Projects
Project Based Learning (PBL) is practiced in both Social Studies and Science. On this page you can learn more about PBL. As well as, find project rubrics, outlines, examples, research suggestions, and more.
Explorers
Explorer Report and Presentation
Students are tasked with researching an explorer and creating a visual aid to help in an oral presentation to their classmates. Most of the explorers chosen for this project relate to the exploration of North America. Students choose their explorer to research by pulling a slip of paper, without looking, from a container. The slip of paper will contain the name of the explorer that student will research.
Requirements for research paper:
Requirements for oral presentation:
Explorer Report and Presentation
Students are tasked with researching an explorer and creating a visual aid to help in an oral presentation to their classmates. Most of the explorers chosen for this project relate to the exploration of North America. Students choose their explorer to research by pulling a slip of paper, without looking, from a container. The slip of paper will contain the name of the explorer that student will research.
Requirements for research paper:
- a minimum of one page in length
- double-spaced
- size 12 font (Times New Roman or Calibri)
- all required information is present (found on paper outline)
- sources cited
Requirements for oral presentation:
- at least ten minutes
- student has some sort of creative visual aid such as dressing up as the explorer, making a poster, bringing in props/artifacts, or building something related to the expedition
Explorer Research Outline
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Rubrics
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The Importance of Fact Checking
This site gives some great facts about many different explorers, but mixes in some false information as well. Try to use multiple sources to find which information is factual, and which is fictional.
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Ecosystem Project
Fourth Grade Ecosystem Research Project
Directions: You and your group members will be assigned an ecosystem to research. Each group member will be responsible for creating at least one part of the project independently. You will use the information your group finds to create a diorama and brochure on your assigned ecosystem. Some possible ecosystems that could be assigned are Desert, Tundra, Forest (Temperate or Tropical Rainforest), Wetland, Polar, Aquatic (Freshwater or Saltwater), Grassland, etc.
The names of the jobs for each group are as follows: botanist, zoologist, environmentalist, cartographer and meteorologist (Jobs taken from http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/elem/4th/science/researchpaper/ecosystems.htm). Group members, jobs, and ecosystems will all be assigned at random. The job descriptions are attached or can be found on Mr. T’s website.
After you have been assigned your job, and talked with your group, you may begin your research. Use the internet, encyclopedias, library books, textbooks, and magazine articles on ecosystems to procure your information. Each group member is responsible for doing their own research and recording their information on their graphic organizers, notecards, and notebooks.
Once both your diorama and brochure is complete, you and your group members will present their project to the class orally. Each person will have to speak about a separate part of the project. It would be best for each person to present on something related to their job.
Fourth Grade Ecosystem Research Project
Directions: You and your group members will be assigned an ecosystem to research. Each group member will be responsible for creating at least one part of the project independently. You will use the information your group finds to create a diorama and brochure on your assigned ecosystem. Some possible ecosystems that could be assigned are Desert, Tundra, Forest (Temperate or Tropical Rainforest), Wetland, Polar, Aquatic (Freshwater or Saltwater), Grassland, etc.
The names of the jobs for each group are as follows: botanist, zoologist, environmentalist, cartographer and meteorologist (Jobs taken from http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/elem/4th/science/researchpaper/ecosystems.htm). Group members, jobs, and ecosystems will all be assigned at random. The job descriptions are attached or can be found on Mr. T’s website.
After you have been assigned your job, and talked with your group, you may begin your research. Use the internet, encyclopedias, library books, textbooks, and magazine articles on ecosystems to procure your information. Each group member is responsible for doing their own research and recording their information on their graphic organizers, notecards, and notebooks.
Once both your diorama and brochure is complete, you and your group members will present their project to the class orally. Each person will have to speak about a separate part of the project. It would be best for each person to present on something related to their job.
WATCH ME! |
Directions
Job Tasks
Rubrics
Useful Websites
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Jamestown Colonial Trade Project
Our class is currently learning about the Jamestown colony of 1607. As part of the unit, students have been assigned colonial trades to research. The goal is for each student to learn what their trade is and why it was important in colonial society. Students will present their findings to their peers in a PowerPoint and oral presentation during social studies. The PowerPoints will be created entirely at school but students need to bring in, or create, some sort of artifact that is associated with their trade. For example, a blacksmith might bring in a horseshoe, hammer, or dress up in an apron and work clothes. An apothecary may bring in a mortar and pestle or a recipe for an herbal remedy. *Remember school rules still apply and artifacts must be school appropriate.* Presentations will start on February 7th-8th, with make-ups on the 11th.
Our class is currently learning about the Jamestown colony of 1607. As part of the unit, students have been assigned colonial trades to research. The goal is for each student to learn what their trade is and why it was important in colonial society. Students will present their findings to their peers in a PowerPoint and oral presentation during social studies. The PowerPoints will be created entirely at school but students need to bring in, or create, some sort of artifact that is associated with their trade. For example, a blacksmith might bring in a horseshoe, hammer, or dress up in an apron and work clothes. An apothecary may bring in a mortar and pestle or a recipe for an herbal remedy. *Remember school rules still apply and artifacts must be school appropriate.* Presentations will start on February 7th-8th, with make-ups on the 11th.
Packets
Rubrics
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Recordings from the Communities textbook.
Jamestown Websites |
images from www.boston.com ohs-bio.www1.50megs.com oceanexplorer.noaa.gov www.latinamericanstudies.org