Dear Parents, January 27, 2014

The month of February is Black History month. On February 25th, we are having a Black History Program at ROI. Fifth grade Social Studies classes are offering an optional Living Wax Museum Project that will require preparation outside of the classroom. The students will choose from a list of an African-American historical or modern day figures they would like to research so there are no duplicates. If students would like to research someone not on the list, they would need to obtain teacher approval. They will be required to prepare a typed or neatly written one- to- two page report over their figure.

On February 25th, we will organize a wax museum in the cafeteria. Students have to be PRESENT for the Black History Program because they are the project. The students will be required to dress as the person they researched (props are required). They will become statues of wax and come to life when an imaginary button is activated. They will be required to give a short speech, approximately 1-2 minutes, over the life of their person. The following is the rubric for the overall grade of the research project. The overall grade will be counted as a test grade.

Living Wax Museum Overall Research Project Rubric

Requirement / Points
Written Research Paper / _____/50
Prepared Speech / _____/25
Dressed as Character / _____/25
Total / _____/100

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I have read the 3 pages of information provided and understand the requirements for the Living Wax Museum. I know my child has to be PRESENT on 2-25-14 at 6:30pm.

______

Name of Student

______

Date Block

Famous Person______Parents Sig: ______

Please return the above portion to your Social Studies teacher by February 20, 2014

Research Paper Rubric Due: 2-20-14

Requirement / Points
~5 paragraph format (1 to 2 pages)~
1 Introductory paragraph, 3 Body paragraphs discussing three events of the famous person’s life, 1 Conclusion paragraph
***Each paragraph is a minimum 5 sentences each*** / _____/30
Bibliography__ Needs at least 3 Sources (books, internet etc…)
(**Remember www.google.com, www.bing.com, www.yahoo.com, are not official sources. **)
~~You need the specific web addresses~~ / _____10
Proper capitalization and punctuation / _____/5
Correct spelling
/ _____/5
Total / _____/50

Speech Rubric Due: 2-20-14

Requirements
1 small notecard is allowed with an outline of your speech / Points
Typed or Neatly Written Speech / _____/5
Eye Contact with audience / _____/5
Clear, memorized speech 1 to 2 minute presentation / _____/5
Speech gives 3 pieces of information about the famous person (this information comes directly from the research paper) / _____/10
Total / _____/25

Living Wax Museum Details

Biography Research Paper:

The students are to choose an African American historical or modern day figure they are interested in researching. Students can check out books in the library, if they have one on their figure. They may also use books from home or the public library.

For the paper the students will do research outside of class. Research paper and speech are due by February 20, 2014. They will also need a minimum of three sources. These can be books, magazines, articles, or internet sources. Please do not use Wikipedia.

The paper will be written in the five paragraph essay format; one introductory, three body, and one concluding paragraph.

Student’s research paper and speech must be in their own words.

For the bibliography students are required to have a minimum of three sources.

·  Books: name of book, and author

·  Magazines or articles: name, author and date

·  Internet: exact website (www.

Speech:

To be believable as a “wax statue come to life” the students’ are required to write and memorize a speech. The speech will come directly from the students’ completed report; no additional research will be required.

They are to apply the information they learned about their historically significant figure to a 1st person perspective, 1 to 2 minute, speech that will be given for the actual Living Wax Museum, on February 25th.

Costume on Wax Museum Day:

The students will be graded on their costume on February 25th. We will encourage the students to be creative and use what they have. This isn’t something they will have to make or buy something special for, although they can if they choose. We will be giving the grade based upon effort, not authenticity. Props are required. NO WEAPONS

Black History Program Biography Project

Questions to guide research…

Research Paper:

~Students will turn in all research (printed or written) with project for a grade. ~

·  Born (date, where etc…)

·  Family (parents, siblings, etc…)

·  Childhood

·  Adult life (Ex: married to, children, school, job, etc…)

·  Most important…What were their contributions/accomplishments to the world?

·  Death (date, buried location etc…)

·  Memorials in their honor

·  Interesting Facts

Additional Questions

1.  How did the historical context (time period) this person lived through impact their life?

2.  What were the major obstacles this person had to overcome? How did they?

3.  What are the two or three most important lessons you or any other young person might learn from the way this person lived?

4.  An older person or mentor is often very important in shaping the lives of gifted people by providing guidance and encouragement. To what extent was this true of your person? Explain.

5.  What do you think it means to be a hero? Was your person a "hero?" Why? Why not? How is a hero different from a celebrity?

6.  Why is this person famous? What did/does this person do to become famous?

7.  How has this person made an impact on others' lives?

Historical or Modern Day African American Figures-

Athletes

·  Michael Jordan

·  Jackie Joyner-Kersee

·  Sugar Ray Leonard

·  Joe Louis

Civil Rights Leaders and Activists

·  Rosa Parks

·  Bobby Seale

·  Fred Shuttlesworth

·  Emmett Till

Entertainers

·  Josephine Baker

·  Halle Berry

·  Bill Cosby

·  Dorothy Dandridge

·  Sammy Davis Jr.

Inventors, Scientists, and Educators

·  Mae Jemison

·  Percy Lavon Julian

·  Frederick McKinley Jones

·  Ernest Everett Just

·  Mary McLeod Bethune

·  Garrett Augustus Morgan

Politicians, Lawyers, and Other Government Leaders

·  Jesse Jackson

·  Daniel "Chappie" James

·  Thurgood Marshall

Singers and Musicians

·  Michael Jackson

·  Robert Johnson

·  Diana Ross

·  Stevie Wonder