Learner Description - Students are made up of two sixth grade classes which include Special Education and Regular Ed. students.

Overview - In this unit students will placed in cooperative groups, and as a group they will pick a country to research. They will be given a framework to work with.(see Appendix A) As a cooperative group each team member will be responsible for researching one of the following topics of the country they pick: Clothing / People, Map/ Physical Geography, Customs / Holiday, Education / Recreation. (see Appendix B) After they teach their fellow group members what they learned, the group then creates a Learning Center for the Multi-Cultural Fair. Their Learning Center can be designed as they wish using the information they collected from their research. Some ideas they can use: An Inspiration Web, a Hyper Studio presentation,an AppleWorks slideshow or poster of digital pictures (scanned, downloaded, or taken with a digital camera), an iMovie of skit or interview about the country, overheads used with a speech, a book with text and pictures (we can bind it on the binding machine), a travel brochure made in AppleWorks, a web page with links to your country, etc.

Rationale - Purpose for the unit.

As an Exploratory class, sixth graders are offered Multi-Culrual Education.

The curriculum for this class is based on the study of different countries. By offering this unit students become active learners and teachers. Students are motivated and enthusiastic about the information learned and shared As a cooperative group they make discussions about their project and what form of technology to use.

Goals - Content, Cognitive and Social

* The use of technology skills that enhance presentations

* Group interaction

* Social skills

* Knowledge of different countries of the world

* Writing, listening, research, and communication skills

Standards and Benchmarks

1.B.3a Preview reading materials, make predictions and relate reading to information from other sources.

1.B.3c Continuously check and clarify for understanding (e.g., in addition to previous skills, draw comparisons to other readings).

1.C.3a Use information to form, explain and support questions and predictions.

1.C.3d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to

the purpose of the material.

3.A.3 Write compositions that contain complete sentences and effective paragraphs using English conventions.

3.A.4 Use standard English to edit docu-ments for clarity, subject/verb agreement, adverb and adjective agreement and verb tense; proofread for spelling, capitalization and punctuation; and ensure that documents are formatted in final form for submission and/or publication.

3.B.3a Produce documents that convey a clear understanding and interpretation of ideas and information and display focus, organization,

elaboration and coherence.

3.B.5 Using contemporary technology, produce documents of publication quality for specific purposes and audiences; exhibit clarity of focus, logic of organization, appropriate elaboration and support and overall coherence.

5.A.4a Demonstrate a knowledge of strategies needed to prepare a credible research report (e.g., notes, planning sheets).

Social Studies Learning Standards

16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

17.A.1a Identify physical characteristics of places, both local and global (e.g., locations, roads, regions, bodies of water).

17.A.1b Identify the characteristics and pur-poses of geographic representations including maps, globes, graphs, photographs, software, digital images and be able to locate specific places using each.

17.A.2b Use maps and other geographic representations and instruments to gather information about people, places and environments.

Learning Activities

* As a Cooperative Group the team picks which country they wish to

research.

* Team members will decide which topic they wish to research.

Clothing / People

Map/ Physical Geography

Customs / Holidays

Education / Recreation

* Team members present information to their group.

* Create a Learning Center to be used in the the Multi-Cultural fair.

Student Assessment

* Students were scored on the quality and quantity of the information they

gathered. They were evaluated based on the individual report they wrote

by using a rubric

* Regular group meeting with teacher for reflection and planning

* Students evaluated their participation, preparation, and performance on

this project by completing a PMI chart (see Appendix C)

Resources

* Students will need access to computers and the internet

* The library

* Access to Hyperstudio, AppleWorks presentation, digital and video

camera, imovie and scanners

* Help from the teacher, librarians, technology staff

Management

* Teacher works as a facilitator and assisting students as needed

* Students will have work space and materials available  

* Teacher will be checking group projects by daily student reflection and

group progress

Unit Evaluation

What was effective?

* The unit as a whole was a huge success. The students were motivated and

did very well

* Allowing students to pick the country to research

* Using Cooperative Groups to pick teams

* The use of different forms of technology

* The Multi-Cultural fair

What wasn't effective?

* Not having enough digital videos or cameras

* Making sure there is computer time available in library

* Time constraints made it difficult for students to finish a task that they

started

* Not having enough time to make it to every group daily

What will I do differently next time?

* Familiarizing students with searching on the internet

* Making sure equipment is available and operational

APPENDIXES

APPENDIX A

Team Country Research Project

1. Your team will be researching the country you chose to represent. You will be setting up a learning station for our Multi-Cultural Fair on January 15th.

2. Each team member will be responsible for a certain part of the project. 

3. Each team member will be graded on their part of the project only.

(See rubric)  

PROJECT GUIDELINES  

A. Each team member must bring in a food that is representative of the country. This will require some research to determine what types of foods people in that country eat. Each member should bring in a sample of the food to share on January 15th. Foods can be store bought or homemade.

B. Each team member will be responsible for the following areas of research.

#1 Clothing / People

#2 Map/ Physical Geography

#3 Customs / Holidays

#4 Education / Recreation

C. Each team is required to create a Learning Center for the Multi-Cultural fair. Your Learning Center can be designed as you wish using the information you collected from your research. Some ideas you can use: An Inspiration Web, a HyperStudio presentation,an AppleWorks slideshow or poster of digital pictures (scanned, downloaded, or taken with a digital camera), an iMovie of s kit or interview about the country, overheads used with a speech, a book with text and pictures (we can bind it on the binding machine), a travel brochure made in AppleWorks, a web page with links to your country, etc.

APPENDIX B

Name___________________

Country_________________

 MAP / PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 

* Create a Map Display of the country you are studying.

* Include the following features, complete the worksheet below

and transfer the information to a map display. 

1. What is the capital of the country? 

2. List two geographical features of the country. (mountains, plains,

deserts, etc.)

3. Name one city or state located in your country. 

4. Tell whether the country is landlocked or is bordered by water. If

landlocked, name the countries. If bordered by water name the

water(s).

5. Name two places of interest (monument, tourist attraction, etc.) of

the country. 

* You are required to turn in a Map Display. Be sure to include ALL of

the above items. Maps will be displayed at your group's learning

station. 

* You are required to turn in a TYPED paragraph using the information

from your research. You should use the questions above to form

your paragraph.

Name_______________________

Country_____________________ 

CLOTHING / PEOPLE

* You should research typical (or traditional) clothing of the country.

* Answer the following questions.

1. What is a typical (or traditional) outfit of an adult male?

Do a sketch of what the outfit looks like.

2. What is a typical (or traditional) outfit of an adult female?

Do a sketch of what the outfit looks like.

3. What factors (climate, manufacturing, agriculture, ect.) influence what

people wear in the country you are researching.

4. Physical characteristics of people in that country.

5. What is their family structure? Family roles?

* You are required to turn in a sketch of the clothing of each type of clothing. These sketches will be displayed in your group learning station.

* You are required to turn in a TYPED paragraph using the information from your research. You should use the questions above to form your paragraph.

Name___________________

Country_________________

CUSTOMS/ HOLIDAYS

*You should research typical (or traditional) customs or holidays.

*Answer the following questions.

1. What holidays does your country share with the United States?

2. Describe one holiday which is different.

3. What is their biggest holiday? Explain

4. Describe one custom which is different.

5. Are there any customary songs? What are they?

 * You are required to turn in a TYPED paragraph using the

information from your research. You should use the 5 questions above to form your paragraph.

* You are required to turn in information to be displayed at your groups Learning Station.

Name___________________

Country_________________

EDUCATION / RECREATION

* You should research the education and recreation of your country.

* Answer the following questions.

1. How is the school system set up in your country? What subjects are taught?

2. Who goes to school in your country?

3. How important is education in your country and why?

4. How do children use their free time?

5. What sports are played in your country? (include country's favorite)

* You are required to turn in a TYPED paragraph using the

information from your research. You should use the 5 questions above to form your paragraph.

* You are required to turn in information to be displayed at your groups Learning Station.

APPENDIX C

Name:___________________________

Date:____________________________

P (+) M(-) I(?)