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A Grade 4 & 5 Project |
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The
World Around Us!
Our
School Day
At
the Post Office
Mapping
our Neighbourhood
Buildings
in our Community
Canadian
Animals and Waterfowl
Communities
Around the World
Pioneer
Life
Wanna
Be a Canadian!
Welcome
to our Community
Our
Government
Stuffed
Animals, Sweaters and Sweat Shops
Community
Design Challenge
Researching
Natural Resources and Migration
All students will complete a task as it is outlined in the Task Cards below. Those tasks must involve collaborative work (2 or 3 students per Task Card).
All students will keep a log or journal to help with the organization of their task and the creation of their portion of the Community web site.
Take a look at Mr. Sousa's Class Project to see a final product for this project.
Web
Design Task CardYour task will be to organize this cyber-brochure of your community into an effective Website. This will first involve creating the title screen. Like a table of contents, the first screen of your Web site should show people what is contained in the site. In addition, there should be an introduction about what the Web project is about. Make sure to emphasize that it is student-created. Keep it simple with links to other pages.
To organize the other linked pages of this project, plan it out using a storyboard to help you. What you are really doing is connecting the pieces of the puzzle into an organized project. While both graphics and text are important, they should not be overpowering. It's important to maintain a consistent appearance from screen to screen. Use photos and graphics sparingly as it slows down the site. It's also important to make sure the site works. Test it out many times and remember your audience- visitors and newcomers to your community. How would they navigate around our website? Is it easy to use? Is it informative? Are their questions answered? Do download times take too long?
Living
In Your Community Task CardYour job will involve writing a persuasive piece about why your town/village/city is a great place to live. This piece of writing should include a description of the town including population, parades, festivals, special events, where our town is located relative to other cities, jobs, housing, schools etc. Think about what makes your community a special place. How can we encourage newcomers to stay?
Research Sources: library, town hall, visitor's center
Recreation
Task Card
Your task will involve promoting the fun things to do in your community.
Your community is a four season destination for affordable, indoor and outdoor recreational activities and quality experiences. Invite your guest to check out the following:
a) Main or Local Park(s),
b) Community Center Arena
c) Sport's Center
d) Local Creek or Body of Water
e) Curling Club
Include a description of these recreational areas and photos. This is a sample of possibilities. You may be able to come up with others.
Research Sources: Parks and Recreation Department, Town Hall, Visitor's Center.
Education
Task CardYour community provides quality schools, both at the elementary and secondary levels. Below is a list of schools in our area that you should include in your write-up. In your part include a description of our school including history, principal's welcome, enrollment staff, special clubs and sports etc. You may want to include a calendar of events for other schools. Also include addresses, principal if you know.
History
Task CardUsing the reference books and materials in our school library, the Public Library and the town hall, write a short description of the town/village/city you live in. This will require some research. Try to arrange your research in chronological order and present it in an interesting way. Include drawings, photos if needed.
Research Sources: libraries, Town Hall, World Wide Web
Town
Hall Task CardInclude an interview with the mayor of your town/village/city. This would be a feature in your web site. Write about his welcome to our town/city.
Questions to ask:
Why did you choose to run for
mayor?
What do you like about the job?
How long have you been mayor?
Who else is on town/city council?
What is special about our
community?
What are your plans for our town/city for
the future?
How can you make a difference?
Research Sources: Town hall staff, the Mayor
Special
LandmarksConsider your community's most famous features which deserve special recognition. Write a report on why it is not only important to your community, but the rest of Canada! Include the kinds of agricultural products grown, why is the soil so productive, what are soil erosion problems. As part of your research presentation include a drawing of our town mascot. Be creative!
Research Sources: Muck Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Library, Town Hall
Map
of Your Community Task CardIn this task you will draw a map of your community, using either ClarisWorks drawing software or Claris Homepage. The goal here is to portray the major streets, business, restaurants, places of interest and of course your school! You will want to sketch out a rough draft of your town on grid paper first before beginning to use the computer tools. Include a legend and directional compass as well. Also as part of your work show where future development will be located.
Research sources: drawing tutorial on computer, maps of your community, Town Planning Department.
Community
Services Task CardIn your task, you will explore the main services the town provides for its residents to make it a nice place to live, namely:
Public Library - include a write-up of hours of operation, address lending privileges, fines, special programs etc
Police and Fire Services: include information about telephone numbers, 911 service, fire prevention programs, Crimestoppers, Neighbourhood Watch Program
Churches: include the names of different places of worship.
Garbage Pick up: includes information about recycling programs if possible.
Research Sources: Town Hall, Fire Department, Police Department, Library, Garbage
Communications
Task CardLearn more about the local newspapers provided in your community. In your task, you will set up an interview with the editor of the paper. In your interview find out:
What makes your town/village/city an interesting place to cover?
What are the people like?
What are noteworthy news stories?
Who is in the news?
What do they do to welcome new businesses?
In your write-up include information about circulation, contact people, advertising. Include photos of writers and editorial staff.
Research Sources: editor of your community local newspaper
Multiculturalism
Task Card
If your town/village/city is a multicultural community. Think of a way of presenting your cultures in this task. You may want to divide up the research by cultural group e.g. Portuguese, Italian, German, Ukrainian etc... Prepare a write-up of each including festivals, parades, dances, cultural centres. In your presentation include drawings and photos if possible. Don't forget to include information about programs for new immigrants.
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Community
Interview Guidelines
Here are some generic questions that students might be able to use as a guide to help with interviewing community members.
1. As the chief of police for the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury what information can you give us for our class`s school web page that would be interesting and helpful for new people who have moved into our community?
2.How long have you been_____________?
3.As__________________,what are your jobs?
4.What is rewarding about your job?
5.Do you live in our community and , if so,for how long?
6.What changes do you you think will take place in our community over the next 25 years?
7.What is the best advice you could give to new people living in our community?
8.Do you have any written information in the form of pamphlets, flyers, articles, and community laws for me to take that would help me put useful information on our community webpage?
Observation of student achievement is
necessary as students work through this project.
Students may complete a Self-Assessment
form to indicate their sense of
accomplishment in this project (downloaded in PDF).
The Evaluation
Form may be used to evaluation
student work.
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