Central/South America Country Project

We started the Central/South American Country project yesterday, but were thwarted today by lack of battery power! Instead of doing research, 4th, 5th, and 6th hours watched a movie about Haiti and the Dominican Republic. 

Tomorrow,  May 3, 3rd hour needs to have their  five facts about the Government/Economy of their countries.  Examples of potential information were given today, and 3rd Hour was able to work on the Chrome books.

Tomorrow, we will continue with research.  I have explained to the kids that their facts need to have a reference point.
 For example, a fact such as :  20-25 degrees (C) has NO meaning!  I don't know if this is the best temperature for drying fruit, the best temperature for swimming......... You get the point. 


 Instead, the facts should be written like this:

The average daily temperature of Germany in 20-25 degress (C).

Please ask to see your child's work; ask that they explain their facts to you.  Part of this project will be presenting the country information to the rest of the class, so it would be great for them to practice with a friendly audience.  It's a good way make sure that everything sounds "reasonable".

This project will be due on the following dates.  Students who are creating a powerpoint can just e-mail their work to me :)

Third Hour - due May 9
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Hours - due May 10

If there are changes in due date, which could happen, I will post the adjusted dates. 

Thanks,
Cathy

Explorers are done!

We finished our Explorers simulation Thursday, and today we watched a movie about Cuba.  Next week we will begin the "Central/South America country project".  The kids did draw for countries today, so if your child was absent, there will be assigned a country on Monday.

We will spend the next week researching our countries.  I have reserved a cart of Chrome books, so everyone will have a computer.  This assignment will be graded as a "Test/Project/Quiz" assignment, so it will be going in to the 60% bucket.

I've attached the requirements, which I've gone over with each class.  The kids will receive a paper copy of this on Monday, but I'm making it public now :)  If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail!

Have a great weekend; I heard the sun is supposed to make an appearance!!

Thanks,
Cathy

Central/South America Project Assessment

Scoring Rubric

Label your book/slide with the following Headings (spelling COUNTS!)

Climate/Wild Life/Vegetation           Government and Economy        History            Geography/Physical Features        Culture

You will need three (3) illustrations (hand drawings), three (3) pictures, or a combination of both, in your flipbook.

For each of the Headings, you will need to list five (5/4/3) facts.  Your Headings may be in any order you choose. 

Consider including the following information for each Heading:

Climate:  types of climates and their locations, native plants, native animals

Geography/Physical Features: bodies of water and their locations, landforms and their locations, borders, Resources and their locations

Government and Economy:  Structure of Government, the type of work done by the people of your country, imports, exports

History:  Ancient Civilizations, European Conquest, Colonization

Culture: Food, Customs/Holidays, Dress, Sports, Music, dance

There is much more information that can be added to each Heading; these are just ideas.  As you do your research, you may find some aspect that is more interesting to you.

You MUST understand each fact you put in your project; DO NOT copy and paste!  That is considered PLAGERISM.  To earn a grade, you must have the number of facts listed, and the facts must be accurate.

Title Page – 1 point-required

Heading Labels –1 point-required

3 Pictures/Illustrations – 3 points-required

Geography -Five Facts, 5 points                         Four facts-4 points      3 facts-3 points

Climate- Five Facts, 5 points                              Four facts-4 points      3 facts-3 points

Culture – Five Facts, 5 points                             Four facts-4 points      3 facts-3 points

History – Five Facts, 5 points                             Four facts-4 points      3 facts-3 points

Government/Economy – Five Facts, 5 points     Four facts-4 points      3 facts-3 points

  30 points =A                                                                29- 25 points=B              24-20 points=C

                                                                               

Change in Plans!

Earlier I had posted information about the "Mexico Flipbook" assignment, but since that time, I've made a change in plans!!  When we get ready to start this assignment I will let you know!

We are currently doing an "Explorers" simulation, which the kids are loving.  This simulation involves group work, problem solving, listening, following directions, and dealing with "disappointment".  Every explorer will not live to see the New World, but that was the way things happened.

There is NO homework involved with this activity; it MUST be done in class, so it is imperative that kids listen.  I have had to tell one group that if they make the choice to not listen, they will be given an alternate assignment. 

This is fun, and I hate to have any group miss the action, but there are expectations that everyone listen and follow direction. Energy levels are high, which is great, but there needs to be a demonstration of self-control, too.

 It is great watching kids come in, go to the big world map, and try to determine the best route from Spain to the "New World".  It's more exciting than reading about explorers!

Thanks,
Cathy

Coming Soon; The Mexico Flipbook Assignment!

Below are the directions for an assignment that will be given on Monday, April 15.  You don't need to worry about this assignment yet!!  This is just to let you know what is coming up next.  This has been a Sixth Grade assignment for the past two years, so it may look familiar to some parents :)

Mexico “Flipbook” Assessment (Test)

Scoring Rubric

Label your book with the following Headings (spelling COUNTS!)

Climate/Wild Life/Vegetation           Government and Economy        History            Geography/Physical Features        Culture

You will need three (3) illustrations (hand drawings), three (3) pictures, or a combination of both, in your flipbook.

For each of the Headings, you will need to list five (5) facts.  You may use three (3) facts from your book, but at least two (2) facts must come from “research” you do in the Computer Lab.  If you want to do ALL your facts from your “research” that is perfectly acceptable. J  Your Headings may be in any order you choose. 

Consider including the following information for each Heading:

Climate:  types of climates and their locations, native plants, native animals

Geography/Physical Features: bodies of water and their locations, landforms and their locations, borders, Resources and their locations

Government and Economy:  Structure of Government, the type of work done by the people of Mexico, Wages, Maquiladoras

History:  Ancient Civilizations, Spanish Conquest

Culture: Food, Customs/Holidays, Dress, Sports, Music, dance

There is much more information that can be added to each heading; these are just ideas.  As you do your research, you may find some aspect that is more interesting to you.

You will be graded thusly:

Title Page – 1 point

Heading Labels –1 point

3 Pictures/Illustrations – 3 points

Geography – Five Facts, 5 points

Climate- Five Facts, 5 points

Culture – Five Facts, 5 points

History – Five Facts, 5 points

Government and Economy – Five Facts, 5 points

Total = 30 points

Map of Mexico

We have been working on a map of Mexico, labeling cities, bodies of water, and mountain ranges.  The kids have had two class periods to complete this map, and it is due Thursday, April 11 at the start of class.  There will be no time to work on this assignment during class on Thursday.

Next week, we will be doing a "mini-research" project on Mexico.  I will post the requirements for that assignment tomorrow. 

Thanks,
Cathy

Welcome Back!!

Well, we are back at it; toiling away to learn about Mexico, exploreres, and Core Democratic Values.  Today, I gave the kids about 30 minutes to complete an assignment that was given before Spring Break.  Sadly, not everyone took advantage of the extra time; there were several "Zaps" given because the work was incomplete.

Today's assignment, which is due Tuesday, April 9, is pages 9 & 10 in the Chapter 7 booklet.

Thanks,
Cathy