Introduction
The Community in The Giver is very different from ours. Is it a "perfect society?" Now it's your turn to create a better world in which to live.
The Task
The year is 3010. You and your team members have been given the opportunity to start a new society on a deserted island that is fully equipped with all needed amenities and modern technology. The island is not owned or under the influence of any nation. It is the responsibility of your group to inhabit the island in any manner that you choose. By completing the following assignments and working cooperatively, your group will build a new society and will introduce your society to the class.
The Process
Step 1: What is a Utopia?
Use the following web sites to research the concept of "utopia." The second web site has lots of detailed information on utopia. As a group decide which parts are relevant to your project, and split the reading up into sections. That way, each member can read a section and report back to the group. Do your research and then discuss which parts of the information you've acquired will be shared. As a group, come up with a definition of utopia. In written format, tell what utopia means to your group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia
http://users.erols.com/jonwill/
Step 2: Research real-life "utopias"
Visit websites of communities that have tried to achieve utopian societies. Choose two or three that you find most interesting and complete a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast them.
Some "utopian" communities:
The Acorn Community of Virginia
The Farm in Tennessee
Twin Oaks Community in Virginia
Victory City - A City Under One Roof
Venn Diagram with three circles
Step 3: Design your utopia (each part should be decided by the group, but one member needs to be assigned the task of creating the visual and/or written explanation for each)
A. Draw a chart that shows how the government in your community will work. Explain in detail the role of each person or group in your community.
B. Sketch a map of what your community will look like. You will have to refine it and make it better later. Every building and area should be clearly labeled. Don't forget to include lakes, parking (if needed), public buildings, medical buildings, schools, dwellings, recreational areas, etc. An aerial view will be fine.
C. Draw a chart or diagram depicting what your education system will be like. Don't forget to include details about when kids go to school and for how long and what types of things will be taught at each level.
D. Draw a chart or diagram depicting how your community members will receive health care. Include information on who provides the care, what kind of care people can receive at which facilities, where people go for serious illnesses, prescriptions, etc.
E. Draw a picture of what your dwellings will look like. You should include an outside drawing as well as an aerial view of the inside. Be sure to label everything in the dwelling.
F. Draw a picture of the money your community will use. Draw a chart or diagram depicting how people will receive money and how it will be used. If you are not using money in your community, explain how people will receive goods and services. (see http://www.newciv.org/ncn/moneyteam.html)
G. Describe the different types of recreation that will be offered in your community. Include information on how they will be used by the people of the community (following a schedule, first come, first served, etc.)
H. Miscellaneous: Write at least a paragraph explaining how you will handle each of the following
Family units and child rearing responsibilities
Transportation
Energy sources
Employment
Distribution of property and wealth
Inter Community relations
The Media
Fashion
Crime
The elderly
Other resources:
http://www.utopianstates.com/US1/index.html
http://www.rbjones.com/rbjpub/rbj042.htm#utopia
http://www.geocities.com/unihl/utopia/index.htm
Step 4: Create an imovie or Power Point presentation about your utopia to share with the class
Step 5: Individual reflection
Now that you have completed the project, you are going to reflect, or think about, what happened. You will write a short essay where you address the following questions. Your essay should be in paragraph form. You will be graded on how well you answer the questions, but you will also be graded on the organization of your essay. Your essay should contain strong, clear topic sentences. Your paragraphs should be unified and coherent. You should include transitions to help the reader navigate his/her way through the paper. Be sure to answer the following questions in your essay.
1. What was the hardest part about completing the project? What made that part difficult?
2. What did you find the most interesting about doing the project? Why did you find it interesting?
3. Would you recommend that future classes be required to complete this project? Why or why not?
Evaluation (rubrics for steps 3-5 will be published soon)
Your group project will be graded in the following manner:
Step 1: What is a utopia? 5 points
Is your definition based on information you learned from the two web sites that you examined?
Is your definition in your own words or just copied from the two web sites?
Is your definition clear and easy to understand?
Step 2: Research utopias (Venn Diagram) 10 points
Did you make at least ten descriptive statements total?
Is the diagram neat and easy to read?