Third Grade Pioneer Project
Brave and adventurous pioneers are the reason Colorado Springs and many other
cities west of the Mississippi River exist today. Analyzing their journeys and
recognizing their efforts helps us to understand what it took to be a leader in
yesterday’s world, but also what skills may be needed in the world of tomorrow.
For the next month, we will be examining the life of early Colorado Springs pioneers.
You may choose to work individually or collaboratively. The information below will
help guide you on your journey.
Scenario:
1. You have been asked to curate a display by the Colorado Springs Pioneers
Museum (http://www.cspm.org/). Your display should focus on one of the
listed pioneers. The criteria for your display are below:
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The display should have multiple artifacts/visual pieces.
A short description or explanation of the display should give
visitors an idea of what they are looking at as well as some
background information.
The display can showcase the pioneer’s entire life, but should
highlight their importance to Colorado Springs.
The display should be engaging and interactive enough to attract
people to it.
Pioneers (you must choose at least one):
General William Jackson Palmer
Mary Lincoln Mellen Palmer (Queen Palmer)
Irving Howbert
Major Henry McAllister
Charles L. Tutt
Winfield Scott Stratton
Katherine Lee Bates
Chipeta-Ute Princess
Evalyn Walsh McLean
Lt. Zebulon Montgomery Pike
Emily Griffith
Julia Archibald Holmes
Helen Bonfils
William S. Jackson
Helen Hunt Jackson
Charles Baldwin
Spencer Penrose
Dr. Samuel Edwin Solly
Molly Brown
Alexander Cameron Hunt
Baby Doe Tabor
Julie Penrose
Florence Sabin
Count James Pourtales
Alice Beemis Taylor
* If there is an early Colorado Springs pioneer that you would like to study not listed,
please make a pitch to your teacher.
Third Grade Pioneer Project
Checkpoints:
4/4/2014 – Peer Project Pitch
 Present which pioneer(s) you selected
 An outline of ideas for your work
 Listen to feedback and questions about your pitch
 Provide feedback about other’s pitch
4/18/2014 – Adult Project Pitch
 Present your progress to an adult (teacher, principal,
community member, museum rep.)
 Listen to feedback and questions about your pitch
 Develop timeline for any unfinished work
4/25/2014 – Small Group Peer Presentation
 Practice run through your entire presentation (without
costume)
 Listen to feedback and questions about your presentation
 Identify areas to improve for final presentation
5/2/2014 – Final Presentation of Work
 Be prepared with a short (1 – 2 minutes) introduction of your
work in costume.
 Be prepared to answer questions that come from those
viewing your work
Possible Resources:
 Media Center
 Online resources
o World Book Online
o Discovery Streaming
o The Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum
o The Library of Congress online
o Google Earth
o Others?
 Humans
o Teachers (homeroom, art, music, etc.)
o LTE/TLC
o Principals
o Family members of pioneers
o Museum staff
o Others?
 Other Resources?
Third Grade Pioneer Project
What we will teach:
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Introduction to possible presentation and research tools
Tools and strategies for working in collaborative groups
Peer review techniques and protocols
How to research and take notes
How to cite your work
How to identify and communicate with appropriate human resources
Understanding the rubric (see below)
Third Grade Pioneer Project
Rubric
Quality
Yes, I Have it! (5)
Ambiguity - I’m OK
with a little
confusion, knowing
there is more than
one way to do the
job.
I don’t need to ask
the teacher a lot of
questions. I can
think for myself and
get the job done.
Inquisitiveness - I
ask questions and
want answers.
I am curious and I
look up things that
interest me. I’m a
lifelong learner.
Generating Ideas
(brainstorming) - I
create lots of
possible ideas.
I am able to fluently
create a list of ideas.
I use my
imagination.
Originality of Ideas
- I create unique
ideas!
I can think outside
the box and I have a
great imagination. I
think of ideas that
others never even
thought of.
Flexibility/
Adaptability Mentally, I can bend
easily any which
way and not break.
I can think of new
ways to do things
when I get stuck. I
can recognize other
people’s good ideas.
Self-Reflection - I
can look honestly at
myself and evaluate
my work.
I can honestly go
through my work
and know what’s
right or wrong.
Intrinsic
I want to try new
Where are you on the continuum
between “Yes, I Have it!” (5) and
“Not yet!” (1)
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
Not yet! (1)
I have to be told
exactly how to do
every job. There is
only one right way
to do the job.
I don’t ask questions
just for the joy of
learning, and I don’t
really want to learn
new things.
I cannot see beyond
the obvious ideas. I
am easily frustrated.
I rarely use my
imagination.
I can only think of
ideas that others
thought of first. I
don’t like new ways
of doing things. I just
want to stick with
the old way.
I am not willing to
change my ideas or
think of better ones.
I can’t or won’t look
honestly at the
things I do well and
the things that need
more work.
Not willing to try
Third Grade Pioneer Project
Motivation - I want
to do it. I know the
purpose and it
pleases me.
things. I believe in
myself.
Risk Taking - I’m
not afraid to try
something difficult
for fear of failure. As
Edison said: “I have
not failed...I have
succeeded in
proving that 1000
ways will not work.”
I’m not afraid to try
anything even if I
don’t do well at it. I
keep trying and find
a new way that
might work.
Expertise - I am
proud and thankful
to know a lot about
one or more
subjects. I am an
expert.
I know I am good at
one or more things,
and I am not afraid
to share my
knowledge with
others.
Persistence – I can
stick with a project
even when it gets
hard. I understand
that the word
passion comes from
the base word for
“suffering.”
When the going gets
tough, I work
harder. I have grit,
determination, and
perseverance. I want
to keep going and
finish a difficult task.
Presentation - I can
present my findings
in an interesting and
engaging way.
My presentation is
original,
interesting, and
exciting for others
to participate in.
Research - I can
collect relevant
information to my
topic.
My research is
factual and in my
own words. All
sources have been
cited.
Checkpoints – I can
meet deadlines.
My work is ready to
present at each
checkpoint.
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
new things unless I
get something for it.
I don’t try new
things for fear of
failing. I try a couple
times and give up
altogether.
I don’t try to be
expert at anything. I
don’t want to be. Or
I pretend to not
know anything.
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
I usually quit when I
run into a snag. I
switch projects
often whenever it
gets too hard.
I don’t present my
findings or my
presentation is
boring and not
engaging.
My research is not
accurate or simply
copied from a
source. Sources are
not cited.
I am unprepared
for the checkpoints.
Third Grade Pioneer Project