Chain Reactions

Chain reactions are a very important part of your interactive notebook grade. They give you the opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned during the 6 weeks in a creative way.

  1. No timelines, game show/question & answer, or trading cards will be accepted for credit for chain reactions. Students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of history topics beyond the limited scope of these activities.
  2. Vocabulary-related chain reactions are discouraged. Students must demonstrate an understanding of history topics beyond “knowledge-level” vocabulary questions. This type of activity, which includes pictowords, acrostics, word searches and crossword puzzles, will earn limited credit, if any.
  3. Acrostics - at least 10 letters in the word(s); must be sentences or paragraphs
  4. Personal Responses/Poems/Music lyrics or any similar written communication - at least two-thirds of a page in length with ample historical content. Music lyrics - refrain may be written only once, not repeated multiple times
  5. Graphics/Murals, etc. - must be accompanied by a written explanation of at least one-half page
  6. Cartoons (4 - 6 frames) or Political/Editorial Cartoons (1 or 2 frames) – must comment on a significant historical or political issue and have a brief summary
  7. Hero/Wanted Posters - as the purpose of this activity is to contrast opposing point of view, they must always be presented in pairs, for the same person or group (not one without the other)
  8. Pockets/Purses/Closets/Suitcases, etc. - minimum of 5 items. All items must reflect the historical significance of the owner and include a written explanation. Example: This is the shirt, including the ink stains, worn by George Washington while taking notes at the Constitutional Convention.
  9. Invitations - include an explanation of the significance of the event and who else will attend
  10. Pop Ups - include a brief explanation of the significance of the event, either on the pop-up or on the following left-side page
  11. Current Events - must have the original article (not a Xerox) with proper bibliography; include one well-organized paragraph summary and one well-organized paragraph relating the current event to U.S. History
  12. Student-made Videos/PowerPoint Presentations - Discuss plans with teacher in advance; must go beyond a summation of classroom notes
  13. Historical newspaper/newsletter - minimum of 3 articles: at least 2 covering items of historical significance and 1 on other types of articles found in newspapers; must have historically reasonable periodical name and date; all articles must be titled
  14. Brochures - discuss various aspects of an historical topic; bifold or trifold format with no large blank spaces; include graphics; cite all content and graphic sources in a bibliography
  15. Sensory Figures/Caricatures - must include historically sound background and captions; minimum of six captioned elements
  16. Facial Expressions - minimum of 3 people expressing their points of view on an historically significant issue
  17. Dialogues - minimum of 2 people discussing an historically significant event; use correct punctuation; minimum of two-thirds of a page in length
  18. Venn Diagrams/Flowcharts/Charts/Diagrams - at least 12 elements; may be bulleted; minimum of 10 graphics
  19. CD Covers/Book Covers - must include a graphic illustrating the content of the CD/book; include a summary for book cover or a list of at least 10 song titles for CD; must include appropriate author/artist name
  20. Letters/Diary Entries/Journal Entries – must be at least 2/3 of a page
  21. Mini-Posters – full page, illustrated, at least 5 ideas
  22. Other Chain Reactions must have prior approval of teacher.