Egypt Project

Thursday, January 16, 2020


It is that time of year again when I get to prep for one of my favorite units of the year: The Egypt Project. What is the Egypt Project you may ask? It is a Writing Research Project with a really fun celebration at the end.

Below I will map out this four week unit and explain our celebration time!

Week ONE:



  

1.) Get organized!  Students will be working in partnerships and research clubs. Students should also be grouped in research clubs after selecting topics, which is about 3-4 students in the same topic. Each research club will receive a research club folder to keep track of work, name badges, and a group norms sheet.





2.) Brainstorming: To begin, you will introduce the research study of topic of Ancient Egypt. Place books/articles/handouts related to each of the topics out on tables, Let students walk around the room from topic to topic to sit, explore, and read information you have gathered. As you walk around the room, remind students they will get to pick three of their favorite topic choices. When the book walk is complete, students go back to their seats and independently choose 3 of their favorite topic choices. Hand out and go over the “Choose a Topic” paper. You will place students in groups before gathering to write again.



Get your bulletin Board ready! This is where I have all my groups place their facts they have found during research. 


Here is a closer look at how things become more organized as they learn to put subtopics together.



3.) Brainstorming: Pass out “Boxes and Bullets” worksheet. The topic is in the box and the subtopics are organized next to each bullet below. Copy boxes and bullets paper back to back with the “Subtopic Brainstorm” sheet. (Each student in each group should receive their topic with the subtopic brainstorm sheet attached.) Place books/articles/handouts into tubs and hand to the group it is assigned to. Go over Research group gathering routine. (Use teaching handout for this) Research groups will divide out the subtopics and begin gathering information about each one. As students find information that is important and useful, they will write it on the “subtopic brainstorm” sheet. Allow 2 days for this activity. Make sure research clubs meet and share what information they have collected about their topic.






Week TWO:

4.) Drafting: Once enough information is gathered on the subtopic brainstorm sheet. Students will begin drafting using the subtopic drafting paper. The drafting paper has a rubric imbedded right on it so there are no surprises as to what is expected.

5.) Drafting: Once each group member has completed their subtopic draft, it is time for the research club to work as a group on a common goal. They will be meeting to work on an introduction and conclusion for their article. 


Week Three:

6.) Peer Conference: If research clubs are waiting for their peer editing group (another research club), they work on the ”while you wait” packet. Once both groups are ready to meet, students read their articles aloud to the other research club. The listening club will give a positive statement of what they heard that good writers do (not what they liked about what happened) and the listening club will tell something they WONDERED about the article (identifies something that is missing) The writers do not answer. Verbally.




7.) Teacher Conference: Once the entire research club has completed peer conferencing with their partners, the group will sign up to meet with the teacher. If group is waiting for the teacher, they work on their “While You Wait” packet. until the teacher calls up the group. Each member of the group will read a loud the sections to their article they have been working on. Students read the whole story to the teacher, teacher doesn’t look at story until after, each group member has a change to say a few things they did that good writers do (strengths) and teacher identifies an area in the writing that can be improved (goal).



8.) Peer Editing: Peer editing can happen within the research club itself or students may continue with their peer editing partner they have had all year. Either way, If the student is waiting for their partner, they work on the ”while you wait” packet (prompt, handwriting, grammar practice) Students swap papers. Using red pen, each partner looks for mistakes and makes editing marks. When students think all the mistakes are found, they will hand back and talk about the mistakes with their partner.


Week Four:

9.) Publish: This is when research clubs meet to use google slides on chrome books or a computer lab setting to publish. As the teacher, you will need to create a google classroom account by going to www.classroom.google.com. Click on the plus sign and drag down to create a class. Give your classroom a name, section number, or subject. Then click on it. Look at the bar that says Stream, Students, About. Click on students and begin inviting your classroom. If you are visual like myself, follow visual steps by going to How to set up google classroom assignments


10.) Publish: If google classroom is not for you, I have editable templates for articles in this zip file. Otherwise you can use templates to create your articles on poster board. This is what I have done with my own classes and the kids LOVE it. 




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