Web Quest Lesson Plan

Introduction
Students have explored the topic of Making and Remaking Traditions. In this lesson, they will read about traditions that are changing as societies change. After reading about these different traditions, students will summarize reasons for the changes in traditions, and suggest what might happen to the society if the tradition disappears.

Lesson Description
Students will read the article "Shaking Spain Out of Its Siesta" <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/22/AR2006042201123.html>, and "Population Growth in Japan" < http://www.uwm.edu/~briancw2/pe/pg.html>. Then students will select one of the traditions, summarize the reasons the tradition is changing, and speculate about what might happen to the society if the tradition disappears.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will use the Internet as an information resource.
2. Students will explore how traditions in different cultures are changing.
3. Students will summarize the reasons the traditions are being lost, and suggest what might happen to the society if the tradition disappears.

Student Web Activity Sample Answer
The elderly in Japan have traditionally been cared for by the wife of the eldest son. Except for a short period immediately after World War II, Japan has experienced a declining birthrate. At the same time, the Japanese have achieved the world’s longest life expectancy. This means that the ratio of senior citizens to younger people is increasing. Soon, there will be more old people than young people in Japan, and those caring for the aged will be old themselves.

If the older people in Japan cannot depend on younger relatives to take care of them, the society as a whole will need to find a solution. Perhaps the government will consider building more senior housing or nursing homes. Caregivers may need to be brought in from other countries. Whatever the solution is, the people of Japan will lose some of their close family connections and the wisdom of the older generation will not be shared in day-to-day life.