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Mrs_Tyler
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 |  Posted: 2/15/2013 7:18:42 PM
Has her first social studies project for school.
Her assignment- create a model of a business or community building for the class city and be able to tell if provides a good or a service and if it fills a want or a need. She was assigned a school.
I have mixed feelings about the assignment.
On one hand I love that our school puts a priority on the social studies curriculum when I hear so many horror stories from elementary colleagues that they barely give Social Studies 20 minutes each week because of all the math and reading testing there is.
On the other hand, the assignment pretty much requires parental involvement. While I'm giddy about a social studies project, I wonder how some of her classmates who don't have parents as "involved" will be successful. Dd picked out a box to use as her school and asked if I would help her cover it with "instruction" paper. I'm happy to do that for her. I just feel sad for other kids whose mom or dad can't or won't help cover a box or gather resources and supplies.
*****update- DD has done a very good job of this mostly on her own... Perhaps it's not such a parent requirement after all.****
Anyway, dd is drawing windows onto her school and wants to think of a way to add a playground for recess. I might have to dig out some pipe cleaners...
So what was your child's first big school project? Or maybe you remember yours? Did it require parental involvement?
The first project I remember doing was a report in 4th grade on Minnesota. My mom pretty much had to sit on me to get me to finish it and I remember her doing some parts out of frustration that it was such a large project and I was in tears many nights in a row. | |
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Oliquig
PeaFixture
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June 2005
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 | Posted: 2/15/2013 7:27:19 PM
My first big project was in 4th grade. We had to do a book report and then create a sandwich board to wear on our Celebrate Books Day. The front had to be our interpretation of the book art wise and the back was our book report.
I did the whole thing myself.
For the same celebration in fifth grade we had to dress up as a character from our book report. I was Meg from Little Women. I decided I couldn't be Jo, since I didn't have short hair. My mom said that was the last time I could choose a period piece for a report like that.  I fell in love with my snood. |
-Rachel
I just don't see why people think I'm too patronizing (that means I treat them as if they were stupid.)
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Luvnlifelady
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
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December 2006
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 | Posted: 2/15/2013 7:29:32 PM
In second grade here, the kids do "Hero in a Bag." DS did Tiger Woods. LOL!
I remember it being a pretty big parental involvement project. He had to dress like him, then have things in his bag that represented him. Also, he had to draw a picture of him to put on the bag.
In 3rd grade, they do a "wax museum" where they have to dress like a famous person. Again, that meant gathering a costume (or renting one when DD did it) and making a backdrop. DS was Abraham Lincoln, so I just bought a cheap costume.
They also needed to have a prop for that one.
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/15/2013 7:38:35 PM
Lovinlifelady, your wax museum project reminded me of one of my favorite commercial.
Martin Van Buren | |
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MrsScrapDiva
PeaFixture
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 | Posted: 2/15/2013 8:20:23 PM
Last year my son had a "state" project. He picked Pennsylvania since we had been there before. It was definitely something that had a lot of parental involvement. He also had a 100th day of school project to build something with 100. We did the word LEGO with 100 legos. | |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/15/2013 8:24:48 PM
Mrsscrapdiva, love those 100 day activities. Dd just had hers this week. Last year in kindergarten th kids were supposed to draw a picture of what they'll look like when they're 100 years old. My daughter, the realist, drew a coffin. 
Her teacher got a kick out of pulling that out at conferences, and we all had a good laugh at her no nonsense approach. | |
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schooby
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| Posted: 2/15/2013 9:32:38 PM
Sounds like a great first grade activity. Yes, you are helping her, but in a teaching manner. When each child shares their building, they will be more aware of their own town.
DD's kindergarten project was to write an autobiography. With pictures. She could not write in complete sentences yet. She read a 4th grade level, but the instructions were so complicated, it was ridiculous. So, *I* wrote the sentences that she dictated to me, and she copied them to her book, *I* searched through our photos for pictures, made copies, and helped her glue them in, and *I* bound the book with cute little ribbons. This from the school that would show parents the level of parental involvement they expected (parents do all the work). I remember one biography report that required a video of the parent dressed up as Abe Lincoln with a memorized speech, while the child read from a script. Totally backwards!! I was so glad when we switched schools and got age appropriate projects.
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meeko77
ImPEAfection at it's finest
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 | Posted: 2/15/2013 9:36:18 PM
Last year in kindergarten th kids were supposed to draw a picture of what they'll look like when they're 100 years old. My daughter, the realist, drew a coffin.
Sounds like something a kid of mine would do (if I had kids, that is). |
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AntJackie
BucketHead
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| Posted: 2/15/2013 9:39:13 PM
When I was a TA, students that didn't have a lot of home involvement (and teacher know who they are) we would pull them out at different parts of the day to help them. They were also allowed to pick easier things to do (things that they would know about already). I remember helping students with making their community building, heritage doll, and state floats. | |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 8:49:30 AM
I remember my sister making a country float in school. I don't remember which country but I do remember my dad being glad he hadn't gotten rid of the old wagon from the garage.
As a teacher myself, I can't imagine where they stored all those wagons! | |
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Jen_Adkins
StuckOnPeas
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 | Posted: 2/16/2013 9:09:06 AM
Last year in kindergarten th kids were supposed to draw a picture of what they'll look like when they're 100 years old. My daughter, the realist, drew a coffin.
That was the year mine wanted to wear his Halloween t-shirt that was screen-printed with a skeleton, LOL!
Jen |
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UpNorth Scrapper
Seriously warped and appalling
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:09:54 AM
My daughter was supposed to build an Indian home when she was in second grade. She had to do a wigwam. She was so sure she was going to make it on her own and it would look just like the picture. So she struggled for a long time and then her dad and I spent a couple hours building the wigwam. The second grade teachers (my colleagues) were commenting on what a great job the kids always do with these homes and how a few just don't do them. I told them that my husband and I built the wigwam and that there was no way in the world a kid could it because as adults we found it hard to build it. I think I kind of ruined what they thought was such a great project because they quit doing them. |
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NativeNewYorker
black eyed pea with soul!
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 | Posted: 2/16/2013 9:22:02 AM
DS chose to make a scrapbook about James Weldon Johnson for Social Studies in 2nd grade. I was giddy with excitement. He wouldn't let me help at all. It came out really good. He also had to make a diorama for Bridge to Terabithia. He used mini Paperkins and twine. He also used blue paint and I'm thinking modge podge to make the water. |
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bdhardy
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:23:48 AM
We are spending this weekend doing SIX school projects.
My 4th grader has a selection to memorize and present, a science fair project and a very intense poetry project with about 5 separate projects to make up the whole.
My 2nd grader has a biography project (report, costume), an animal project (report, artistic representation of her animal) and a science fair project.
I am a former teacher and am ready to pull my hair out. We do not put things off...try to do a bit at a time...plan well, but this was just too much this month. I appreciate that they are working on their critical thinking skills (to prep for the state testing coming up), but wish they would at least get started on the projects at school. I'm paying alot of money for private school. I could have home schooled and done all of this work. LOL |
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Play along at: Counterfeit Kit Challenge (http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/) | |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:30:47 AM
Ellen I had a similar Native American project in 5th grade, but we worked in teams and made our projects in school. I couldn't believe our teacher was letting us use a hot glue gun! But we did great and our projects turned out so cool. Each team had a different tribe that we researched and they had different types of dwellings. It was a good project. | |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:33:27 AM
Bdhardy, that sound like a nightmare weekend! Good luck to you and your kids getting through all that work. I wonder how the teachers will have time to grade all that! | |
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Princess Pea
AncestralPea
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:37:07 AM
I teach first grade. At our private school most kids have homework every night. Parents are expected to be involved and check homework, so it would stand to reason that they would also help on school projects. My third grader has had a few projects this year and her teachers know and assume that the parents will help. It's more about the process, rather than the end result.
That being said, recently I assigned animal reports for my students to do for science. I don't give number or letter grades in science. The project was designed in such a way that the child could get by with very little in the way of parental involvement and it was obvious on a few. That's ok. We all learned about animals, even though some reports were more elaborate than others. |
Melissa
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paigepea
I'm PEAchy Keen!
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March 2003
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:46:10 AM
My dd's first big assignment is due Monday and it is also social studies.
I'm in Canada and we have no issue with loosing out on social studies time, thank goodness. But we also don't do endless math and reading testing. She is in grade 2 and hasn't had a provincial test yet. Maybe in grade 4, 5 or 6 they get their first provincial test.
Dd had to pick a member of thE community to present to the class. She came home with a list of questions that she had to answer - hand printed, in proper sentences. She handed in her rough copy last week. She needed some help with the answers but not much. Then she got the rough copy back and had to complete a good copy at school. She rewrote the answers and added a picture for each answer. She brought this good copy home yesterday.
Over the weekend she will practice reading the answers aloud. On Monday, she will read her answers in front of the class. Parents are welcome to come and watch. She picked principal, so she will dress like a principal. My goal is to have her read the answers a little louder then shed like, she is so, painfully, shy.
Paige.
ETA: we are in a private school. The kids get homework once or twice a month. If the teacher thinks the child will need a parent's help she sends out an email requesting that the parent help the child. We were asked to help our kids with this project. |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:50:04 AM
I really hope all the kids get the same opportunity to be successful on any project. That's always my focus as an educator.
But I will say that I love how much my DD knows about basic economics as a first grader! She is telling me all about wants and needs, services and goods and her answers are adorable and correct. I'm happy to know they are making time for social studies at this primary level because I know it has gone neglected in the past. I believe these principles are used by adults in society every single day and are just as important as math and reading skills. | |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:52:33 AM
Paige, our kids don't take the state tests until grade 3. But they do have a lot if diagnostic testing to get kids who are behind identified and caught up before they get to that grade where they will be tested.
I don't mind standardized tests at all. I do mind he many there are and how often times the results are used as data for the wrong reasons. | |
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(Julie)
Take Care, Girl!
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 | Posted: 2/16/2013 9:53:29 AM
This topic is timely as DD6 also a first grader has a project this weekend for President's Day holiday surrounding the flag. (Please note she goes to a Mandarin Immersion School so 95% of the instruction is in Mandarin and her teacher is native Chinese.)
Weekend Project: Social Studies
The topic for Social Studies is our flag, justice and freedom. It's about our country, United States. It would be better if they can also learn about it in English. We are going to have a project for Social Studies. The students have watched the images of how to make our National flag with different materials. They can make a cake of American flag or use beans to make a flag. This assignment is for the weekend. The purpose of the project is teach your child about the American Flag, including its history, what the symbols represent, and the proper way to display it. Please discuss how the American Flag has played a part in our life, American culture. We have talked about it in class. The project is to make your own flag with any materials at homeâ€â€ÂÂyou and your child are asked to design, make, and display a flag that represents himself/herself, such as making a cake, bracelet with beads, and using string of 3 colors to make an American Flag. We will have an oral presentation about the project (what you make at home) next Friday. Please remember to bring it to school next week.
We are trying to brainstorm ideas that would be respectful to the flag. My 15 year old niece is visiting and suggested since this is supposed to represent the student that we make a "Taggie blanket" to represent the flag. (DD6 uses a taggie blanket for comfort now, mostly in the evening.) After some research we believe using the colors of the flag would be respectful but it might not be in flag etiquette to make the taggie blanket look like the American flag exactly. | |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 10:32:58 AM
I honestly think if it's a child's rendition of the flag, making it with stars and stripes out of beans and paper or colored noodles is 100% okay. Teaching the structure and meaning behind the lag's elements is important to understanding why we give the flag respect and honor. This isn't like paper plate flags being used to eat off of. | |
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**JoJam**
Peace Out Girl Scout
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 10:39:02 AM
Please keep your concerns in mind when you, as a middle school teacher, assign group projects that require making a movie, making a recipe, etc. Middle school students will require a parent that drives them to get together with their group, a camera to film (if making a movie), money to buy groceries (if making a recipe), etc.
This is huge problem at our middle school. Teachers commonly assign these types of group assignments, and it is a major hassle for the parents. My friend's daughter's group decided to make a certain recipe--they purchased over $50 in groceries for the recipe--the girls went to the store with an older sister and got the groceries before talking to a parent first. Another project required making a movie--that then couldn't be transferred to the school computer because it was a different program--and every group had the same trouble with their movie. |
ttfnjoanna
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"Like what you do, do what you like."--Life is Good
"I've made some empty promises in my life. That was by far the most generous." Micheal Scott. | |
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jenjie
PEAsed to be here
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May 2003
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:45:17 PM
DS8 just did a diorama for second grade. They were able to choose from 4 different environments for science. They had to include at least one plant and two animals. The teacher didn't care whether they used manipulatives, printed things out or what.
DS chose the rainforest. He had very definite ideas on what he wanted to do and which materials he wanted to use. I was really proud of him. He took a few suggestions from me but for most he held his ground. In other words, my idea of using a toilet paper tube for a tree trunk was rejected.  He made an awesome ET-looking monkey (no ears LOL) out of model magic, and a snake which he squished in the middle to make it look like something was in its belly. I donated a pair of 80s holdover parrot earrings.
It took maybe 5 10 minutes to look things up on the computer so he could fill out his paper. |
~Jen
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redshoes73
PeaAddict
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September 2009
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Loc: DFW, TX
 | Posted: 2/16/2013 2:02:34 PM
Mrs Tyler, we must have the same daughter! Her paper last year was to fill in the blank: When I am 100 years old ______________. Her answer: "I'll be dead"
Her supporting picture was a graveyard complete with a coffin! I laughed so much and her teacher said that was the first time anyone had ever answered that way! | |
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Mrs_Tyler
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 5:17:50 PM
Please keep your concerns in mind when you, as a middle school teacher, assign group projects that require making a movie, making a recipe, etc. Middle school students will require a parent that drives them to get together with their group, a camera to film (if making a movie), money to buy groceries (if making a recipe), etc.
Oh you bet I do! The project my 7th graders are doing this unit is an accordion book comparing the two sides of the civil war. I provided all the supplies and walked them all through the set up. I am very much aware of making sure all students get the same opportunities to be successful. And I provide loads of class time to work because I prefer them to do most of it at school in the classroom rather than at home.  | |
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melanell
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 7:21:41 PM
My 1st grader had the same project and he really was able to do almost all of it on his own.
So I think it';s pretty age appropriate. 
Only he was assigned Burger King. I was jealous of the kid who was assigned the library.
He actually even asked me to drive by the local BK so he could see how it looked for when he recreated it. He's pretty artistic, so that was helpful to him. |
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brokenbrain
PeaNut
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 11:39:39 PM
In third grade my DS had to do a project on all fifty states. For each state they had to include at least three facts about each state as well as draw a picture that covered the state (such as the flag, industry, sports team etc.). |
Santa, for Christmas this year all I ask for is a big fat bank account and a skinny body. Please don't mix the up the two like you did last year.
- Jody | |
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mdoc
Peaing under the Radar
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| Posted: 2/17/2013 2:56:22 AM
D1's first project was a social studies project in 2nd grade. She had to build a Hopi house. She did much of the actual "construction," but DH engineered it. Without his planning help and ideas, she could not have produced the project she did. Parents were invited to a festival to see the projects, and there were two types of projects- those done with parental assistance and those done without. It was glaringly obvious which category each project fell into. The kids were graded not on the appearance of their projects but on their presentations related to them. | |
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Nicole in TX
The Peas did what we do and went insane over it
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| Posted: 2/17/2013 5:23:47 AM
My daughter, the realist, drew a coffin.
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melanell
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 26,836
January 2002
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| Posted: 2/17/2013 6:56:31 AM
In third grade my DS had to do a project on all fifty states. For each state they had to include at least three facts about each state as well as draw a picture that covered the state (such as the flag, industry, sports team etc.).
I remember doing that when I was in 3ed grade!
I remember having a book that showed the state flags, etc. for each state.
I drew the state flower for every state because I felt the flowers were the easiest things for me to draw. |
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(Julie)
Take Care, Girl!
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November 2000
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Loc: Twin Cities
| Posted: 2/17/2013 6:58:24 AM
I honestly think if it's a child's rendition of the flag, making it with stars and stripes out of beans and paper or colored noodles is 100% okay. Teaching the structure and meaning behind the lag's elements is important to understanding why we give the flag respect and honor. This isn't like paper plate flags being used to eat off of.
I appreciate the opinion! I was wondering about this and just wanted to ensure we were respectful. I agree it is different than some of the stuff you see on Pinterest when you pull up Flag Day (i.e. beefcake wrapped in American Flag!) | |
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saraheliza19
PeaNut
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Loc: Michigan
| Posted: 2/17/2013 7:54:53 AM
The first project I remember doing was in 5th grade. We had to do a state report( everyone had to do a different state and no one was allowed to do Michigan, our home state- we did this one together) and we had to make a wagon float. Thank goodness I was a walker and could pull my float to school! | |
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PEAce sign
i'm not superstitious, but i am a little stitious.
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| Posted: 2/17/2013 8:11:02 AM
My son did a lengthy report (poster board) on beagles - his choice - in 2nd grade.
He is currently doing a report, oral presentation, display on Walter payton for black history month.
I don't need to be super involved, but I'm trying to show him organizational skills and the benefits of rough drafts, etc. he likes to go right to the end. Drives me nuts. | |
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Ms. Liz
Practically Perfect in Every Way
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April 2005
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| Posted: 2/17/2013 8:13:11 AM
As I sit here reading this thread, I'm jumping back and forth to a google images page for beluga whales. Yes, that's what DD needs to make this week over February break. I need to figure out how many bottles I will need to save up for the base. With the animal she picked, I've got it easy. Her classmates' parents are going to have to deal with paper mache and paint, but DD will be able to cover hers with white duck tape.
We did the hero wax museum too, when she was in second grade. She chose Dr. Mae Jemison so I made her an orange NASA jumpsuit out of a tee and leggings, and we printed and mounted all the patches for it and pinned them on.
But my favorite projects have always been the dioramas. Youngest DD hasn't made one yet, but her older sisters made some really cute ones.
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I eat my peas with honey. I've done it all my life.
It makes the peas taste funny, But it keeps them on the knife.
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raindancer
Capt. Sparrow's Pirate Wench
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August 2005
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| Posted: 2/17/2013 9:18:20 AM
My dd's first "big" project was the 4th grade state project. And I thought that was a bit rough right up until the science fair.
I don't care who you are, until your kids are in high school, that is a parent project. Even if you make them do all the work, you still have a huge investment of time, not to speak anything of the money. It's crazy.
In our district everyone from 4th-12th grade is required to participate in the science fair. |
~Heidi~
"You can make excuses or you can make progress but you can't make both."
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moodyblue
PeaAddict
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November 2007
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| Posted: 2/17/2013 9:32:55 AM
I'm amazed that a couple people mention wagon floats!
Seriously? What if a kid doesn't have a wagon? And where do you put all those at school?
I'm a teacher, and I see the dioramas that are made, and our 4th graders do the wax museum thing every year. But I honestly question some projects because I know we have parents who don't/won't/can't provide much in the way of help or materials. I much prefer Mrs. Tyler's approach of having the kids do most of the work at school. | |
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singlewitch
StuckOnPeas
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July 2004
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Loc: Central NJ
| Posted: 2/17/2013 10:18:47 AM
I've been reading your descriptions of these projects and they make me very sad.
I teach a course at the local university on how general education teachers at any grade level can incorporate the visual arts into other areas of the curriculum. Most of these projects, had they been presented in my class as a culminating lesson plan, would not receive good marks. They are built with parent involvement as necessary to some degree, and most only involve the regurgitation of information, not critical thinking or creative problem solving.
A SKILL task requires practice, drill and repetition. This would be anything from memorizing times tables to learning facts about animal families.
An INQUIRY task Focuses on developing deeper/more sophisticated understanding of a concept by examining specific case studies (differing scenarios, strategies, accounts, etc.). It
gives the student opportunities to reflect and encourages construction of the student's own understanding or methodology via open-ended investigations (e.g., no one right answer). Here is a chance for students to challenge/expose misconceptions (which can be entrenched).
These tasks require a response to a higher-order thinking questions (e.g.How can we reduce acid rain? as opposed to What is acid rain?) So, instead of merely repeating learned information, the student now demonstrates an understanding via explaining, interpreting, applying or providing perspective/point of view and justifies their
reasoning via discussion or debate, making a choice, etc.
An APPLICATION task Requires solving a problem from the world of constructive human endeavor outside the classroom (e.g., design or improve a produce, service or system, plan and stage an event)
It requires learners to apply:
Concepts and skills central to the course/discipline
Logical and creative thinking
Life and workplace skills (finding/evaluating online information, teamwork, project management, continuous improvement, planning oral/visual communication)
Habits of mind (persistence, questioning, analysis, risk taking)
Technology used by adults in similar situations
Personal Life Experience, preference, judgment
These tasks allow the student's thought process and voice to be visible, and allow for personal creativity on the part of the student. Project guidelines also provide clearly-stated criteria by which the learner's product(s), thinking and performance(s) will be judged
Some resources on the project-based learning are here for anyone who might be interested:
McGrath, Diane. 2003. Artifacts and Understanding. Learning & Leading with Technology, February 2003. Vol. 30, No. 5
Solomon, Gwen. 2003. Project-Based Learning: a Primer. Technology and Learning, January 2003. Vol. 23. No. 6.
Eeva Reeder, 2006
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Rosie
Single Witch Designs
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Single-Witch-Designs
My Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/SingleWitchDesigns | |
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the_carrottop
Livin' in My Own "Pea-rivate" Idaho
PeaNut 103,985
August 2003
Posts: 5,675
Layouts: 328
Loc: Idaho
| Posted: 2/18/2013 4:56:11 PM
I understand that the intent behind these projects is to get the kids excited about a topic, expand their learning, and it can be more fun. However, there's the other part of the equation where the level of parental involvement required to pull them off is a bit much. I say this because the last few years, three of my four kids had projects that they couldn't complete without heavy involvement from us. We had two dioramas and an invention convention project, all of which were graded on a detailed grading rubric. Honestly, if our kids did this without parent help, they probably would have gotten a "D" grade.
I don't mind giving them guidance on projects, or helping them clarify something in the instructions. However, when dh or myself have to sit down and help them assemble or build something so they have any chance of meeting the requirements for a good grade, I find that frustrating. I would love it if the kids could do most of the work in class. |
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schooby
PeaAddict
PeaNut 127,529
January 2004
Posts: 1,610
Layouts: 0
Loc: down on da bayou
| Posted: 2/18/2013 6:54:20 PM
The first project I remember doing was in 5th grade. We had to do a state report( everyone had to do a different state
For the state report in 3rd grade, at Open House, they actually recommended to the parents that they schedule a trip to that state during Easter Break so that the child could experience everything the state had to offer first hand!! Some kids picked Hawaii & Alaska.
The crazy thing is - parents did just that!! We did, but I told DD to pick Alabama or Mississippi - within 3 hours driving distance - so that we could experience mountains and beaches and everything in between. (In Louisiana, anything higher than an overpass is a mountain!) | |
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TalissaAmity
PeaNut
PeaNut 154,643
June 2004
Posts: 462
Layouts: 0
Loc: Melbourne Australia
| Posted: 2/19/2013 2:09:36 AM
Wow, I just totally disagree with a project that "requires" parental involvement. How can a child receive a grade for something that Mum or Dad had a big hand in?
I make suggestions to my kids but have very little involvement in the making of actual projects. I know my children may fall a little short in comparison to little Fred's tower designed by his engineer father, but I mean where do you draw the line? I think they learn far more without me taking over.
Assigning assignments that require Mum or Dads participation just seems unfair to me. It gives some children a decided advantage. (Please note I'm not being derogatory to parents who have had to help because the assignment is aimed at a level beyond their child's age.) | |
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cropduster
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 250,388
February 2006
Posts: 5,657
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/19/2013 6:29:41 AM
I needed a good laugh this morning and I got it with the story about the coffin and the Martin Van Buren commercial.  |
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