Social Studies Fair Project Timeline-6thGrade

Your project may be on a topic within one of these categories: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Louisiana History, Sociology, or Political Science (Government). Your research theme should be narrow (Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address as opposed to The Life of Lincoln). Find a topic that appeals to you. Make this an EXCITING learning experience! Please refer to the Lake Harbor Middle School Social Studies Fair packet for more detailed information on types of projects, constructing your display, etc.

Below is a timeline set up for you to help pace your research. You will receive a grade on your timeliness, so stay organized! The 6th grade Social Studies Fair is January 11, 2012. You will find that this timeline works well around our holidays. You should be completely finished your project before the Winter Holidays, and if you are pacing yourself correctly, not have too much to do during the Thanksgiving Holidays. Have fun and good luck. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, but be sure to look at your packet first. It is very detailed and very helpful.

  • October 13: Project title due. Titles should be informative and catchy. Turn in your title on a full sheet of loose-leaf paper. This should include a proper heading, your title, and a parent signature.
  • October 13-25: Continue your research! Visit the library, conduct interviews, read, and take notes. Ask for help NOW if you are having trouble finding resources.
  • October 26: Bibliography due. You must use at least 3 resources, only one of which may be an encyclopedia (multimedia or traditional). Please choose a variety of resources: books, newspaper, magazines, interviews, etc. Use to compose your bibliography; it makes this step much easier! Wikipedia may not be used.
  • October 26-November15: Continue to research and organize your information; write a rough draft during this time, as well.
  • November 16: Rough draft due.
  • November 16-December 6: Revise/Edit report and work on project board.
  • December 7: Final research paper and project due. Presentations will be done in class when we return from the winter break. All students must be ready to present when we return. Make note cards and practice your presentation before this date!
  • During the time leading up to the Grade Level SS Fair, I will work with students to better their projects if they are interested in entering the fair. If they are not interested in competing, they may enter the Expo on January 13, 2012.
  • January 11, 2012: Grade Level Social Studies Fair.

Your paper will be graded in the following manner:

  1. Timeliness: Each step is worth 25 points. There are a total of 4 dates when assignments are due. If you are late, you will lose 5 points from the 25 for each day. Timeliness will give you one entire grade for your project. Be sure to turn everything in on time and accurately completed. This part is an easy A.
  2. The final project paper: The final paper is worth 90 points. The paper and presentation will give you another entire grade for your project. It is graded on content, organization, research, and grammar.

Your paper should include the following:

  • Title page
  • Table of contents
  • Abstract
  • Body (Be sure to include a final concluding paragraph about what was learned.)
  • Bibliography
  1. The project board: If you plan to enter the fair, a project board is mandatory. You are not required to complete a project board, however, if you choose to do one, your board will be graded. That grade can be used to replace a lower Social Studies grade. Remember, you must have a student-generated center display item if you are planning to enter the fair.
  2. The presentation: This is worth 10 points of your final grade. It will be graded on depth of knowledge demonstrated by the students, as well as having clear speech and good eye contact. This report should not be read to the class. Note cards are mandatory.

**As you can see, the Social Studies Fair project makes up 2 grades.