PROJECT OVERVIEW
What’s Your Sign?
Name of Project:
Subject/Course:
Math, English, History
Other subject areas to
be included, if any:
Duration: 5 weeks
Teacher(s): Kristine Blumer, Lauren Baldwin, Jeff
Colasanti
Grade Level: 8
Grade 6 Science?
Music, Science (Maybe next year)
Identifying Standards to be Assessed
Project Idea
Summary of the issue,
challenge, investigation,
scenario, or problem:
In this project, students will be given a chance to be a “Symbologists” (Robert Landon-DaVinci Code) and researcher of
20th Century symbols around the world. A list of symbols (teacher generated) will be given to students as part of their
voice and choice, they will choose the symbol they would like to research and learn more about. Through the inquiry
process, workshops will be provided to look at other types of symbols (i.e. Car logos, company logos, road signs, etc.)
to provide some background knowledge on this topic. This will be a trans-disciplinary project including SS, Math, Music
and grade 6. (Next year add Music and Science)
Students will research and create a note-taking guide to create an iMovie or WeVideo to inform viewers about the
symbol they choose in History and Math (for year 1)…Year 2 Science and Music will also be integrated in.
Students will create a research guide and video of:

Historical Symbols of the 20th Century

Mathematical Symbols through History

Musical Symbols through History (Year 2)

Science Symbols: grade 6? (Year 2)
Driving Question:


Philosophical or Debatable
Product-Oriented

Role-Oriented
Guiding Questions:
CCSS to be taught and
assessed:
***ADD in standards
language***
How can we as symbologists create a reference guide (iMovie) to symbols to help others to understand the symbols
around us?


How do the unknowns (variables) help us to study historical issues?
What unknown lead to WWII. WWI + The bombing of Pearl Harbor = WWII.
English – Grade 8
8.RL.5 – Compare and contrast the structure of 2 or more texts and ananlyze how the differing structure contributes to meaning and style
8.RI.9 –8.RI.9 –
8.RI.8 –W.4 –W.2 Informative Explanatory
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W.8 Assess Credibility
Math - Grade 8 (ends 4/4) Linear Functions (Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data)
8.F.4 –
8.F.5 –
8.SP.1 –
8.SP.2 –
8.SP.3
8.SP.3 –
8.SP.4
8.SP.4 –
Music/Science/Social Studies:
RST 6-8.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other words, meanings and phrases as they are used in specific, scientific or technical context.
Additional Standards to
be taught and
assessed:
Social Studies – Grade 8
1.2 –.
1.2 –
1.3 –
1.4 –
Identify Learning Targets
and/or ”I can…” statement
I can analyze similarities in 2 more texts contribute to its meaning. I can analyze differences in 2 or more texts contributes to its meaning.
I can examine 2 or more texts that provide opposing / conflicting information.
I can identify where the (text) agree and disagree on facts or opinion.
I can recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced to a topic.
I can write a clear and coherent Clear and Coherent
I can analyze a symbols that relates to Civil Right
I can analyze a symbol that explains the Great Depression.
I can create a symbol that relates to Civil Rights I can create a symbols that explains the Great Depression.
I can weigh the importance of symbolic historical evidence …..
I can construct a linear relationship between two quantities. I can identify the symbols used in a linear relationship
I can describe qualitatively the functional relationship between two quantities by analyzing a graph.
I can construct scatter plots for bivariate data.
I know how a line of best fit is used.
I can interpret the meaning of slope and intercept of a linear equation.
I can solve problems using the equation of a linear model.
I can show how to construct a two-way table. I can interpret the data in the 2-way table to recognize patterns.
Academic Vocabulary:
Symbol, national, international, represent, recognition, insignia,
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21st Century
Competencies to be
taught and assessed:
Collaboration
X
Creativity & Innovation
Communication (Oral Presentations)
X
Other
X
Critical Thinking
Presentation Audience:
Group:
Major Products
& Performances
Oral Photostory or iMovie of symbols as narrated by the research
symbologist
Class:
School:
Individual:
X
X
Community:
X
Experts:
X
Web:
X
Individual symbol research and writing of symbol; Create your own
LOGO to represent your “Brand” as a person
Other:
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Entry event to
launch inquiry,
engage students:
QR Symbol Scavenger Hunt/Field Trip to a symbolic place
Assessments
Formative
Assessments
(During
Project)
Quizzes/Tests
Practice Presentations
Journal/Learning Log
Notes
Preliminary Plans/Outlines/Prototypes
X
Checklists
Rough Drafts
X
Concept Maps
Online Tests/Exams
Written Product(s), with rubric:
X
Other:
X
Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with rubric:
Summative
Assessments
Symbol Informative Piece
(End of Project)
Oral Presentation, with rubric
X
Peer Evaluation
Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test
X
Self-Evaluation
X
Oral Photostory or iMovie of symbol
X
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Essay Test
Other:
.
Resources
Needed
On-site people, facilities:
Equipment/Software:
Materials:
Community resources:
Websites:
Reflection
Methods
(Individual,
Group, and/or
Whole Class)
Journal/Learning Log
Focus Group
Whole-Class Discussion
Fishbowl Discussion
Survey
Other:
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PROJECT TEACHING AND LEARNING GUIDE
Project:Symbols
Major Product(s) and
Presentation
Student needs to complete
Knowledge and Skills Needed by Students
Scaffolding / Materials / Lessons to be Provided
to successfully complete culminating products and
performances, and do well on summative assessments
by the project teacher, other teachers, experts,
mentors, community members
Written Piece of the Research
chapter
(ELA formal Piece)
Informational/Expository writing
(English Written Piece-Individual)


Model, sample guides; Writers
Workshop ( peer editing)

Software instruction/ word processing
Picture importing
Formatting
Word
Presentation
iMovie / Wevideo.com
List of symbols, note-taking guide
Reference material
suggestions/resources



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P R O J E C T
Project:
M O N D A Y
C A L E N D A R
Time Frame:
T U E S D A Y
W E D N E S D A Y
T H U R S D A Y
F R I D A Y
PROJECT WEEK ONE
PROJECT WEEK TWO
PROJECT WEEK THREE
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Project:
M O N D A Y
Time Frame:
T U E S D A Y
W E D N E S D A Y
T H U R S D A Y
F R I D A Y
PROJECT WEEK FOUR
PROJECT WEEK FIVE
PROJECT WEEK SIX
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