Welcome to The Great Fire of 1871 Webquest
So what is a webquest?
A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web.
A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web.
Here is how it works:
The class will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 students. Each group will pick a task from the Web-quest to complete. Each task has various challenges and expectations of the students. The tasks should take approximately 3 periods to complete. On the fourth day (or period) the students will present their completed task to the class.
The purpose of this Web-quest is to give students a highly personal and fun way to understand the impact of the Chicago Fire of 1871. This web-quest is best used after reading the book “The Great Fire” by Jim Murphy, or as an activity to complete as you read through the book.
The purpose of this Web-quest is to give students a highly personal and fun way to understand the impact of the Chicago Fire of 1871. This web-quest is best used after reading the book “The Great Fire” by Jim Murphy, or as an activity to complete as you read through the book.
Building Background:
On October 8, 1871, a fire began on DeKoven Street in a barn owned by Catherine and Patrick O'Leary. Fueled by a gale-force wind, this blaze grew into the Great Chicago Fire. Advancing northward for 36 hours, the inferno destroyed three and a half square miles in the heart of the city, leveling more than 18,000 structures. One-third of the city's 300,000 residents lost their homes, and at least 300 perished. Aided by an outpouring of charity from around the world, Chicagoans brought about a remarkable reconstruction; the city expanded as it rebuilt, and most visible signs of the destruction were erased within a year. Traditionally understood as the turning point of Chicago's early history, the Great Fire cemented the reputation of the rising metropolis as a place of opportunity, renewal, and future promise. by Karen Sawislak