December ELA/SS Project

ELA/SS December Project

History Holiday Dinner Party

Due: Tuesday, December 15 (you may turn it in early)

Grade: Projects are averaged with test grades.  Project and test grades are 40% of your total grade.  Completing projects on time is very important to your final Reading and Social Studies grade.

Assignment: You are hosting a very important dinner party with some important people from history.  Who would you invite? What would your guests talk about?  Plan a seating chart to ensure that everyone sits next to someone with whom he or she has something in common.

Activity Steps:

1.     Invite eight people from the guest list and decide where each guest will sit:

a.      Seat each guest next to a person with whom he or she has something in common. The people you put next to each other should be able to discuss historical events, as well as their accomplishments. (Although each guest will be sitting between two people, he or she could have a conversation with only one of the people. As an extra challenge, however, try to find things in common with both neighbors.)

2.     Complete the attached seating chart.

a.     Each guest must have a place mat that names them and incorporates a symbol that represents them.

b.     Decorate the dinner table, using symbols, pictures, or icons of the time to illustrate your table. 

3.     Write a paragraph explaining what each grouping of people have in common or what they might talk about.  You may write it in a narrative or informational style You may incorporate dialogue into your paragraphs.  You should have at least 4 paragraphs.  However, you will be rewarded if you do more.   Each paragraph should have at least 5 sentences. There is a possibility of 8 conversations or paragraphs to write.

**The only items necessary for full credit on this project are the completed seating chart handout and the paper explaining what each group of people have in common and what they might talk about.  No poster board projects are necessary for the December project.

Choose your eight guest from the list below.  Remember, people sitting next to one another should have something in common you can write about.

Alexander Graham Bell

George Jordan

Thomas Edison

George Washington Carver

Swift and Armour

Henry Ford

George Eastman

Henry Bessemer

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Theodore Roosevelt

Ida B. Wells

Randolph Miller

Samuel Gompers

Be sure to review rubric before handing in your assignment so you can make sure you completed everything required.

Rubric: Check the rubric for expectations.

History Making Dinner Party Rubric Points possible: 12 pts
Researched Topic -adequately researched each subject, either from textbook, online resources, or other printed materials.
0: No relationship exists or relationship is based on false facts.	1: Relationships are not obvious; no historic event or accomplishment is mentioned.				2: Relationships are obvious; no historic event or accomplishment is mentioned.		3: Relationships are obvious; historic event or accomplishments are similar.
Paragraphs -adequately explains relationships that show historic events or accomplishments that relate.
0: no distinction between paragraphs or sentences.		1: 3 paragraphs; or less than 5 sentences in each paragraph		2:  4 paragraphs with 5 sentences each.			3: More than 4 paragraphs with 5 sentences each.
Grammar and Spelling -correct use of punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
0: Poor grammar and summary; numerous mistakes.  Incomplete sentences were used.		1: Many grammar and spelling mistakes hurt comprehension of paragraphs.		2: Few grammar and spelling mistakes that do not interfere with comprehension.			3: Little or no grammar or spelling mistakes.
Creativity and Neatness -artwork displays thoughtfulness and unique use of materials.
0: No creativity.  No color.  Scribbling.  Very messy.			1: Little creativity in choice of symbols, pictures, or icons; Messy.			2: Good creativity in choice of symbols, pictures, or icons;  Neat.		3: Excellent creativity in choice of symbols, pictures, or icons; went above what is expected.