Introduction

    The new president, Ide Dunno,  has recently appointed you to serve on a secret task force to investigate the European Union.  You and the members of your task force are the brains behind his "political machine".  However,  your mission goes beyond keeping him informed and preventing him from saying embarrassing things when he gives speeches.   Because of his misconceptions* (*indicates clicking will link you to a definition page) and fears he may act to destroy the European Union. The  future of peace in your country and possibly the world rests in your hands.
    The European Union currently involves fifteen European countries.  By unifying, the European Union intends to strengthen the Europe's economic presence in the global economy* as well as improve the economies of individual countries.  Some attribute the recent realization of the European Union to technology.  However, many think the idea is not a new one. Although brief, the European Union has some history.  The act of unifying* has your president shaking in his shoes.  Known to be paranoid*, he fears that this is the beginning of a "One World Government" that would quickly demote him.   He is also worried that the economic competition created by this union will lead him and his country straight to the poorhouse.
    Next month he is expected speak at a press conference concerning the European Union and its impact on the future of  the nation.  He is a complete mess, so it is up to you to keep you analyze* this issue and offer insights* into what the European Union means to the people of  your country and to the world.
    Because you are extremely intelligent,  you refresh your brain by checking out key information about the European Union.  You have reviewed your summary of  the Treaty of Amsterdam and the official Maaschtrict Treaty. You even found a really cool site on the internet about the Euro, the new unit of money adopted by the EEC (European Economic Union).  You are one smart cookie and it is no accident that you were picked for such an important  mission.

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The Task
The Question:
What understandings should your nation have in order to accurately relate to the European Union?

The Product:
Develop a group report in HyperStudio or PowerPoint to present to the president showing your analysis* and insights* about the European Union containing four perspectives*.

By completing this WebQuest you should achieve the following goals:

• Use the power of the internet for advanced exploration
• Realize that complex topics can be looked at from various perspectives
• Work cooperatively to create a group presentation
• Create a presentation to summarize and present information using a multimedia format
• Synthesize information draw conclusion from a variety of sources and experiences
• Self evaluate and peer evaluate work in a reflective manner

Roles and Resources

  You should be able to achieve these goals by completing a process where you join a team and take on a role in the Quest.  As you search the internet using the links in your roles description.  After becoming an expert in your area  generating a full report you and your teammates will work together to create a multimedia presentation for the president and members of society via the World Wide Web.  This presentation presents your team's combined response to the Quest.  You should preview the individual rubric and the group rubric to see how your work will be evaluated.  If you want to see about how to get you your individual role read the process section.
 
 
 

	Business Person		Human Rights Activist
	Congressman		Social Studies Professor

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The Process (Underlined items must be checked/turned in)

1.  You will be assigned to a group of four students.
2.  Read the quest introduction and obtain background information on the European Union through the blue links.
3.  Each member of the team must choose one of the four roles.
4.  Once roles have been chosen you can begin investigating the European Union using the linked internet resources, materials in the media center, and classroom.  (Click on the manilla envelope to begin your individual role in EuroQuest.)
5.  Respond to your three questions by using a copy of your particular link to create a draft of your  individual report.
6.  Continually meet and discuss issues and insights with your team members as you discover new things.
7.  Create a final draft of your individual report using your best writing or word processing skills.  (Students should obtain permission to word process their reports in the computer lab.)
8.  Make decisions and identify individual and group understandings to create a group report draft.  The draft is a compiled list or graphic organizer of ideas and insights from everyone combined.
9.  Work cooperatively to create a multimedia presentation to summarize  insights* about the European Union from your perspective and as a team.  This is where you show off and impress the president.

10.  Have fun and enjoy the Quest!!

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Evaluation:
You will be graded using the individual and group rubric to assess your work.
The Criteria:

• Support responses with information obtained with specific information from internet sources as well as the media center and classroom resources.
• Explain ideas clearly demonstrating thought process and information.
• Synthesize ideas creating a draft of the group report.
• Create a multimedia presentation of group report.

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Conclusion
After completing this Quest I hope that you understand how some seemingly new concepts (ideas) are very similar to a older ideas.  Even though,  the process by which the idea "comes to life" will be very different because new people with various perspectives of past events and future possibilities create today's history using the tools that are available.

Anchor:
Would you like to learn more about the European Union?
 
 

Can you think how other peoples ideas have been "reborn" under different circumstances throughout history?
 
 

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