CHRISTMAS WEBQUEST PART 2

Part 2: Santa Claus

a. Read the introduction to Santa Claus taken from history.com:
The man we know as Santa Claus has a history all his own. Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red, but his story stretches all the way back to the third century. Find out more about the history of Santa Claus from his earliest origins to the shopping mall favorite of today.

What do you already know about Santa’s history? Discuss your ideas with a partner.
b. Create a group of four students (Students 1, 2, 3 and 4). Now, go to the the weblink texthttp://www.history.com/topics/santa-claus and read the section that you are asked to look at below (depending on which Student number you are).
Student 1
Read the first section entitled ’The legend of St. Nicholas’. Answer the following questions:
  1. When do people think that St. Nicholas was born? In which modern-day country is his birthplace?
  2. For what qualities was St. Nicholas most admired?
  3. Was St. Nicholas born into a poor family?
  4. Which two groups of people is he particularly associated with?
  5. When is his feast day celebrated? What do people think it is lucky to do on that day?
  6. Why was the way in which St. Nicholas was regarded in Holland different from other saints?
Now join your group and discuss what you have learnt about Santa Claus’s origins.
Student 2
Read the second and third sections entitled ’Sinter Klaas comes to New York’ and ’Shopping mall Santas’. Answer the following questions:
  1. How did St. Nicolas first become popular in America?
  2. Where did the name Santa Claus come from?
  3. As Sinter Klaas’s popularity grew, did people agree about what he looked like?
  4. What did the advertisements for shopping stores feature by the 1840s?
  5. What happened in 1841?
  6. In the early 1890s what did the Salvation Army do to raise money?
Now, join your group and discuss what you have learnt about Santa Claus’s origins.
Student 3
Read the fourth section entitled ’Twas the night before Christmas’. Answer the following questions:
  1. What was the poem that became largely responsible for our modern image of Santa Claus? Why wasn’t its author sure that he wanted to publish it?
  2. What, according to the now familiar image of Santa Claus, are his physical characteristics and special powers?
  3. What cartoonist drew on Moore’s poem to create the first likeness of our modern day image of Santa?
  4. How did the cartoon depict Santa?
  5. What new elements did Nast add to the image created by Moore’s poem?
Now, join your group and discuss what you have learnt about Santa Claus.

Student 4
Read the fifth section entitled ’A Santa by other names’. Look for the answers to the following question and share your answers with your classmates.
  • What were the names of similar figures all over the world and what was special about each one.
Now, join your group and discuss what you have learnt about Santa Claus.
Discussion
  • What do you call Santa in your country?
  • Did you believe in Santa when you were young? Can you remember when you found out he wasn’t real?
  • Find images of Santa on the internet. In what ways are they similar to - or different from - the familiar image of Santa Claus?


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