If you know me well, you know I am all about projects. Projects make my classroom lively and exciting. This year is new and different. For the first time in a long time, I am departmentalized. I teach math, writing and social studies. This year is also my first time ever teaching 5th grade and I can genuinely say, I am lucky to have such a great bunch to start this journey with! This is also my first year teaching in Texas so of course I had to come up with a Texas based project. Over the summer, I contacted teachers from every state and began a post card exchange document which morphed into this project.
Goal : Students will learn about all U.S. states through conducting research,
connecting with classes across the country, and creating a model as well as
brochure of where they would like to travel. This project will incorporate social studies, math,
language arts and technology as well as will provide opportunity to
collaborate and present work to our 2nd grade partner class.
language arts and technology as well as will provide opportunity to
collaborate and present work to our 2nd grade partner class.
TEKS:
Social Studies
5.6 Student uses geographic tools to collect, analyze, and interpret data
5.7 The student understands concept of regions of the United States
5.17 The student understands important symbols, customs, celebrations, and landmarks
that represent American beliefs and principles and contribute to our national identity
that represent American beliefs and principles and contribute to our national identity
Reading/Writing
5.21 Students write legibly and use appropriate capitalization and punctuation conventions and their
compositions
compositions
5.22 Students spell correctly
5.24 Students determine , locate, and explore the full range of relevant sources addressing a
research question and systematically record the information they gather
research question and systematically record the information they gather
5.26 Students organize and present their ideas and information according to the
purpose of the research and their audience. Students are expected to synthesize the
research into a written or an oral presentation
purpose of the research and their audience. Students are expected to synthesize the
research into a written or an oral presentation
Day 1
The teacher will read “Scrambled States of America”
After the read aloud, the teacher will have students participate in turn and talk activity.
They will discuss with a partner the following questions:
They will discuss with a partner the following questions:
- What do you think makes Texas unique?
- What states have you traveled to or learned about? What stood out to you and why?
Day 1-2
Students will work in groups of 2 to complete Texas scavenger hunt (on blend or can be done
through google classroom). After completion they will discuss:
through google classroom). After completion they will discuss:
What’s something you learned about Texas? Was anything surprising? Why/why not?
Students will work with their shoulder partners to complete postcards for our postcard exchange
partners around the U.S. based on info they found in the scavenger hunt
partners around the U.S. based on info they found in the scavenger hunt
Day 3-5
Students will randomly select landmarks or the teacher will pre select or they will choose based
on interest.
on interest.
Students will complete landmark research
Day 6-10
Students will complete the landmark brochure and model project/ present to 2nd grade and reflect on
their experience with this project. The presentation will take place in a form of gallery walk where
5th graders will have a chance to show their work/ talk about it to 2nd graders as 2nd graders ask
questions*.
their experience with this project. The presentation will take place in a form of gallery walk where
5th graders will have a chance to show their work/ talk about it to 2nd graders as 2nd graders ask
questions*.
* Our partner class is a second grade classroom.
* We are currently in the middle of this project, getting ready to send out post cards, researching and
preparing for the brochure. I will add photos of finished work as soon as they are available!
Inspired teacher,
Mrs. Swanson
preparing for the brochure. I will add photos of finished work as soon as they are available!
Inspired teacher,
Mrs. Swanson
No comments:
Post a Comment