Classroom Projects Linky Party

I came across this Classroom Projects Linky Party over on Amanda's blog "Teaching Maddeness"...I found her blog on another Linky I participated in this week and was happy to discover that  is Amanda  teachers in my school district.

Also, I thought this topic was pretty timely because yesterday I went to a PD on using projects in the classroom. It was taught by two teachers in our district that teach at one of our magnet schools for the gifted/talented. 


So here goes....so let's share some of our favorite classroom projects!  If you want to join this linky party, just follow these steps:

1. Use the button above in YOUR post.  Don't forget to link back to the linky party so others can find it and join in!

2.  Blog about one of your favorite classroom projects.  It can be an online project, one that involves technology, or a more traditional classroom project....your choice!

3.  Go Back to Amanda's post HERE  and add your POST LINK using the button at the bottom of this post.  (Please do not post the link to your main blog page or it will be deleted.  The link needs to be directly to your class project  post so that new visitors to your blog can find it easily!)

American Revolution  Postage Stamp Project

 I do this project as a culminating activity for my Revolutionary War unit.

 My students pick a person or event during the American Revolution. They research their topic using the library and Internet. They must use 3 different sources. One must be a book.  There are 3 component5s to the project.

1. Interesting Facts: They are required to find 5 interesting facts about the person or event. They record these on an index card.  If they are researching a person, I want them to go beyond the basics- date/place of birth or death. I challenge them to find at least one interesting fact they most people would NOT already know about their person or event.

2. Paper: They must then write 2-3 paragraphs sharing the information they found on their person or event. This is 40% of their grade so I am sure to emphasize the importance of a well developed paper with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.

3. Drawing: They must draw a picture on 8.5 x 11 white paper. It can not be printed and colored or even traced. It must me their own original artwork. The more colorful the better!!  I love this part of the project because it is so wonderful to see them put a lot of effort into their drawings.

When they turn in their drawing, I cut the edges with a scrapbooking scissors to give it a scallop-edged like a real postage stamp. I then mount these on colored paper.   The 5 interesting facts and the drawing get posted on our hallway bulletin board.

Here are a few of my favorites from my students last year...

I love doing projects with my students, and this year, since I am looping up to 5th and all the Social Studies standards are different, I am busy coming up woth ideas for new projects to have them do!!