A Time to Shine!

Thursday, May 4 is your time to shine before family, friends, and our guest judges. You have had over three weeks to prepare your project. You were able to select your own partner and your topic. You have your rubric and support materials. On Thursday you will be the expert on your topic! You should take this weekend to put the finishing touches on your board and to practice your presentation. I know that you will think and act as historians for our guests and display cool confidence as you make your presentation.

Below you will find responses to frequently asked questions. If you are still uncertain about a part of the project check with your partner, call a friend, post a question on the blog or you may email me. I will not be in school on Monday as I will be attending a training session on lessons that help students think and act as historians. I will be available before school on Tuesday and Wednesday as well as after school on Wednesday.

FAQs

1. Does the journal have to be in the bluebook?

While the blue book and folder were given to you at the start of the project as a way to keep organized, you may hand in your journal and work plan on notebook paper. The importance of the journal is to show the work, planning, and decisions you and your partner made over the past three weeks. While journal entries do not have to be lengthy, they should show evidence of decision making. It is also helpful to date each entry.

2. Should the higher level question and response go on the board?

Yes. Your rubric states the higher level question and response need to be on the board. Your judges will most likely ask you to explain your higher level question and response. You have the Bloom’s List of questioning so make sure you select one of the higher level applications for your topic. You should also make sure that you have referenced a contemporary event or issue that is related to your topic. You can prepare a separate paragraph on this requirement or weave it into your response. If you are having difficulty making connection, talk with family or friends. Remember two heads are better than one.

3. Where can I find primary source material?

Mr. Fontaine’s power point presentation is located in the Civil War Fair 2006 folder under Teacher Pubs. You can also check out the Library of Congress or the GilderLehrman sites. There are also ample sources at the public library. If you need help, ask the reference librarian for assistance.

4. How can I make sure my board has visual appeal?

Make sure to sketch out a plan before gluing anything to the board. Lay out your items and arrange them until you feel it is attractive and easy to read. Ask a family member or friend to look at your layout before making the final decisions. Visuals should not be pasted directly on the white board as they look washed out. Using colored paper as a “frame” makes the items more attractive. Make sure to have a consistent set of lettering. Make sure your title question is large, easy to read and centered on the board. Each item should have a caption. Last but not least, make sure everything that goes on the board is your work. Do not be tempted to cut and paste text off the internet! If you are using quotes or primary sources, make sure you have given credit.

5. How can I be more confident when I make my presentation?

Practice, practice, and then practice again! You should outline the key points you want to make with our guests and then divide the presentation so each partner has about the same amount of material. You don’t have to tell everything you know about your topic as you want to keep your remarks to about 3-5 minutes. Your guests will want time to ask questions. Make sure to use note cards to help guide your comments. Do not read the cards but use them as reminders. Most effective public speakers use notes so you should as well.

Make sure that you are appropriately attired for the event. You are making a professional presentation so you need to dress for the occasion. This is very much like a college or job interview so you want to make a good impression.

Thank You

A special thank you to SH for inviting Private Ryan to MHS. His spirit and interest in the Civil War were inspirational.