Soc. 8Th Grade Greatest Explorers of the World Playing Card Project

Soc. 8th Grade Greatest Explorers of the World Playing Card Project

Learning: As a means of enrichment and as an outlet for further student educational/creative

Obj. opportunities, the learners will undertake personal research into the explorers of the world and

create a poster/playing card project depicting their research and accompanied with a brief

verbal presentation.

Time Allocated: Approx. 2.5 – 3 weeks Grade Value = 1 Test Grade and 5 HW grades

Aspects of Learning/what each student must do:

Each student is to carry-out research on any 4 great explorers that were not discussed in class!

Each explorer is to come from a different century – see below

One explorer from the following time periods: 1600’s 1700’s 1800’s or 1900’s – Pres.

Choose the “Greatest” – as you research select the 1 person who truly stands out as remarkable!

What they accomplished was superior to the accomplishments of their peers.

On the Poster/Relevant Data and Design Features:

1. The poster must be 18 x 24 inches, dedicate most of the space of the poster to your 1 greatest explorer

2. Place a creative, attention grabbing title at the top-center of the poster

{w/subtitle of your choice as greatest}

3. Decorate the poster with graphics that relate to the greatest explorer chosen

· Decorations must be hand generated and/or printed from a computer or copied

· Decorations can include pictures of the explorer, maps of their journey, pictures of the plants, animals, people encountered on the journey, pictures of the mode of transportation used or really just about anything that would seem directly relevant to the person chosen

For the Playing Card: /Relevant Data and Design Features:

1. Your 1 playing card is to be dedicated to your choice as the greatest explorer and must be 4 x 6 inches

2. Requirements for the Playing Card:

· Decorations must be hand generated and/or printed from a computer/copied

· Data must be presented in bullet format and in correct/fine detail. {9-10 bullets 1-2 lines long}

Include information that answers the following:

· Who is the person and when did they live?

· What is their nation of origin?

· Which nation did they represent while carrying out their endeavors?

· Where did the person explore? What realm or what field of study?

· What did the person actually discover?

· How long did it take?

· Were there multiple attempts/expeditions or just one? Explain

· How did the accomplishments of the person change history for the better or for the worse?

· Outcome-Was the person a success or a failure and Why?

{Complete the provided sample worksheet with great detail as a guide to your work}

To find your information, go to http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers + elsewhere!

Important for this project… according to Webster’s Dictionary…what is an explorer?

According to Webster’s Dictionary…what is an explorer?

o One who traverses {extends or moves over obstacles} for the sake of discovery.

o One who examines or looks at closely

o One who engages in exploring

Accordingly…part of this project is to expand your fields of research to include…Now you are to be an explorer! Where?

Explorers of the World – all the many continents

Explorers of Space

Explorers of the Oceans

Explorers in Medicine

Explorers in the Sciences and related fields:

Archaeologists

Sociologists

Psychologists

Biologists

Paleontologists

Physics

Astrophysics

The Applied Sciences

Underwater Archaeologists

Treasure Hunters?

Zoologists

Naturalists

Botanists

And on and on… the list is almost endless! Do not simply copy or use people who were cited in class or shown to you in class…

You can get away with using 1 explorer from class but…

the Originality and depth of your choices will be noted – in the rubric

Your mission… is to carry out research, to explore data bases and find out information about the people who have helped to shape our lives by making great advances and accomplishing special things in all fields of scientific endeavor.

Grading Rubric for Greatest Explorer Playing Card Project

Grading Criteria: Scoring: 5 4 3 2 1 0

Factual Data: Was very detailed, thorough, + accurate. Spelling/grammar was correct, facts were organized as shown, items were in bulleted format, cards and poster contained pictures/graphics that served to further illustrate what the person had accomplished/or had done, bullets were limited in length to 1-2 lines, poster graphics made clear sense and if need be were labeled for clarification, lower corner provided basic information on 3 other great explorers and it was correct
Neatness/Org: Poster and playing card was neat, clean, was well-organized, title was at the top, with a sub-title{their choice as greatest}beneath it, the playing card was 4x6 inches and well affixed, as were all items/graphics, no unwanted marks, smears, smudges, etc. were present, overall effort was not too busy, space was used well, card in lower right hand corner of the poster contained a nearly 4x4 inch square box that provided the details required by the sample provided
Directions: Each aspect/requirement of the project was met at very high levels, poster and card met est. criteria, for size, content, centuries covered, graphics incorporated made sense, the verbal presentation was carried out well, was clearly rehearsed and the student became expert in their choice as the greatest explorer.. Playing Card was well affixed to the poster but easily removed,
Appeal/Creativity/Originality: Overall poster was colorful, graphics were well affixed in a neat, clean and colorful manner, efforts were made to add life, and artistic flair/ appeal, effort reflected thought, tender loving care in avoidance of mistakes, items were neatly labeled, all graphics enhanced the overall appeal, the
poster was a great blend of about 65% tech. graphics and 35% hand generated art
Verbal Pres. Student spoke in loud, clear tones, spoke very well, had enthusiasm, refrained from using slang/inappropriate utterances, presentation flowed, content appeared rehearsed, presentation matched the written version submitted before speaking, length was within guidelines, student became expert in their choice as the greatest explorer ever. Presentation followed the guidelines provided.
Comments/Considerations:
Grade = ______x 4 + ______

Deductions/Requirements:

· Poster must be 18 x 24 inches – or lose 10 points

· If turned in late, 25 points will be deducted for each day late.

· Playing card must be precisely 4 x 6 inches or lose 5 points

· Poor Choice for “great explorer” - lose 2 Points per incident

· If missing an explorer – lose 3 points per omission

· Submit a typed copy of verbal presentation prior to speaking or lose 5 points

Verbal Presentation should only be about 45 seconds – 1 minute in length and should include:

1. Hello, my name is …… and as you can see this is my Playing Card Project

2. My choices for the 4 greatest explorers are ….

3. Of the 4, the one who I believe stands out as truly the greatest is…..

4. Here is why – explain the highlights of what they accomplished… went here, did this, etc.

5. Closing: ex. Hope you enjoyed my presentation…Thank you

Date Assigned______Date Due: ______Parent Signature: ______

Sample for Playing Card – The Playing Card Must Address the Following:

{You only have to answer the below questions for your 1 greatest explorer}

1. Format your work so that the bulleted information fits on 1 side of the 4x6 card

2. Keep bulleted information limited to 1-2 lines of information for each question

3. Bulleted information may/should be typed in 10 0r 12 font with bullets in front {see below}

4. There is no need to restate the entire question – shorten the prompts so that they look as below:

Use this as your template – and you will be fine!

· Who:

· National Origin:

· Represented:

· Where/Field:

· What:

· How Long:

· Mult. Attempts:

· Changed History:

· Outcome/Success:

· Odd Fact if any:

Who is your person and when did they live?
What is their nation of origin?
Which nation did they represent?
Where did they explore? Realm or Field?
What did they discover?
How long did it take?
Were there multiple attempts? Expeditions?
How did they change history? Better/worse?
Outcome?
Why a success?
Odd facts if any?

You need to only complete the above level of research for your 1 greatest explorer – that is it!

Complete this basic chart for your 3 other choices as “greats” in their fields!

Facts About 3 Other Great Explorers

Note: The below chart can be made in word – hit “Insert” tab then scroll down to “Table”

· Each of your 3 choices must have explored in a different century

· Each must be a very great explorer in their own right

· Only provide the information as shown below

· You can use the title used below too!

3 More Great Explorers Worth Noting:

Name of Great When did they explore?

What did they explore/accomplish?

Type in name
{Born-died} / ·
·
Type in name
{Born-died} / ·
·
Type in name
{Born-died} / ·
·

Points to remember for the Verbal Presentation:

· Use the bulleted information you placed in the charts to create your 45 to 60 second presentation

· If your verbal presentation runs overly long or too short – that will be considered a reflection on improper or insufficient rehearsal!

· Greatly limit any reading – it will improve your levels of eye-contact with peers

· Make yourself an outline only and refer to it when speaking – with only main ideas

· The more information you commit to memory, the more rehearsal, the better you should do!

· Lastly, speak well, loud and clearly, everyone is rooting for you to do well! Try to relax!