I don't often brag about my history class here, but this project turned out so well I'm giving in and going for it. I do a massive (for 7th grade) research project each year that includes a 4-5 page term paper with bibliography and a speech with slides which we presented to the parents this past Wednesday. This year I decided to have each group prepare a skateboard parade float about their topic. It sounded like fun to me. I had no idea how it would turn out; I just thought we'd go for it and see what happens.
I think they're great. The parents loved them. We paraded them up and down the isle before we began the presentations as one student announced each float topic. The one above is Inventions and Discoveries from China. You can see porcelain, paper money, gunpowder and rockets, (they had one student walking along the float flying a large rocket) printing and vaccines. Several floats featured little disco balls that lit up. This one had Christmas lights around it, too.
The group doing Heian Period Japan, the time of Lady Murasaki and Sei Shonogan, made the large doll, the paper dolls, the trees and altered two decorative boxes to make the house for their float.
The Exploration in China group made clay figures of Zheng He, Chinese explorer, on the left and Marco Polo, Italian explorer, on the right. They also made a compass, a Chinese junk and a small copy of The Travels of Marco Polo for their float.
The kids loved this project from the get-go. I had them at 'skateboards.' I think knowing they were going to make a float made working on both the paper and the speech easier to take. (The speeches and the papers were all excellent, too, by the way.)
And when we finished the presentations, we had refreshments provided by the parents. Lovin' my job this week.
10 comments:
I seriously adore this project. Just out of curiosity - did you guy the skateboards or did the kids already own them?
Brag away about those kids! Awesome project! These moments are so important for morale in teaching too. Makes one momentarily forget the more challenging moments. Hats off to you!
Simply brilliant! I wish our district had a few more teachers like you...
You make it almost impossible to leave comments. On your 1001 Short Stories page I couldn't figure out any way to leave anything at all. I'm only leaving it here because I decided it was worth an unreasonable amount of effort on my part to tell you that your 1001 Short Stories to Read Before You Die absolutely cannot be complete until it includes: “Descending,” by Thomas M. Disch
What a great idea! Finding something to draw them in and get them excited about presentations is always a challenge. These are just beautiful.
Trisha, The skateboards all belong to the kids. One of the rules was that nothing could be glued or taped directly to the skateboard.
Frances, Thank you. Now put your hat back on. It's still wintry outside.
JoAnn, Well, you know, I am looking to move....
David, Don't know what to say to that. Blogger pages don't take comments, but I will add "Descending" to the list.
Gavin, Thanks. It's a great way to add an element of fun to the traditional paper/presentation.
Hearing you talk about the inspiring things you do in your classes makes my heart warm. I think you are dying breed unfortunately, but your lucky students are going to take your inspiration and do something great with it someday.
I'm stealing this idea. Thanks for sharing!
Sandy, I don't think it's quite correct to say we are 'a dying breed.' I think there are still lots of us out here, but we're being 'killed off.'
Saucy, This is one of the very few things I've done that is entirely my idea, so it's fitting that someone out there 'steal' it. However, when you do, please say that it came from a public school teacher in California who is also a 20 year union member.
Fabulous! Love those skateboard floats. The world needs more teachers like you. Brag away about those kids--you've earned it!
Post a Comment