Lesson: Cilvil War Group Project

Background:
After studying the civil war as a unit a culminating activity is working with a group.COOPERATIVE LEARNING.
During this phase of the unit study, we are going to plug in the info/resources we've studied and present this in poster board and/or diorama/oral report form.
Object:
Focus is the involvement of entire class inwhich the basic makeup is 5 ELL, 5 resource, others of low achievement/retention (TITLE I)in hopes that the group will present an acceptable product.
Materials:

• maps
• copies of Kid's Discovery:Civil War
• color pages for each group
• access to Civil War sites via internet
• class notes/materials
• requirement sheet

Procedures: Marzano: Cooperative Learning/ formal groups

Students will be divided into homogeneous groups and given the requirement sheet and poster board.

Project requirements:

1. 1 page report on any Civil War topic NOT TO BE COPIED
2. timeline approx. 18"X 4-6" with events from 1850-65
3. map. Draw any map relating to anything with the Civil War (free/slave states, Underground railroad, Union-Confederate States, etc)
4. design and create a Recruiting Poster for either the North or the South. Persuade young men to enlist in the military and "fight for the cause". No larger than 12"X18".
5. Draw/color any flag from the period.
6. color a picture provided by the teacher-in COLORED PENCIL
7. any idea approved by the teacher
8. a Civil War diorama OR oral presentation of your choice

Compile information on your poster with name of your group.

Evaluation:

I normally check to see if all items are included and displayed well. If the report is just a press of the "print" key a lower score for that item is received. Basically, if all items are included a favorable grade is given.

Reflection:

Students did a good job compiling/presenting their poster. However, there were reports that were not of the students work and little or no credit given. I felt good that the lower achieving students felt a sense of achievement and spurred the interest of the Civil War to others.