ORION    TEAM      SOCIAL STUDIES

 

 

PRESIDENTIAL BIOGRAPHY    REPORT

 

Below you will find the following:

 

                                                                1) Project description

                                                                2) suggested research websites

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                        1/22/08

 

 

Dear Orion Team Families,

             

Currently, sixth and seventh graders on the Orion Team are learning about the election process, studying U.S. presidents and following the primaries and caucuses as they unfold during the current presidential campaign.  Soon, students will be producing a typed presidential biography report and a presentation focused primarily on the election history of their president and key accomplishments and challenges faced while in office.

 

 

            Please sign below to indicate that you have received this letter and that you are aware of the general report guidelines for this unit.  Students will be provided with deadlines and more specific guidelines as we progress through the unit.

 

 

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                  

                                                                                                            David A. Southworth

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              _________________________________

      (Student name)                                                                              (President being studied)

 

 

 

 

 

                I have received and reviewed these report guidelines:   _____________________

 

                                                                                                                                                (Parent signature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESIDENTIAL BIOGRAPHY REPORT GUIDELINES:

 

 

 

Cover

 

Political Cartoon 

 

Diary

Timeline

 

Election Map       

 

Political Advertisement

 

Note-taking                   

 

Report

 

Personal commentary

 

Bibliography

 

 

 

                  

 

Research:   

Establish a “Presidents” folder within your Social Studies folder on your G-drive.

 

 

                        For each resource used, do the following:  label the source (copy and paste the URL) next to the information gathered; for electronic sources – highlight/ copy and paste your initial findings.  Below that, in your own words, type bulleted notes.  Intermix your notes from all sources into your own original order and organization.

 

 

*Minimum of 1 hard copy source

                                                            *Minimum of 2 electronic sources

                                                            * Optional – use of United streaming video

 

 

 

 

          Search for information about the following topics:

 

 

A)      When & where born

B)       Married?  Children?

C)       Religion

D)      Political party

E)       Career (jobs)

F)        Dates of years as president

G)      Election results:  popular vote, electoral votes

H)      Did Vermont vote for your president?

I)         Name the vice president (s)

J)         Major challenges / events/ accomplishments while president

K)      Cause of death or if still living, post presidential activities

L)    Other interesting information

 

 

 

 

 

Report:

 

                        Introduction:                         *provide background information

*Mention upcoming topics

 

 

                                    Body:                          *Topic sentences and paragraphing

 

 

 

 

                        Conclusion:                            Remind the reader about your key points

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentations:         More details later.  Will include a “Who am I?”  

 

                              hand out.

 

 

 

 

 

Cover:      Your name & your president’s name.  Attractive, colorful, high quality

 

 

 

Table of Contents:     Number your pages; put them in order;

 

                        Identify page # in Table of Contents.

 

 

 

Map:     Label the electoral votes for each state, for the time period of your

 

             president , and color the states based upon which candidate won that

 

             state, in that election.  Colorful, title, key, neat, label specific places,

 

             artistic/creative border, accuracy , GUM.

 

 

 

Timeline:    At least 10 dates, title, legible, colorful, spacing, GUM, chronological, artistic/creative border.

 

 

 

Political Cartoon:    High quality, clear message, colorful, caption.

 

 

 

Advertisement:    Neat (GUM), colorful, election year, campaign

 

                             slogan/ issues, propaganda.

 

 

 

Diary:       Pretend that you are your president.  What might he have written

 

                  in a personal diary entry?  For example, what might he have been

 

                  proud of….worried about etc.?

 

                                     

 

Personal Commentary:

 

 Briefly discuss your opinion about your president. 

 

 Describe decisions or actions that you agree or disagree

 

 with and explain why.  Explain your position on whether

 

 you believe your president would be effective or not in

 

                                2009.

 

 

 

Bibliography:         

 

                                                           

 

                                                           

 

                                    *Cite text, visual images &video sources 

 

 

 

 

Suggested websites:

 

 

 

. http://www.cyberbee.com/election/election.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/vote/index.html      

 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/politics/vote2008_candidates.html

 

 

 

 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june07/2008_1-31.html

 

 

 

http://www.thirteen.org/amerpres/

 

 

 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/presidents.html

 

http://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/

 

http://www.npg.si.edu/col/pres/indlist.htm

 

http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/preshome.html

 

http://www.sprocketworks.com/topics/default.asp?topic=3

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/indexjs.html

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Biography checklist

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESIDENTS Report Evaluation rubric.doc