Traditions Project

Students in third grade will be participating in a Traditions Project during the month of November. Students will be choosing a tradition that is important to them and their family. Students will need the help of a family member to research their tradition. They will then prepare a presentation and decorate a “quilt” square to illustrate their tradition.

1)Students are to prepare their speech at home. This 1-2 minute presentationwill be shared with the class during American Education Week. The graphic organizer provided can be used to help organize ideas; however, it is recommended that notes are put on index cards for the actual presentation.Students will be presenting in a living museum format.

The speech must include, but is not limited to, the following information:

  • A description of the tradition
  • When and where the tradition started
  • Who takes part in the tradition?
  • Who is responsible for keeping the tradition going today?
  • How long has the tradition be a part of the family?
  • Why is the tradition important to the student?
  • How the quilt square illustrates their tradition

2)Students will create a “quilt” square to go along with their presentation. This will be decorated at home in a way that illustrates their tradition. Any and all mediums are acceptable. Be neat and creative! We will be making a classroom quilt with the decorated squares after the presentations.

The completed quilt square and speech should be ready by Monday, November 13th. We will be practicing in class, so it is important that each student is prepared on the due date.

Students will be graded on all elements of the project in the following manner:

Presentation: Oral Communication

Project/Content: Tradition square (neatness and creativity), all requirements included, and completion by due date.

You are invited to join us for these presentations onThursday, November 16th from 10-11. More information will be sent home next week. Thank you in advance for your support at home with this special third grade project!

Sincerely,

The Third Grade Team

Name:

Traditions Speech- Graphic organizer to use as guidelines

The Keeping Quilt

Project Checklist

A description of the tradition

When and where the tradition started

Who takes part in the tradition?

Who is responsible for keeping the tradition going today?

How long has the tradition be a part of the family?

Why is the tradition important to the student?

How the quilt square illustrates their tradition

Cultural Keeping Quilt Rubric
Expert (4)
(I know most everything!)
/ Professional (3)
(I know a lot!)
/ Apprentice (2)
(I'm still learning!)
/ Novice (1)
(I have a lot to learn!)

Required Elements / The quilt square includes at least 4 symbols to represent the culture and a descriptive paragraph is also included. / The quilt square includes at least 3 symbols to represent the culture and a descriptive paragraph is also included. / The quilt square includes at least 2 symbols to represent the culture and a descriptive paragraph is also included. / The quilt square includes one or no symbols to represent the culture. A descriptive paragraph is not included.
Accuracy / The quilt square helps us fully understand the culture's beliefs, values, customs, and traditions because it accurately represents the culture. / The quilt square helps us better understand the culture's beliefs, values, customs, and traditions because it accurately represents much of the culture. / The quilt square helps us learn about the culture's beliefs, values, customs, and traditions because it accurately represents some of the culture. / The quilt square does not help us understand the culture's beliefs, values, customs, and traditions because it does not represent the culture.
Quality Work / The quality of the quilt square and descriptive paragraph are exceptional. The quilt square's design and layout are neat, and attractive. The paragraph is organized and has perfect conventions. / The quality of the quilt square and descriptive paragraph are great. The quilt square's design and layout are mostly neat, and attractive. The paragraph is organized and has fewer than 2 convention errors. / The quality of the quilt square and descriptive paragraph are good. The quilt square's design and layout are somewhat neat, and attractive. The paragraph has between 3-5 convention errors. / The quality of the quilt square and descriptive paragraph are poor. The quilt square's design and layout are messy, and unattractive. The paragraph has more than 5 convention errors.
Presentation of New Knowledge / The descriptive paragraph and oral presentation accurately answers all questions about the quilt square and how it represents the culture's traditions. / The descriptive paragraph and oral presentation accurately answers most questions about the quilt square and how it represents the culture's traditions. / The descriptive paragraph and oral presentation accurately answers some questions about the quilt square and how it represents the culture's traditions. / The descriptive paragraph and oral presentation answer few if any questions about the quilt square and how it represents the culture's traditions.