COURSE:   Social Studies                

UNIT:   Czech Republic

CONTACT:   Mr. Adams          

GRADE:  8

TIME FRAME:   5 day cycle            

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PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:  STATE OF CONNECTICUT

08.1 SOCIAL STUDIES - HISTORY 

08.1.1.0.5    Students will identify ways different cultures record their histories, compare past and preset situations and events, and present findings in appropriate oral, written and visual ways

08.1.1.5.2    Students will gather information from multiple sources, including archives or electronic databases, to have experience with historical sources and to appreciate the need for multiple perspectives

08.1.1.5.4    Students will interpret data in historical maps, photographs, art works and other artifacts

08.1.1.0.3    Students will describe sources of historical information

08.1.1.0.1    Students will gather historical data from multiple sources

08.1.1.0.6    Students will create timelines which sequence events and peoples, using days, weeks, months, years, decades and centuries

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FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. What are significant events in the Czech Republic's history and how do

    significant events in Czech Republic history relate to events in today's world?

2. What effect does the geography of the Czech Republic have on the history of

    the country?

3. What information about the Czech Republic would students feel is important to

    their understanding of the country, and what are different ways to convey this

    information?

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CONTENT

1. Instruction on the use and citing of Internet sources;

2. Instruction on interpreting and creating timelines;

3. Instruction on the use of computer word processing programs (specifically  

    Word and PowerPoint);

4. Instruction on the creation of "travel brochures", dioramas, or other media that

    represent areas of interest in the Czech Republic.

 

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STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will demonstrate the ability to recognize and correctly cite Internet sources, and to consolidate information from varied sources to create timelines, brochures, or other representations of chosen areas of interest in the history and/or geography of the Czech Republic.

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LEARNING ACTIVITIES

 

Day 1:

1. The teacher will introduce information on the correct process of citing Internet

    sources.

2. Teacher will introduce sites that are "acceptable" for the current project.

3. Teacher will organize students in groups of four (teacher may choose method, 

     but ideally each group should have students with different interests in either

     (a)aspects of Czech Republic history/geography or (b)the method being used for

     assessment.)

4. Teacher will introduce rubric for assessment.

 

Day 2:

5. Students will search sites for information on the Czech Republic and will

    indicate their preference for one of the following forms of assessment:     

     A.  A timeline of significant events in Czech Republic history.

     B. Creation of a "travel brochure" highlighting a specific period in Czech

          Republic history.

     C. Other options such as dioramas, diary entry, or PowerPoint presentations.

 

Day 3:

6. Students will conduct research on selected, approved sites for their individual

     projects, that they will correctly cite as per teacher instructions.

 

Day 4:

7. Students will consolidate information into their chosen form of assessment.

 

Day 5:

8. Students will display chosen forms of assessment (See Additional Notes)

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DIFFERENTIATION

1. Differentiation will occur by level of activity chosen for assessment, and by

    reading material level as identified by Special Education.

2. Differentiation will occur based on modified rubric for assessment.

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ASSESSMENTS

Rubrics for all activities.( Specific point rubrics preferred: "Students will receive 10 points if ... 9 points if..." etc.)

Teacher may opt to create specialized rubric for certain activities such as PowerPoint presentation.

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MATERIALS/RESOURCES

1. Writing and illustrating materials, construction materials (where needed);

2. Computer access;

3. Printer access;

4. Computer projector;

5. Assessment rubric(s)

6. And the following websites:

 

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501725-czech_republic_vacations-i

 

https://www.cia.gov/redirects/factbookredirect.html

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic

 

https://gadamsct.tripod.com/

 

http://www.czech.cz/

 

http://www.czechtourism.com/

 

http://www.culturequest.us/

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg

 

http://www.antiquesatoz.com/habsburg/

 

http://www.myczechrepublic.com/czech-history/hapsburg-joseph.html

 

http://czechrepublic4.tripod.com/index.html

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ADDITIONAL NOTES

The perfect venue for this activity would be a shared day of cultural education, much in the same vein as a science fair.

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