Title: Washington, DC Report (5th grade)

Overview: Students will utilize the Internet to complete the DC Report during their study of Colonial American history and Washington, DC. They will demonstrate their understanding of the material through a typed report using the three modes of writing. (This report may be given in its entirety or it may be broken up into sections.)

Primary Learning Objectives: Students will demonstrate their understanding of specific parts of Colonial American history and Washington, DC through their performance on a written report. Student will utilize the Internet for research and utilize the three modes of writing, narrative, expository, and descriptive, in their report.

Materials and Equipment: Students will need a copy of the report (or the portion of the report they are to complete), a computer with Internet access, paper, a clean folder, pen, colored pencils, and (optional) printer.

Technology Resources Needed: Students need a computer with Internet access, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Paint, color printer, scanner (optional), digital camera (optional)

Background/Preparation: Students need to be familiar with the Internet and they should be able to type in URL’s to find specific website. Students should also be able to write a 5-sentence paragraph in the descriptive, narrative, and expository modes of writing.

Procedures/Activities: Students will need to begin each question by visiting the website associated with it. Here is a list of the websites students will need to access:

Once the student visits a website they should minimize the screen and open up Microsoft Word. Then they can answer that question in complete sentences, save, and minimize the screen. This procedure should be repeated for each question: open the website, read, minimize, open DC Report document, answer the question, save, minimize, open website, and repeat until all questions have been completed.

Washington, D.C. Report

Directions/Procedure

1)Complete all 12 assignments. This report is due on ______.

2)Only ONE activity per page.

3)Do not copy straight from any source of information, such as a website. Put the information in your own words.

4)Use Microsoft Word to type the report. Be sure to type in 12 point, Times New Roman or Arial font (Go to Format, Font). Only print on the front of each page and margins should be 1-inch on each side (Go to File, Page Set-up). In addition, each page should be double-spaced. (Go to Format, Paragraph).

5)Drawings should be done on unlined paper.

6)Use a clean folder for your work. Work must be secured tightly in your folder by using the brads in the folder. Make an original and creative cover for the front of the report folder using Microsoft Paint, or the drawing tools in Microsoft Word, insert a photo from a digital camera, or scan a photo and insert it into your document.

7)You must have a Title Page with the title of your D.C. report and your name, plus, a Table of Contents listing the activities and the pages where they are found in your report.

8)List your sources of information at the bottom of each activity page. Be sure to underline the titles of any books you used.

Questions

  1. Give 5 physical facts (ex. location) and 5 historical facts (ex. home of) about Monticello. Write in complete sentences. (
  2. Answer the following questions about Jamestown, VA in complete sentences (
  3. Name the three ships that the Virginia Company of London sent to America.
  4. In what year did they land?
  5. What Indian tribe was there when they arrived?
  6. Who said, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.”
  7. Answer the following questions about Yorktown, VA in complete sentences (
  8. Who surrendered at Yorktown?
  9. To whom did he surrender?
  10. What year did he surrender?
  11. Write a 1-2 paragraph narrative piece on a person who lived in Colonial Williamsburg. (
  12. Give 5 physical facts (ex. location) and 5 historical facts (ex. home of) about Mount Vernon. Write in complete sentences. (
  13. Give 2 facts about each of the following memorials. Write in complete sentences. You will then choose one memorial and write a 1-2 paragraph expository piece about that memorial.
  14. Jefferson Memorial (
  15. Lincoln Memorial (
  16. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (
  17. Vietnam Memorial (
  18. Korean War Memorial (
  19. Iwo Jima (
  20. Washington Monument (
  21. Arlington National Cemetery (
  1. Give 5 physical facts (ex. location) and 5 historical facts (ex. home of) about the United States Capitol building. Write in complete sentences. (
  2. Tell 3 interesting facts about the Library of Congress. Write in complete sentences. (
  3. Name one interesting exhibit that you would like to see in each of the following museums at the Smithsonian. Write in complete sentences. (
  4. Air and Space Museum
  5. American History Museum
  6. Natural History Museum
  7. In 1-2 paragraphs tell the events that took place on April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theatre. Be sure to answer the following questions in your paragraph(s). (
  8. Who shot Lincoln?
  9. Who was at the theater with the Lincolns?
  10. What was the title of the play that they were watching?
  11. What was the name of the house where Lincoln died and where is it located?
  12. Describe in 1-2 paragraphs (descriptive piece) a famous room in the White House. Include a colored drawing of the room on unlined paper. (
  13. Answer the following questions about the National Cathedral in complete sentences. (
  14. How long did it take to build?
  15. Name the famous Alabamian buried there.
  16. How many gargoyles are on the building?
  17. How many stained glass windows are in the church?

Assessment Strategies: Students are assessed on their final written report. Teachers may choose to grade each “question” individually or the report as a whole.

Extension: Gifted students may be encouraged to expand their research and give more information than just answering the specific questions that were given. Writing assignments may be lengthened—instead of one paragraph students may write 3-5.

Remediation: Students who need remediation should be placed in a group with students who can model appropriate behaviors/skills instead of working independently. The teacher should provide a great deal of support for this group.

Accommodation: Students with special needs should have accommodations/modifications based on their individual needs. This assignment could be reduced in length, they could be grouped with typical peers, the student could give answers orally, or the paragraph writing could be eliminated altogether.

Contributed by: Traci Hill, VIS

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