Iroquois Longhouse Research Project Grade 6 In Social Studies we are learning about the Iroquois Confederacy.

. We have been talking about the clan system, where the Iroquois people lived, the different roles of men and women in an Iroquois society, and how their government was run. The Social Studies curriculum is focused on Iroquois Confederacy but in order to broaden our understanding of how the Iroquois people lived I have decided to create a cross-curricular research project between Language Arts and Social Studies. Students will be completing a RAFT assignment, they will: Role Grade 6 students at Hay Lakes School Museum Curator Audience Grade 5 students at Hay Lakes School General public Format PowerPoint Presentation Topic Teach the Grade 5 class about longhouses. Create an exhibit about the Longhouse, using a diorama to represent the information you are researching. Inform you family members about the longhouse, so they understand what you have been learning about in Social Studies. Strong Verb Teach

Diorama

Represent

Grade 6 students at Hay Lakes School

Your family members

Poster

Inform

Lesson 1: Intro Students will be split into their clans. Each longhouse is home to one clan. Students will then brainstorm together what they would like to research about the longhouse. I will provide the students with some guiding questions like: Who lived in the longhouse, why did the Iroquois live in that type of home, how were the longhouses built, how many people lived in the longhouse, what type of furniture was inside, etc. Students will create a map and decide who in their group will be researching what.

CLANS Bear Evelyn Hannah H. Seth Delany

Wolf Luke Evan Soren Belle

Turtle Davyn Braden Ethan K. Lachlan

Hawk Cameron Hannah R. Lainey Dana

Deer Reba Corbin Cailey Jesse

Beaver Anya Ethan M. Riley Taneesha

Students will sit together somewhere in the room and plan out what they are going to focus on. This will take approximately 20 minutes to explain and plan. Students will have more time in the next lesson to work on their web. Lesson 2: Research Once a clan has made a decision on what they are going to research they will have a chance to work together in the computer lab to find their information. Students will need to make a list of their references and give them a reminder about safe searches and plagiarism. Students will continue to research their topic for appromiately 1-2 days of school. Lesson 3: Report Students now need to make a report using the information they found. They will need to work together to organize their information on a piece of lined paper. They will need to write a draft together ensuring there is proper flow and structure to their report. I will go over a few tips with the students before they begin to organize their thoughts. Once students have written their report they can type their report. Students need to work together to edit and check for proper grammar, conventions and punctuation. Lesson 4: Display Students will chose a form of media to present their information. They can create a diorama of the house, a PowerPoint presentation, or a poster. They will need to decide as a group the best method to display their work. Students will then begin the process of creating their display. Students will need to tell me what their plan is so I can get the proper materials ahead of time. Lesson 5: Presentation When all of the groups have finished putting together their display and know how they will present their research they will give a presentation to their classmates. They must explain what they have researched using their display/type of media. Students will present to the Grade 5 class as well. We will set up a museum in the classroom and have mini exhibits. Evaluation: Students will complete a self-evaluation and a group evaluation at the end of the project. This will be used to see how they think they contributed to the group and how their group members thought they contributed to the group. Students will also

be evaluated on their report, display and presentation. I will give them a rubric at the beginning of each of these lessons. ELA Outcomes: 3. Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to manage ideas and information. 3.1 Plan and Focus - Distinguish among facts, supported inferences and opinions. - Use note-taking or representing to assist with understanding ideas and information and focusing topics for investigations. - Develop and follow own plan for accessing and gathering ideas and information, considering guidelines for time and length of investigation and presentation. 3.2 Select and Process - Locate information to answer research questions, using a variety of sources, such as printed texts, bulletin boards, biographies, art, music, community resource people, CDROMs and the Internet. - Skim, scan and read closely to gather information. - Evaluate the congruency between gathered information and research purpose and focus, using pre-established criteria. 3.3 Organize, Record and Evaluate - Organize and develop ideas and information into oral, print or other media texts with introductions that interest audiences and state the topic, sections that develop the topic and conclusions. - Make notes on a topic, combining information from more than one source: use reference sources appropriately. - Use outlines, thought webs and summaries to show the relationships among ideas and information and to clarify meaning. - Evaluate the appropriateness of information for a particular audience and purpose. 3.4 Share and Review - Communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral print and other media texts such as multiparagraph reports, question and answer format and graphs. - Select appropriate visuals, print and/or other media to inform and engage the audience. 4. Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to enhance the clarity and artistry of communication 4.1 Enhance and Improve - Work collaboratively to revise and enhance oral, print and other media texts. - Revise to provide focus, expand relevant ideas and eliminate unnecessary information. - Edit for appropriate verb tense and for correct pronoun references. 4.2 Attend to Conventions

Edit for correct commonly misspelled words in own writing, using spelling generalizations and the meaning and function of words in context. 4.3 Present and Share - Use various styles and forms of presentations, depending on content, audience and purpose. - Emphasize key ideas and information to enhance audience understanding and enjoyment. - Demonstrate control of voice, pacing, gestures and facial expressions; arrange props and presentation space to enhance communication. 5. Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to respect, support and collaborate with others. 5.2 Work within a Group - Assume a variety of roles, and share responsibilities as a group member. - Identify and participate in situations and projects in which group work enhances learning and results. - Contribute to group knowledge of topics to identify and focus information needs, sources and purposes for research or investigation. - Address specific problems in a group by specifying goals, devising alternative solutions and choosing the best alternative. - Assess own contributions to group process, and set personal goals for working effectively with others. * I will be giving students a rubric at the start of each new lesson. Students will be graded on their report, display, presentation and group work.