Pennfield Middle School

Social Studies Fair

2013-2014

Culture, Revolution, and Reform – Three Themes of Social Studies

February 6, 2014

6:30 pm-8:00 pm, IMC

PROGRAM GUIDE

TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS:The Pennfield Middle School Social Studies Fair is an exciting learning opportunity which encourages students to explore different areas of the social studies, develop a work product, and display their work in presentations to the student body and community. We hope that all students who participate in the fair develop a greater interest in history and the social studies while acquiring new knowledge and skills.

The fair serves several important educational purposes, including implementation of the Pennsylvania Social Studies Standards, challenging students to be creative, providing students with an opportunity to practice information gathering, technology and communication skills, providing recognition for student achievement, demonstrating the relevance of social studies learning, and generating student, parent, and community interest in history and social studies.

This Student Guide contains all the rules for student participants in the fair. REVIEW THE RULES CAREFULLY. The final product a student submits for the fairMUST BE HIS OR HER OWN WORK. Students are encouraged to explore ideas with parents, teachers, and friends and may ask them for help in locating information. Students, however, must create and prepare their own presentations.

FAIR THEME:

This year’s theme is “Culture, Revolution, and Reform – Three Themes of Social Studies.” For the 7th graders who are studying Geography and World Cultures this year, their projects will center around the theme of Culture and its various elements; 8th graders who participate will have been studying the American Revolutionary War this year, and their projects will explore themes related to Revolution – its causes, significant leaders, and events. Our 9th graders who study World History may create projects covering the theme of Reform, meaning change, and they may choose topics from the dynamic and transitional periods of the Renaissance, the Reformation, or the Enlightenment.

A list of suggested topics and ideas for research is included at the end of this guide.

SCHEDULE:

The fair is scheduled to take place on the night of February 6, 2014, with exhibits open to the public in the IMC from 6:30PM to 8:00PM. Student work will also be on display in the IMC during the week immediately before the fair.

GENERAL RULES:

  1. Students may participate individually or as partner groups of two. Students will select their topic on the Topic Selection Worksheet (copy attached) no later than December 20, 2013.
  2. Students will, in addition to their fair project, submit:
  3. a Works Cited page, in MLA format, and
  4. a paper captioned “Entry Description” which:

(i)describes how the student/s conducted the research and developed the fair project, and

(ii) explains how the project relates to the fair theme.

  1. The Works Cited and Entry Description must be typed and double-spaced. The Entry Description shall not exceed 500 words in length.
  2. The two categories of acceptable fair projects are as follows:
  3. Exhibits, generally meaning displays produced using tri-fold poster boards; and
  4. Documentaries, generally meaning projects which present the student’s research using PowerPoint or some other web or DVD medium.
  5. All entries will be judged in accordance with the Scoring Rubric, a copy of which is attached to this guide. In addition, all students will be judged for compliance with the rules of the fair as set forth in this guide.
  6. First, Second, and Third place winners in each grade and in each category which has at least 3 submissions will receive prizes. Only one prize will be awarded to group winners who will share that prize equally. Participation certificates will be presented to all entrants.

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