Ponchatoula Junior High School
Geography
UNIT 1 PROJECT
All students will be required to complete a Unit 1 Project. This project will be worth a major part of your grade. Students are
responsible for their own work, but may receive help from parents, other students, teachers, etc. Some class time will be
given, but the Unit Project assignment must be completed at home. . The project must be completed and turned in by the
final due date.
The Unit 1 Humanities Project will consist of the following:





Bubble Map for the 5 Themes of Geography
Map Creation
My Culture Essay
Portfolio
Classroom Presentation
The entire project can be presented in a portfolio format. All written parts of the project must be typed. Typed work must
be in Arial font, no larger than size 12 font, double spaced only. Please print your work in either blue or black ink. Work must
be neat and free of grammatical errors. Students may receive help from their Language teachers for proofreading and
correction of mistakes, but may not receive any other assistance.
Project Directions:
1.
Bubble Map (5 Themes of Geography)
 Location (Absolute and Relative)
 Place (Physical or Human Characteristics)
 Region (What physical and cultural region of LA?)
 Movement (How is transportation/communication used?)
 Human/Environment Interactions (How does your family interact with the environment?)
2.
Map Creation:
 Create a map from your home to Ponchatoula Junior High School.
 Include all major land marks
 Include street names of any streets you must travel to reach PJHS and any major roads connecting to those
streets.
 Indicate landmarks with symbols that you invent.
 You must travel the route of your map and calculate the exact distance, then create a scale of miles for your
map. The scale must match the exact distance drawn on your map.
 Maps must be colorful and well organized.
 Maps must contain all the major parts of a map, including original title, scale, compass, and legend.
 Maps should NOT be drawn on poster paper. Use regular 8.5”x11” plain white paper.
 Maps should be kept in the portfolio binder and turned in with the rest of the assignment.
3.
My Culture Essay
 Write a well organized and grammatically correct essay on your culture.
 Include family traditions, places of origin, ethnic groups, etc. that make you the unique individual that you
are.
 Essays should be a minimum of 250 well-written words and a minimum of 5 paragraphs.




All essays must contain the following:
a. Proper PJHS Heading
b. Title
c. Introductory Paragraph
d. Body of Paper must be a minimum of 3 paragraphs, explaining what makes you and your
family unique (example: favorite family foods, holiday traditions, favorite places to visit,
vacations, etc.)
e. Conclusion Paragraph
Essays must be either typed.
Indent between paragraphs, but DO NOT SKIP LINES between paragraphs.
Do not include pictures or photographs in your essay.
4.
Portfolio
 Create a portfolio of your culture.
 Must be kept in a 3-ring or 3-prong binder or portfolio cover.
 Include photos of your family, your culture, places you have lived, places you have visited, recipes for
favorite foods, small trinkets or souvenirs or anything else that makes you unique and helps to define your
identity.
5.
Classroom Presentation
 This is a mandatory part of your Unit Project.
 Students must create a 2-3 minute presentation to present to the class about his/her culture.
 You may show and explain items from your portfolio.
 You may tell the class about different places you or your family have lived/visited.
 Extra Credit and considerations will be given to students who incorporate technology into their
presentations.
 Power Point Presentations are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
GRADING CRITERIA/SCORING RUBRIC
This assignment is worth 50 points (see attached rubric). You will be graded on neatness & organization of portfolio,
completing all map requirements, writing a descriptive culture essay, and your presentation. Note: If you do not bring the
rubric on your day of presenting, 5 points will be deducted from your overall grade.
You will receive an additional 30 points for completing your rough drafts by the due dates (see below). Points will be
deducted for each assignment not completed/turned in by the due dates.
PORTFOLIO DUE DATES

Thinking map (Bubble map completed on 5 themes of geography) – 10 pts.
August 14, 2015

Rough draft for map -- 10 pts.
August 24, 2015

Rough draft for essay – 10 pts.
September 4, 2015

Completed Portfolio & Presentation – 50 pts.
September 14, 2015