Emily Anders, Christine Bechtold and Mary Frances PrugnoSS Project Part Three

Project Description:Students have recently been studying explorers in their social studies classroom. During this unit,

students have become familiar with a wide variety of different explorers, what they have done, and how their accomplishments have influenced the modern world. To provide a comprehensive assessment for the unit, the teacher will provide students a selection of four explorers. Students will then choose which explorer they would like to do a presentation on. Based on their selection, students will break into four different groups in order to work together to create a final presentation.

The final presentation will be done in the form of an interview. Two students from each group will role play as explorers - one will be the explorer of their choosing, and the other will be one of his crew members who traveled with the explorer (amounts may vary depending on group size). The other students will act as modern-day interviewers. They will ask the explorers questions about what they have done and accomplishments. Students will work together in order to gather background knowledge of the explorers and time period, and they will collaborate in order to create questions and answers for the interview; these questions must be submitted for the teacher so that a study guide may be created. Their presentation will be done in front of the class, where audience members will fill out the study guide as the presentation is happening, so at the end of all presentations they will have a comprehensive guide to all four explorers.

Lesson adapted from: http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/view_lesson_plans?id=5472

Objectives:1. Given historical texts and graphic organizers, students will organize an explorer’s life events with

100% accuracy2. Using historical texts, students will compare and contrast a different perspectives of an explorer’s

life with 100% accuracy3. Students will come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required materials. 4. Using their research, students will discuss the important facts of an explorer’s life with 90%

accuracy5. Using hand out materials, students will design interview questions for their explorers.6. Students will collaborate in order to plan and organize a historical interview for their explorer. 7. Students will equally participate in a historical interview about their explorer. 8. Students will defend their interview answers with historical facts that are gathered from multiple

sources with 100% accuracy.

Directions:

For this project, you will work together in the groups that you have created last class. Everyone in the group will have to participate in the in-class interview. For the interview, you will each have a job:

Ellen: You are playing the role like Ellen DeGeneres on her show. You will be asking the explorers interview questions

David Letterman: You will play the role like David Letterman on his show. You will be asking the explorers interview questions

Explorer: You will play the role of the explorer on the interview show. You will provide answers to the interviewer's’ questions from the perspective of the explorer

First Mate: You will play the role of the explorer’s first mate. You will provide answers to the interviewer's’ questions from the perspective of a crew member who accompanied the explorer on his journey.

After deciding who will play each role for the interview, you will work together to compile your historical information to create a set of 10 questions that the Explorer and First Mate will answer. Ellen and David Letterman must ask 5 questions each.

What you will hand in to the teacher:

A blank, typed copy of your interview questions

A typed copy of your interview questions with the responses that the Explorer and First Mate will answer

Your group will be assessed by using the attached rubric.

Group Members: _________________________________________________________________

Explorer:__________________________________

Grade : /24 Comments: ____________________________

Tips for Success

Talk Show Host Brainstorming Chart-- Use this chart as a template to frame your thinking before conducting your interview!

Don’t:Slouch in your

chairGo off-topicInterrupt a speaker“Ramble”Look uninterestedCross your arms_______________

_________________________

_______________

Do:Speak loudly

and clearlySpeak slow and

pause when you are gathering your thoughts

Dress

Do’s and Don’ts of Interviews

Name of Explorer

Basic Information of Explorer:

Main Events: Fun Facts: Questions to Ask Explorer:

EXAMPLEChristopher Columbus

Occupation: Explorer

Born: 1451 in Genoa, Italy

Died: May 20, 1506

Best known for: Discovering America

1465- Columbus’s first time setting sail as a teengaer

1480- His first big voyage. He sailed between Portugal and Iceland

1484- Columbus looks for sponsors

1485- Columbus moves to Spain

1491- Spain supports Columbus

1492/1493- Columbus sets sail, Landfall, Returns to Spain

1493-Second Voyage

1498- Third Voyage

1502- Last Trip

Columbus brought horses to the new world on his second voyage.

In his original calculations, he thought that Asia would be 2,400 miles from Portugal. He was way off. It is actually 10,000 miles away! Not to mention the huge continent in between.

You can remember the date Columbus discovered America by using this rhyme "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue".

What obstacles did you face along the way?

What was the most difficult part about being an explorer?

What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about your voyage?

How does it feel to be known for discovering America?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Timeline:December 5:

All roles will be assignedEach member will provide

one historical artifact on your explorer

December 8:List of questions will be

submitted

December 12:List of answers will be

submitted

December 15:Presentations

December 19: Presentations

December 22:Presentations

December 26:Explorers Test

Interview An Explorer!

Name: _____________________

Date: ________________Dear 4th Grade Students,

During the past month of school, we have discussed explorers of the New World and the impacts they have made on America, both past and present. Since you have gained so much knowledge on these explorers, you will now be able to see the impact that these explorers had on America. You will be completing a fun and interactive assessment to close up this unit. You will each select an explorer from the list I give you in order to complete a presentation. Depending on who you choose as an explorer, you will then be matched to one of four groups to work together to create this final product.

For this final project, your group will conduct “an interview” with your chosen explorer. Two students from each group will take on the role as explorers. One will be your explorer (John Cabot as an example) and the other will be one of his crew members who traveled alongside him. The other two students in your group will be the modern day interviewers, such as Ellen DeGeneres or David Letterman. Both of the interviewers will ask the explorers various questions about their accomplishments, what it was like on their journey, and what obstacles were present along the way, etc. Your group will work together to gather background information on the explorers, and generate a timeline of the major events they were involved in. You will all then work together to create questions and answers for the interview. I have provided you with a chart to help you see what types of information you may need to look up before the day of the interview.

Before you begin practicing your questions and answers, you will submit them to the me so that I can evaluate them and create a study guide for the class. Your presentations will be done in front of the class where audience members (the rest of the class) will complete the study guide as the one group presents. Before conducting the interview, your group should practice and take a look at the “Do’s and Don’ts” web to see some tips for what will make this a meaningful interview! By the end of all the presentations, everyone should have a deep understanding of these explorers.

By completing this presentation with your group members, you will :● Explain events in a historical text based on specific information in the

text● Describe the structure of events, ideas, and information● Compare and contrast a firsthand and a secondhand account of the

same topic● Come to your presentation prepared, having read or studied required

materials● Retell an experience (from the explorers point of view) using facts and

descriptive details ● Work together to create a set of historical questions and answers● Work together to plan and organize a historical interview● Equally participate in a historical interview

I recommend looking at the rubric to see how you will be evaluated. I will be checking in with each group and I look forward to seeing these interviews! I know that you will be successful with your hard work and effort. I will always be here to support you along the way. Good luck and have fun!

Love,

Miss Prugno, Miss Anders, and Miss Bechtold

Directions:

For this project, you will work together in the groups that we have created last class. Everyone in the group will have to participate in the in-class interview. For the interview, you will each have one specific role that is outlined below:

Ellen: You are playing the role of Ellen DeGeneres on her show. You will be asking the explorers interview questions. Feel free to use “fun” facts to create creative and interesting comments or questions.

David Letterman: You will play the role like David Letterman on his show. You will be asking the explorers interview questions.

Explorer: You will play the role of the explorer on the interview show. You will provide answers to the interviewer's questions from the perspective of the explorer.

First Mate: You will play the role of the explorer’s first mate. You will provide answers to the interviewer's’ questions from the perspective of a crew member who accompanied the explorer on his journey.

After deciding who will play each role for the interview, you will work together to compile your historical information to create a set of 10 questions that the Explorer and First Mate will answer. Ellen and David Letterman must ask 5 questions each.

Please remember that your entire group will be working together to earn your grade!

What you will hand in to the teacher:

A blank, typed copy of your interview questions

A typed copy of your interview questions with the responses that the Explorer and First Mate will answer

Materials:● Recommended Resources:

○ Consider using one of the following websites, videos you find online, or books from the library:

■ http://nj.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/pbs-world- explorers/

■ http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/explorers.html ■ http://allaboutexplorers.com/explorers/ ■ http://mrnussbaum.com/explorers/famous-explorers/ ■ http://www.dkfindout.com/uk/history/explorers/ ■ https://www.exploration-and-piracy.org/explorers/

● Chromebooks ● History Alive!: America’s Past Chapter 5: Routes of exploration to the

New World By: Bert Bower, Jim Lobdell● Chairs and tables for students to practice with● 2-3 Toy microphones● Questions and answers, typed

Due dates of parts of presentationCheck off parts of your presentation as they are completed!

December 5: All roles will be assigned Each member will provide one historical artifact on your explorer

December 8:List of questions will be submitted

December 12:List of answers will be submitted

Indicate which day your group is presenting!

December 15:Presentations

December 19: Presentations

December 22:Presentations

December 26:Explorers Test