4th Grade Cultural Research Project
Project Start Date: 11.30.15 - Project End Date: 12.11.15
We have been reading about how Texas is a land of many culture, thanks to the immigrants and natives that formed our state. We hope to show how many cultures are represented in our classroom, and then stretch that idea to emphasize the great number of cultures that have influenced the entire grade.
Project Overview
For this current project, students will be choosing one country that they have ancestral ties to. They will research certain aspects of this country, compile their research in a graphic organizer, and create a product to present to the class the week of December 16th.
While students *may* be able to do some research here at school during their library time with Mrs. Brymer, they will most likely need to do the majority of their research at home. While students are welcome to use any sites you approve at home to compile their research, we are including the student-friendly databases and log-in information below for the websites the school has available so students may use those as well.
By Monday, November 30th, students need to choose a country other than the United States of America - please help them trace their lineage outside our country's borders before that time. The only exception to this request is if your family has Native American roots, in which case, we would love for your child to research those connections.
Project Phases
PHASE 1 : RESEARCH
NOVEMBER 30th - DECEMBER 4, 2015
- will take place at home
- graphic organizer with information needs to be completed by Sunday, December 9th (in place of reading homework -there will be no reading homework this week to allow time for student to complete research)
PHASE 2 : BUILD
PRODUCT CREATION - DECEMBER 7 - 11, 2015
- product intent form (in Google Classroom Social Studies class) must be submitted by Monday, December 7th, 2015
- product will be created at home
- there will be no reading homework this week to allow time for student to create product
PRODUCT & RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS - DECEMBER 14 - 17, 2015
- students will be assigned a day to present that week and will share their research and products
- students will sign up for presentation days in Google Classroom beginning Wednesday, December 9
- presentation schedule will be posted in Google Classroom on Friday, December 11
Cultural Research Project Timeline
Friday, November 20th - graphic organizer for research put into Google Classroom Social Studies class
Week of November 30th - students complete research at home & fill in graphic organizer (students may print and submit a hard copy on their presentation day, or may complete organizer online and turn in via Google Classroom)
by Tuesday, December 1st - Students fill in country choice form to indicate what country they will be researching (located in Google Classroom Social Studies Class)
by Monday, December 7th - Student must indicate what type of product they will be creating by filling out product choice form located in Google Classroom Social Studies class. Posterboard will be sent home for students that choose to create dolls or posters - PRODUCT ITSELF IS NOT DUE, SIMPLY THE TYPE OF PRODUCT THE STUDENT WILL BE CREATING. Students may choose from several types of products to present, including:
- cultural doll - poster board doll decorated in traditional clothing (see pictures below for ideas; poster board doll will be provided by classroom teacher - student must provide decorative elements & decorate)
- poster ( 1/2 sheet poster board will be provided by classroom teacher & completed)
- Google Slides presentation (online; student will create in his/her Google Drive school account and create presentation)
- Animoto presentation (online; see link below for more information - will need to create a free account)
- Interactive Thinglink image (online; see link below for more information - will need to create a free account)
- S'more (online, see link below for more information - will need to create a free account)
- Prezi (online; see link below for more information - will need to create a free account)
- Haiku Presentation (online; see link below for more information - will need to create a free account)
- student choice - student must see homeroom teacher for approval by 12/7/15
Week of December 7th - students complete cultural product at home
Monday, December 14th - products due to school; presentations begin
Cultural Research Graphic Organizer
- print out a hard copy of the outline at home and fill it out, then turn it in when they present their product the week of December 14th, OR
- complete the form online (their individual copy is in their Google Classroom Social Studies class and may be edited by them and turned in when complete).
Citations are required for research sources. The format is listed on the sheet. In regards to website sources,
- Wikipedia is not considered a valid source and may not be used
- Google is considered a search engine, not an information source, and may not be used other than to find viable websites
Personal sources / interviews are also valid; students must list the person's name and relationship to the student as a citation.
Completed graphic organizers will be due when your child presents their product and research to the class (December 14 - 17; signups will be assigned by Friday 12/11).
Cultural Doll Product Samples
Cultural Product Online Links
Presentation FAQ by parents
Q: What days are the presentations taking place?
A: Presentations will take place on Monday, December 14 - Friday, December 18. We will have about five students present each day.
A: Your child will sign up for a presentation slot on Wednesday, December 9th by filling out a Google Form in their Google Classroom Social Studies class. The official presentation schedule will be posted on Friday, December 9th. That way, your child will know ahead of time what day they will be presenting in case they want to bring something in for their presentation (food, ethnic clothing, etc.).
Q: My child asked me if they could bring in some food from the country they researched. Is that allowed?
A: While it is not expected and has no effect on their grade, it is absolutely allowed. Due to allergies, please include a recipe (if homemade) or make sure the package has ingredients listed on it. They only need to bring enough for their classmates to SAMPLE, not a large portion size. They also only need to bring enough for their HOMEROOM class (not both Our Town classes).
Q: What is my child expected to communicate in their product and presentation?
A: Your child will include any information they found in their research and logged in their graphic organizer in both their product and presentation. They will be familiar with this process - it's how they did their Native Texan presentations back in October.
Q: How long does my child's presentation have to be?
A: While your child's presentation needs to be long enough to communicate the information on the graphic organizer, it shouldn't be longer than 2-3 minutes.
Q: If my child is making a poster board doll, how do they include the information from the graphic organizer?
A: We encourage the students to make notes on the BACKSIDE of the doll. That way, they can communicate the information orally when they show the class their doll.
Log-In Information for LISD Databases / Websites
CultureGrams
Culturegrams
96-44896
bigchalk
Library Website
http://reagan.leanderisd.org/default.aspx?name=rgn.library.home
Any questions? Feel free to contact us.
~ Karen & Stephanie
Our 4th Grade Town
Stephanie Beasley, 4th Grade Teacher
Reagan Elementary School, Leander Independent School District
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/leanderisd.org/our-town/
Location: 1700 East Park Street, Cedar Park, TX, United States
Phone: 5125707200
Twitter: @Our4thGradeTown