~ Nicolas Burrola
English Teacher
~ Nicolas Burrola
English Teacher
Embedded Files
English Teacher
The goal of this year's first Grade 5 project, New Discoveries, was to understand the size and scope of the amazing world we live in. Of course, our students know about basic geography, and many of them have been around the world already. For this project, we focused on revealing the opportunities to learn about science, culture, art, and more by traveling the world.
The concept of this project came from our first reading, Life on Earth – and Beyond by Pamela Turner. In it, we learned how scientists travel around the world to investigate exciting learning opportunities. Our project required students to imagine doing that themselves. The first step of this project was to research a location in the world. Then, they created an infographic with nonfiction text features to make a visually appealing and well-organized structure. Finally, they shared their infographics with peers to create a community of curious and knowledgeable learners.
Learning Opportunities
An important part of this project was for students to establish what could be considered an “interesting learning opportunity”. The students figured out several categories for these learning opportunities such as history, culture, and science. For example, one student knew Beijing is a great place to learn about Chinese history. Another picked Paris as a destination where someone could learn about fabulous food culture. A science-loving student picked Houston in Texas, USA as a good place to learn about outer space because it is home to NASA.
Research Skills
In our modern world, it’s easier than ever to access information. Our students have grown up using the internet, so “Googling” the answer to a question is their second nature. However, this can lead to problems. Our students actually have access to too much information. They need to learn how to filter through all of it to find what is useful.
During the research stage of this project, we taught students how to find legitimate online sources. It was important to demonstrate the difference between trustworthy information compared to simply copying the first result of a Google search.
Using Nonfiction Text Features to Enhance Content
Students’ final product was an infographic. This is a visual medium, so it requires students to consider how to organize their information. They added elements like maps, photographs, and sidebars. We challenged students to think deeply about the type of map they would include, or which photo would support their text most effectively.
Sidebars were a particularly interesting component of this project. In an informational text, a sidebar provides interesting information that isn’t directly related to the text’s main point. As students researched their locations, they found many interesting facts that they wanted to share. Using sidebars was a great way for them to show off their knowledge while still keeping their infographic focused on one main point. Some of the more intriguing sidebars they wrote were special horse breeds in Iceland, historical facts about the formation of the Grand Canyon, or the importance of wildfires in the Serengeti Plain.
Overall, the students created some impressive infographics filled with well written, informative articles accentuated with visually appealing maps and pictures. Some examples of the students’ work are shown on the next page. Take a look, and you might learn something new about our amazing world.
Florence
★ Ariel Chen 陳亮余 502
Florence is an Italian city which is known for its history, art, and culture. It thrived during the Renaissance period, from the 1300s to the 1500s. Florence is located in the center of Italy by the Arno river in Tuscany.
Florence has a lot of amazing food. It is the birthplace of gelato. They also have fresh truffle mushrooms called porcini e tartuffo.
Australia
★ April Wu 吳采頤 508
Australia, the smallest continent in the world, is near New Guinea and Indonesia. Australia's unique and most famous element is wildlife, which is what people think of the moment they hear the word "Australia”.
Australia has animals that only live there, such as kangaroos and koalas, because of its remote location. Roadsigns there warn drivers about wild animals, mostly kangaoroos that might cross the road. There are many deadly creatures there, too. Did you know that less people die a year from snake bites or shark attacks than bee stings? It is true!
Montana
★ Lyon Chen 陳立洋 502
Florence is an Italian city which is known for its history, art, and culture. It thrived during the Renaissance period, from the 1300s to the 1500s. Florence is located in the center of Italy by the Arno river in Tuscany.
Florence has a lot of amazing food. It is the birthplace of gelato. They also have fresh truffle mushrooms called porcini e tartuffo.
Paris
★ Charity Li 李思丞 507
Paris is known as the most charming city in the whole world. It is in the northern part of France, across the Seine river. Many people enjoy the dreamer and romantic atmosphere of this dazzling city. Paris is a place with many fascinating cultural and historical landmarks. Fashion such as Chanel, Hermes, and LV accentuate the distinct character of the “City of Love”!
Page updated
Report abuse