HSB4MO – The Millennial Generation: Tales for an Accelerated Culture Assignment
Its 2017 and you have all been invited to the United Nations Conference on Youth
Development. The primary purpose of your visit is for you to demonstrate your knowledge and
understanding of the key concepts learned through your years of experience as researchers of
generational changes in Western society. Much like Douglas Coupland (1991) did in his
Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, you will assess the influence of the previous
generation on the current societal changes.
Thus, students will be able to weigh the impact of the Echo Boom generation on
Millennial society, while examining how the current generation will distinguish itself and
progress from the ideals, customs, and culture representative of previous generations.
Importantly you must notify me of your topic before the end of the period.
Choose your partners carefully!
Requirements:
Your group must…
 Select one of the following themes discussed in the unit. There will be 30 different
selections done at random. You must select your topic by the first library period.
Key themes will include:
Counterculture, Materialism, Immigration, Family structure, Political Activism, Sexual
Revolution, Suburbia, Education, Health Care, Gender Identity, Secularism, Race
Relations, World Economies, Mass Media, Demographics.
 Rough Work: Have rough research work completed and submitted to be reviewed by the
start of the second library period.
 Create a classroom presentation: It is required that all students present a 30 minute
presentation which includes:
o PowerPoint slides and handout for the class to follow along: The format should
include your 5 chosen topics and what the impact of the Echo Boom generation
has been on the Millennials.
o An engaging classroom activity: The activity should assess the impact of the
Echo Boom on the Millennial generation (i.e. develop scenarios for the class to
discuss/debate on one of the 5 topics covered by your group).
 Active Participation of the Audience: Being at such a prestigious conference, you will
want to enthusiastically debate and participate. A portion of your final mark for the
assignment will involve you being in class for all presentation taking active notes that
will eventually be used toward the final exam. Notes will be collected and marked. Please
look below at the for both Active Participation & Presentation
Active Participation of the Audience: (Taken as an overall for all the presentations)
/10 Communication:
-
Communicates information and ideas with a high degree of clarity and with confidence.
Asks strong questions indicative of the presentations.
Punctual and willingly participates within the classroom conference forum
/5 Knowledge/Understanding:
-
Demonstrates thorough and insightful understandings of the relationship between the key
concepts presented through active participation during debates
Poses critical questions to the presenters that invoke inquiry of the topic.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!
The Millennial Generation: Tales for an Accelerated Culture Presentation
Summative Rubric /40
Criteria
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Knowledge/
Understanding
Demonstrates
thorough
understanding of
the Echo Boom and
its impact on the
Millennial
Generation
Demonstrates
considerable
understanding of
the Echo Boom and
its impact on the
Millennial
Generation
Demonstrates some
understanding of
the Echo Boom and
its impact on the
Millennial
Generation
Demonstrates
limited
understanding of
the Echo Boom and
its impact on the
Millennial
Generation
Thinking/ Inquiry
Demonstrates
thorough and
insightful
interpretations of
key themes
Demonstrates
considerable
insights and
interpretations of
key themes
Demonstrates
moderate
Demonstrates
limited insights and
interpretations of
key themes
Communication
Communicates
information and
ideas with a high
degree of clarity,
and with confidence
Communicates
information and
ideas with
considerable clarity
Communicates
information and
ideas with some
clarity
Communicates
information and
ideas with limited
clarity
Application
Distinguishes the
Millennial
Generation from the
Echo Boom with a
high degree of
effectiveness
Distinguishes the
Millennial
Generation from the
Echo Boom with
considerable
effectiveness
Distinguishes the
Millennial
Generation from the
Echo Boom with
moderate
effectiveness
Distinguishes the
Millennial
Generation from the
Echo Boom with
limited
effectiveness
insights and
interpretations of
key themes
Written Comments
Name:
Assessor:
Date:
Date:
A) Culminating Activity Description:
In Groups of 4 to 5, Students will prepare a 30 minute presentation using a combination
of PowerPoint and an Engaging Classroom Activity to assess the impact of the Echo Boom on
the Millennial generation. Thus, students will be able to weigh the impact of the Echo Boom on
the Millennial society, while indicating how the current generation will distinguish itself and
progress from the ideals, customs, and culture representative of the Echo Boom generation.
B) Culminating Activity Expectations
Enduring Understandings:
1) Students will be able to understand and identify what makes generations distinct and how
they are inherently connected.
2) Students will critically evaluate and assess what forces shape social trends and how these
concepts may impact Millennials.
Overall Expectations:
STV.01, STV.02, STV.03
C) Culminating Activity Major Details (Teacher Section)
Planning Notes & Lesson Sequence:
-
-
-
-
-
-
In the first class of the unit, ask the students to go into groups of 3 to participate in a
diagnostic Graffiti exercise where the teacher will pass out chart paper with several of the
key themes of the unit to see where student knowledge is at with some of the topics to be
covered in the unit.
After the diagnostic activity, students will present what some of the words that may have
been associated with the topic and will post their chart paper up on the wall. Can hold the
class accountable to participate.
The Teacher will follow the activity by defining some of the key concepts on an
overhead, followed by handing out the culminating activity along with its rubric (See
above).
Make sure to highlight the questions students need to consider as well as the key concepts
as they will be the basis for the 30 minute presentation.
Take a Position!: Make sure students understand this presentation is not about the
“regurgitation” of materials, rather to teach the class and critically evaluate how
particular concepts of the Echo Boom will positively or negatively affect the Millennials.
Ideas for the task: Promote the use of technology for students to use during the
presentation (i.e. PowerPoint) but also kinesthetic aspects of utilizing the classroom
space. For instance, have the class form groups to look at how magazine articles during
different generations to see the impact of materialism on society. Keeping the class
attentive during the presentation is important.
Make sure students understand that attendance is highly important during the
presentations, as there will be a 10 mark component associated for Active Participation
during the debate portion of the assessment.