization and
presentation is poor. |
15-20 Accurate details, thorough
biography, interesting further facts included. Well written. Organization and
presentation is good. |
20 |
|
Stage 3 Rationalization for choice as “Greatest
Woman of Jewish History” |
1-5 Legitimate justification for choice given. No
further analysis shown. |
6-10 Evidence of some analysis of
character. Legitimate justification for choice given. |
11-15 Evidence of extensive analysis of character
and character’s achievements. Legitimate justification for choice given.
Presentation poor. |
15-20 Evidence of extensive analysis of
character and character’s achievements. Legitimate justification for choice
given. Presentation good. |
15 |
|
Stage 4 A “Day in the life” feature |
1-3 Attempts made to be creative. Personality is
character not accurately captured. No references made to achievements and
impact on Jewish history. |
4-7 Evidence of some creative thinking
and writing. Attempts made to capture personality’s character, and some
references made to achievements and impact on Jewish history. |
8-11 Evidence of creative thinking and
writing. Successfully captures personality’s character. References made to
achievements and impacts on Jewish history. Presentation poor. |
12-15 Well written, creative.
Successfully captures personality’s character. References made to
achievements and impacts on Jewish history. Presentation good. |
15 |
|
Stage 5 Interview of personality |
1-3 Attempts made to be creative. Personality is not
accurately captured. No references made to achievements and impact on Jewish
history. |
4-7 Evidence of some creative thinking
and writing. Attempts made to capture personality’s character, and some
references made to achievements and impact on Jewish history. |
8-11 Evidence of creative thinking and
writing. Successfully captures personality’s character. References made to
achievements and impacts on Jewish history. Presentation poor. |
12-15 Well written, creative.
Successfully captures personalities character. References made to
achievements and impacts on Jewish history. Presentation good. |
15 |
|
Stage 6 Final presentation |
1-3 Inaccurate spelling and grammar. Presentation
lacks creativity and imagination, without clarity and neatness. |
4-7 Inaccurate spelling and grammar.
Presented creatively and with imagination, though without clarity and
neatness. |
8-11 Inaccurate spelling and grammar.
Presented neatly and clearly. Presented creatively and with imagination.
Professionally laid out. |
12-15 Spelling and grammar accurate.
Presented neatly and clearly. Presented creatively and with imagination.
Professionally laid out. |
15 |
This
WebQuest was designed to address the lack of study of Jewish women in Jewish
schools. Although it can be used in classes of female students, with a special
emphasis on the issue of role models, it is certainly also appropriate for male
students to learn a little about the woman of Jewish history, who are so often
overlooked.
You
may allow your students to choose the personality that they are most interested
in or with whom they most identify. This approach will encourage
self-motivation among the students. However, this may mean that not all the
women listed will be covered, and a few may prove more popular than others.
Therefore, teachers may want to allocate a historical figure to each student,
thus ensuring that the class covers the entire list.
You
may wish to encourage your students to look at the rubric for evaluation to give them an idea of what you are looking for
in their assignments.
To
ensure that each student is exposed to each personality at some level, the
teacher may wish to ask the students give a class presentation at the end of
the project. This may take the form of a balloon debate (where each student
presents their character as if they were trying to convince the class not to
vote them “out of the hot-air balloon” and the students vote at the end for the
people they feel deserve to stay on the balloon).
It
would be nice for your students to have their work published in some form. You
may wish to send the best entries to the school magazine/newspaper, or a
community or local newspaper. You may also wish to publish all articles in one
magazine and distribute it in school.
©
The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education, 2002. Created by Daniel
Rose for The Lookstein Center.
