Famous Person Research Project

Summary

In this lesson, students were given the opportunity to complete a research project on a famous person that they were getting ready to study in social studies. Student were given the following list of people to choose for their projects: Juan Ponce de Leon, Jacques Cartier, Christopher Newport, Eleanor Roosevelt, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.

The students chose their own partners to complete their research. Their research was done using books and websites. The teacher had previously shown them how to conduct their research and find valid information. Students were given an outline to help them guide their research.
After their research was completed, they had to brainstorm how they wanted to present this information to the class, keeping in mind that the rest of the class was researching other famous people. Students created a plan for their presentations. Once their plan was approved, they were able to work together to finalize their presentations.

Students were given a rubric that the teacher would use to grade their research and presentation. Each group then completed a rubric on their partner(s). Presentations were given in many different ways. Some groups used iMovie, others used Keynote, and a few created posters on their famous person.

TIPC Ratings

This is rated as developing because the students were provided with an outline to guide their research. Students did not formulate their own questions. However, the students were able to conduct their research and determine whether or not the information was valid independently. They were able to use resources from nonfiction books they checked out in the library to search on the internet for their information in Google.

This is rated as approaching because the students selected their own groups. Students had to work collaboratively to determine the roles that each person would play as they completed this assignment. The students had to find the appropriate tools as a team to complete it their projects.

This is rated as an entry level because the teacher gave the assignment and students were expected to complete their research using a provided graphic organizer.

This is rated as developing because the students were given freedom of choice on how they were going to present their famous person. Students did generate new ideas and products to share with the class.