[Speaking Notes] History unit, grade 5, theme: The American Revolution 4 projects over 5 lessons drawn from Teacher Preparation Class utilizes my background in art can be used across content areas not just a “fun thing to do” during one period a week art tied to not only History, also Math and writing I have also changed two projects from their original forms to include technology through the use of PowerPoint
Lesson #1 originally a physical timeline created on construction paper Changed to PowerPoint format Lessons #2,3 come from my origami lessons, in which I teach the students how to fold a letter Lesson #2 is the writing portion, where the students write a letter from the perspective of an American or British soldier during the Revolution in Lesson #3 I tie in math and geometry while modeling the origami folds Lesson #4 is a group project in which students research topics and in their groups, will put those research projects together into a single newspaper Lesson #5 is the second lesson adapted to PowerPoint The students will create a PowerPoint in a Picture Book format
Originally, the students were to create this timeline on construction paper. This may still be an option for the students if access to computers is limited. This lesson focuses on the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence, but may be adapted to any part of Colonial Times or other historical period.
This is a Sample PowerPoint TimeLine. I would use this to show the students some basic features of PowerPoint, such as hyperlinks and tables. I have only hyperlinked 3 dates in this sample.
In this sample, the students would either search for a picture to include, or if a scanner is available, the students would be able to draw a picture and scan it into the computer to include it in their PowerPoint projects.
This is the first project that ties Social Studies to other content areas, in this case, language arts and writing. The teacher will read to the students the book When Washington Crossed the Delaware , a great picture book that provides first person details from that particular event. The students will take notes on these details so that they can later include them in their letters.
This is part 2 of the Letter Home project, in which I tie in Math and Geometry standards into Social Studies through the use of origami, or Japanese paper-folding. Origami can be tied into other subjects, particularly Math and Science. I found this letter fold and has since used it a few times as a writing project in the classroom or even during one-on-one tutoring sessions. As I am demonstrating the folds, I will point out the geometry aspects of the folding, often shapes and symmetry. I will also display a folding pattern after we are finished to show the students the various shapes involved and lines of symmetry. Finally, I can incorporate area by having the students measure their paper before it was folded and compare that with the shape of the paper after it is folded.
This is a group project, in which students will work together on a particular theme. Each group will be assigned different topics to research, such as major battles of the American Revolution or the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The art aspect of this project is graphic design. The students will look at newspapers and decide on how to display their stories together, formatting the title of the paper, the headlines and bylines, and placing their stories on the newspaper.
This is the second project in this unit that I have adapted to PowerPoint. Originally, the students were to create a picture book that they might share with the lower grades or with younger siblings. They will still utilize the format of the Picture Book, such as easier text and large illustrations, but the use of PowerPoint will make it easier to create the book. Again, as with the illustrated Time Line, they may use images from the web, or if a scanner is available, they may draw their own pictures and scan it into the computer.
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