Assessment: Northeast Project

The following is a 4th grade final assessment for a unit plan on the Northeast.  Ideas from the assessment can easily be adapted to other grade levels and topics.  The assessment covers a unit plan on the entire history of the Northeast. The assessment utilizes the textbook Harcourt Social Studies: States and Regions.  In this assessment, students ultimately have the choice as to how they would like to be assessed, and what topic they will be assessed on.  The assessment below is basically a rubric and project description.

Students will have the option to create their own final project.  Students will choose any topic from Chapter 4: Exploring the Northeast, from Harcourt Social Studies: States and Regions. Students will choose one of the project selections from the options below.  Students will have 2-3 days to work on the project in class.  The remaining portion of the project will be done for homework.  The topics and project type must be pre-approved by the teacher.  Students will be assessed through a rubric.  Students will briefly present their projects to the class.

Project Options:

Comic Strip: Draw a series of cartoon panels that summarize your topic.  You must draw at least six panels showing the essential events from beginning to end. Your comic strip must be neat and colorful. Also, write one paragraph summarizing your comic strip.

Magazine: Create a magazine that highlights your topic.  Your magazine must contain at least two articles (1 paragraph per article). One article should be an interview with a historical person who is related to the topic. The magazine should contain at least two images relating to the topic (drawings or photographs).  You must also include one advertisement that would be appropriate for the time and place your event took place. 

Children’s Book: Create a children’s book based on your topic.  The book must be at least five pages long.  It should include lots of color and illustrations.  Also, write one paragraph summarizing your book.

Power Point Presentation: Create a Power Point of your topic.  Power Point should be at least 5 slides.  Include at least 2 pictures.  Also, write one paragraph summarizing the bullet points in your presentation.

Song: Write a song about your topic.  The song lyrics must contain all relevant information about your topic.  The lyrics should be at least 10 lines.  Also, write one paragraph summarizing what your song is about.

Tri-Fold/Poster: Prepare a tri-fold or poster of your topic.  The tri-fold/poster should contain pictures and captions that illustrate the subject.  Also, write one paragraph summarizing what appears on your poster.

Essay: Write an essay based on a topic.  The paper must be at least five paragraphs.

Lesson Plan: The Colonies

The following is a 4th grade lesson on the colonies. The lesson is a subunit of a unit plan on the entire history of the Northeast. This plan connects to state standards as well as the National Council for Social Studies themes and subthemes. The lesson plan utilizes the textbook Harcourt Social Studies: States and Regions. Students do a before, during, and after reading on the textbook and answer questions. Students will then conduct research and create a brochure on the colony of their choice. Their brochure will act as an advertisement trying to get settlers to come to their colony.  The students will also participate in a class KWL, which will take them through the whole unit. A worksheet and rubric for creating the brochure is also embedded. Graphic organizer and rubric can be downloaded on our Teachers Pay Teachers page.

 

Lesson Plan: Early History of Northeastern Native Americans

The following is a lesson plan on the early history of Northeastern Native Americans. The lesson is a subunit of a unit plan on the entire history of the Northeast.  This plan connects to state standards as well as the National Council for Social Studies themes and subthemes. The lesson plan utilizes the textbook Harcourt Social Studies: States and Regions.  The lesson plan includes "teacher talk" that narrates a PowerPoint presentation (which is also embedded below). Students will research a Native American tribe and record their findings on a graphic organizer (which is included in the embedded plan). Students will then transform their findings into a poster and present to the class.  The students will also participate in a class KWL, which will take them through the whole unit. Included is the lesson plan and downloadable slides.

Lesson Plan: Native American Online Scavenger Hunt

Online Scavenger Hunts can be used to introduce topics. By following a PowerPoint presentation with appropriate links, students can be led to various websites that will inform them about certain topics. To help guide students through the websites, it is helpful to provide a worksheet so students can pick out the important information.

The following is a Scavenger Hunt on various Native American tribes, mainly found in the Northeast.  The lesson includes a PowerPoint with links to appropriate websites on Native Americans.  Also included is a worksheet (and an answer key) that guides students through the various websites.

The lesson was intended to be for upper-elementary aged students (grade 4), but the project can be easily adapted for any grade level. The Online Scavenger Hunt can really be used for any grade level that can handle a computer and the Internet.