Molly Anderson EDMT 380-002
Group project completed by Molly Anderson, Dave Baloga, and Amber Seidler

Title: Researching a Historical Figure

Description/Summary:
This activity is a social studies lesson that also incorporates language arts in a powerful way. The students will gain knowledge of historical figures using an interviewing technique and will dress for their roles. In doing this project, the students will also develop research techniques, writing, listening and speaking skills, all of which are vital life skills. Furthermore, this will be done in small groups of three to four to help teach the students to work cooperatively. The students will create an iMovie to report their research findings.
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Learner Analysis:
This social studies class consists of 24 sixth graders in a rural school district. The students have a large range of abilities and three students have learning disabilities (not severe).
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Prerequisite Student Skills:
The students come into the lesson with some preexisting skills including:
• Surfing the Internet
• An understanding that all information found on the Internet is not always accurate – being able to use good judgment.
• An understanding on how to conduct an interview
• Paper research skills
• Giving credit to the source
• Knowledge of using a keyboard and mouse
• Inserting graphics from the Internet
• Basic knowledge of fair use
• Basic iMovie techniques
• Scanning
• Basic Photoshop skills
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Wisconsin Curriculum Standards Addressed:
Social Studies:
B.8.1 Interpret the past using a variety of sources, such as biographies, diaries, journals, artifacts, eyewitness interviews, and other primary source materials, and evaluate the credibility of sources used.

B.8.7 Identify significant events and people in the major eras of United States and world history.

E.8.4 Describe and explain the means by which individuals, groups, and institutions may contribute to social continuity and change within a community

Information and Technology Literacy:
A.8.2 Identify and use common media formats
• Use electronic encyclopedias, almanacs, indexes, and catalogs to retrieve and select information.

A.8.5 Use media and technology to create and present information
• Plan and deliver a presentation using media and technology appropriate to topic, audience, purpose, or content.
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Instructional Objectives:
1. Research a historical figure in small groups.
2. Evaluate and select information from a variety of primary sources including biographies, diaries, journals, interviews, newspapers, magazine articles and the Internet using the topic hotlist web page that I created.
3. Formulate appropriate questions to gain knowledge of the historical person.
4. Work cooperatively in small groups.
5. Evaluate - peers and self.
6. Demonstrate good listening and speaking skills.
7. Create a multimedia presentation on a historical figure.
8. Employ fair use guidelines in the making of a video, giving appropriate credit to sources.
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Materials/Equipment Needed:
Macintosh computers with the iMovie program installed.
Primary research materials or access to a library: books, magazines, internet, etc.
Example of finished iMovie
Topic hotlist already created to aid students in research
Available library media specialist to assist with technology.
Screen to project movies to show entire class
DVD-R for recording finished projects if desired.
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Prerequisite Teacher Skills:
Teacher must know how to:
use Macintosh computers and iMovie.
burn DVDs using iDVD
find appropriate research information
create a topic hotlist as a web page.
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Activity Sequence:
Day 1
1. Project is described to the students.
2. Sample iMovie is shown.
3. Students form small groups. It’s important to place the students with learning disabilities in appropriate groups.
4. Students brainstorm possible historical figures.
5. Students should have a person selected for tomorrow.

Day 2
1. Students spend time in the library researching their person together.

Day 3
1. Students do a basic review of iMovie with the library media specialist.
2. Use the computer lab for students to search the Internet for more information. A topic hotlist is provided for the students to begin their research.

Day 4
1. More time for the students to do research – at this point they should have all the information they need.

Day 5
1. Entire class period to work on their iMovie.

Day 6
1. Entire class period to work on their iMovie. Whatever is unfinished must be completed outside of class. Teacher gives a short demonstration on how to burn DVD's
should they choose to do so - students can do this on their own time.

Days 7 & 8
1. Presentations of iMovie and whole class discussion. Peer evaluations will be done at this time.
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Project 2 Home | Draft Lesson Plan | Treatment | Storyboard/Script | Final Lesson Plan

Home | Web Instructional Strategies | Project #1 | Project #2

Questions? E-mail me at andersmb@uwec.edu
Page last updated on: 11-May-2004 9:06 PM