Student+Activities

=American History Museum Project: Preparation is Key =



These are your assignments for the week of Monday, November 8th through Friday, November 12th. Remember, the Dress Rehearsal for the museum in on Monday, November 15th and our Grand Opening is on Tuesday, November 16th, so it is important to stay focused and get your work done during this week.

As always, enjoy your trip into history!


 * Day 1: Monday, November 8th **

 As a reminder, these are the topics:
 * 1. ** First things first, you have to pick a topic for your museum! There are two options to pick from: making your own museum exhibit OR joining a group and making a documentary. The handout passed out last week explained each project's features, along with details about each topic.

Museum Exhibit : // 1. Life of a Soldier // // 2. Symbols of Freedom // // 3. Leaders of the Rebellion // // 4. Women in the Revolution // // 5. The Secret Revolution (Spies during the War) // // 6. The Prelude to War // // 7. The Shot Heard Around the World (The beginning of the War) // // 8. The War at Sea // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> 9. Allies and Enemies of America // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> 10. The Early Battles (End with Valley Forge) // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> 11. Fight to Victory (from Valley Forge to end of war in Yorktown) // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> 12. Peace at last // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> 13. Medicine and War //

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Digital Documentary <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> (remember each team has 4 people maximum) //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. Declaration Signing // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. Songs of the Revolution // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. The War at Home //

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> When you have decided your topic, write it down on a piece of paper with your name and place it on my desk in the "HW" basket. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Remember to keep your topic in mind while reading about the Revolution over the next few days.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Complete the Scavenger Hunt located below by using the links that appear before the Questions. This is due by the end of the day.
 * 2. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Before we begin to dive into The American Revolution, it's time to have some fun!


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Do you have what it takes to be a signer of the Declaration of Independence? Find out here: [|Declaration of Independence: Join the Signers]

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For this assignment, open up the Kidspiration program and create a map to begin to organize your ideas for your project. The idea map does not need to have specific facts right away, but try and be as detailed as possible. It will make putting your final project together a lot easier.
 * 4. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Now that you have agreed to participate in the Revolution, it is time to start planning your museum exhibit or digital documentary.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Your idea map is due by the end of Tuesday.




 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Day 2: Tuesday, November 9th **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Make sure to save your maps as "yourname-ideamap" on the computer. I will be grading them and returning them to you tomorrow.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Finish your Kidspiration idea map. If you want to add any specific information after researching today then go for it! It'll only help in the long run.


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Don't forget to read pg. 82-85 in your text book about the beginning of the war. To help with the battles, check out this neat timeline: [|American Revolution Timeline]

Resources //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Here are some things to remember while researching: // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* remember to stick to your topic. // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* keep an eye out for artifacts or pictures you can use // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* writing down facts that catch your eye is always best (and don't forget to write down where these facts come from so you can reference them too!) // //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* links to sites that you have used for assignments shouldn't be forgotten either! //
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Research Time! Below are some sites to check out and some books around the classroom that might also be useful.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">You will have more research time coming up, but make sure to use your time wisely.




 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Day 3: Wednesday, November 10th **

//*if you are making your own exhibit, pay attention to how they display their artifacts, the information they include, etc.// //*if you are making a digital documentary, study the introduction video to see how they incorporate pictures, voice-overs, live-action, etc.//
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Your reading section in your textbook (pg. 86-91) tells about the battles during the main part of the war. After reading, check out this Smithsonian virtual exhibit about the wars and the soldiers involved in them: [|Revolution Exhibit]


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> And it's time for more research! Remember the tips that I gave yesterday about researching and also keep in mind that your last research day will be Thursday. Here is the link to the resources again: Resources


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Remember that Kidspiration idea map you made? You might want to pull it out, along with any research notes you've made. It's time to start your project!

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Digital Documentary <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">: In your groups, write a script for your video. A script is just written down lines that you will recite when filming or doing your voice-overs. Once you have your script written, make a storyboard using this [|template] to convert your idea map into a new tool to help make putting your movie together a piece of cake. //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">*It might help to assign each person to a certain task such as narrating, picture finding, actors, editor, etc. Remember, live-action is not required, though reenacting a short scene can be a lot of fun! //

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Your script/storyboard is due by the end of Thursday.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Exhibit <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">: Your assignment is to decide which objects you are going to use and to write captions for these artifacts/objects. //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">*Remember, the minimum amount of artifacts you can have is six but more might be better. If you need an example for captions, take a look at the Revolution Exhibit from yesterday again. //

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Your selections and captions are due by the end of Thursday.




 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Day 4: Thursday, November 11th **


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Read pg. 92-98, which is the end of the War. Think about the surprise that this American victory was to the whole world. And how would Americans themselves feel about their victory and the years and hassles that were to come?


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Last Research Time! Make sure to make the most of it! By this time, you should just be getting a few more facts and finishing up all your research.


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> As soon as you are done with research, move on to finishing up your script/storyboard or you captions/artifacts. Save this as "yourname-script" or "yourname-captions" on the computer so I can check them.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Make sure you are ready for tomorrow, which will be our production day!




 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Day 5: Friday, November 12th **


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is it! Time to put together all that hard work you've done together into a finished product.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Production Day instructions <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">: Get into your groups and make sure you have all the materials you need (script, storyboard, pictures, microphone for recording, camera if you are shooting a live action clip, materials for this shoot, etc.). Once you are ready to begin, open up Windows Movie Maker. Here is a [|brief introduction] to this program, though it also helps to play around with the program to see how it works hands on. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If you have decided to shoot a short clip, follow this program which will help guide you through the process: [|Kidsvid]

Still need help? Check out all the tutorials and tips here: Introduction to Windows MovieMaker

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Construction Day instructions <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">: Make sure you have all the materials you need (captions, artifacts, etc.). Once you are ready to begin, open up this template and begin to organize your exhibit (which starts on slide 4):. Remember, this is just a template. You can have your exhibit be organized any way you want it so don't be afraid to get creative.DO NOT edit the first three slides, which are the museum entrance and floors. These must remain the same for everyone's presentation.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Here is a quick review of citing: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Books- Author name (copyright date). //Title of work//. [City Published]- [Publisher]. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Internet Site- Author/Creator of site (copyright date). //Title of Site.// Retrieved [Date visited site], from [website].
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">*Remember to cite the information you found. For the Digital Documentaries, this is in a credits page and for the Museum Exhibit, make sure to cite in the designated area of each artifact slide. //

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">When you are finished, remember to save your project as "yourname-topicname presentation."


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Once you are done, write a brief paragraph (3-4 sentences) about your project so we can include this description in the Museum flyer, which will be passed out on Monday so people will visit.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">IMPORTANT: Once again, remember that our dress rehearsal will be on Monday and the Grand Opening will be on Tuesday, so make sure to be prepared! **

<span style="color: #800000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Have a great weekend!