Mrs. Gatling

September 2002

Students in the Social Studies class will work together in groups and make a map of the United States. Each group of four students will collaborate on the design of their map project. How each group map is put together, colored, illustrated or in any way decorated is up to the group. You may use a variety of materials including, crayons, paint, cloth, project boards, clay, wood, construction paper, mural paper, colored pencils, markers or any artistic or creative idea you can come up with.

Each group is to work cooperatively on the project. The group will receive a grade on the map. Each person in the group will receive the same group grade. The group must make a presentation to the class, describing the project and how it was made. Each person in the group is responsible for reporting on an individual state. These individual reports will be heard after the group map presentation.

Each individual state report will be given a separate grade. Students are to use computer resources and the library to gather information on their state.

All reports and maps are due on October 11, 2002. You will be working on this project in class and at home. You are also responsible for other class homework assignment.

Instructions

• Choose a recorder for your group. Record the responsibilities of each group member.
• Decide who will be responsible for completing each task.
• Decide what materials your group will need to complete the map.
• Choose a date when you will bring your materials to class to begin working.
• Choose a date when you all will get together outside of class, at someone’s home to begin working.
• Make a rough draft of the design of your map project.
• All maps must include the state capitals for each state.

State Reports

All state reports must be typewritten using the computers in the classroom, the lab or at home. All reports must include the following:

• A colorful cover and pictures
• A map of the state
• Area and size of the state
• State capital, motto, bird, flower
• Population
• Date the state was admitted to the union (officially became part of the United States)
• Region where the state is located ( use the main or intermediate directions)
• Natural resources
• Climate
• Industries –What kinds of things does this state make or produce?
• Famous cities, interesting places to visit
• Famous historical facts- who settled there first? What Native Americans lived there first?
• A bibliography – list all books and resources used for your report.

All reports must be written in your own words not copied from a book or encyclopedia. The written portion of the report is to be concise, not 5-6 pages long!

The technology and writing skills utilized in this project are also  in synch with the NYSED ELA and Social Studies Standards.

Completed Projects