Project Timeframe

Our time frame for completing this project will cover several class sessions/periods. It may take more or less time, based on how we progress with the research of our material. Below is a breakdown of how we will accomplish this unit.

Session 1:
We will start the unit by having some classroom discussion and an overview of the subject. We will review the websites that we can gather information from. I have also given you links on the next page to start looking at the information we can access. We will also break up the classroom groups during the first week, so that you can start to work with your classroom groups and become "teams".

As a classroom, we will discuss how we will assess our work on the project. I will take our notes and ideas on how it should be graded and I will create a rubric we will use to grade all parts of the project. I will give this rubric to you by the second week so that you know how you will be graded and you can keep track of what you need to do in order to succeed. (See my blog entry on "Rubric Assessment".)

Session 2 & 3:
Based on your groups, each team will be given one of the following topics to focus on for your slides and art projects for the remaining time working on this unit and your presentations. During session 2 and 3 each group will use the Internet and other resources to research their topic and make notes of the information you feel is the most important to include in the presentation. I will give you some tools for noting your information so you can have good notes from which to work, such as KWL charts, Venn diagram worksheets, etc.

• Lewis and Clark Expedition


• Oregon Trail


• California Gold Rush


• Oil Fields of the Southwest


• First Transcontinental Telegraph


• Homestead Act of 1862


• The Grange


• Transcontinental Railroad

Session 4 & 5:
Each team will take their information and create 2-3 slides each in PowerPoint on their topic. At the end of the week after I have reviewed your information for correctness, I will place the slides in order in one final PowerPoint. We will add any additional information, such as slide transitions, images or cover pages and breaks. (I have created a separate blog page for you to see a sample of how you can create your PowerPoint named, Team PowerPoint Presentation Sample. We will also review PowerPoint in classroom together.)

The PowerPoint will also need to have some type of background sound and music in it. I have put a song from era in mine, and you can do the same. Listening to the songs and the lyrics will give you a better understanding of the era, too!

Session 6:
Based on each teams subject, we will also create an art project using images related to your topic. Images, cited correctly, can be found on the Internet. We will then take each groups "image collage" and create a large storyboard (chronology) of the era, which will be used as a visual during our presentation. After our presentation, this will be displayed in our classroom or our classroom hallway for everyone else to see! (I have created a separate blog page for you to see a sample of how you can create your art project, named Art Project Sample.)

Session 7:
Each team member will be responsible for playing a part in the final presentation of their material - this is very important that you participate so I know you have learned the information well! Each team will have five to ten minutes to present their material to the rest of the class and to the other grade classes participating in this project. The rubric will be used at this time to assess your involvement in the project and all other elements of the project.

Please let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions about how the project.

Thanks,

Mrs. Rouse