Final Group Project
Nightjohn and Sarny Unit
By Rick Vanderwall

Overview

The culmination of this unit will be a group project in which students select a project to complete. The project should be one of the following or a project idea proposed by the group and approved by you.

Student Objectives

Students will:

• Create a final project that reflects what they have learned about the history of slavery.
• Adapt narratives and literature into performance materials.
• Present and perform projects.

Skills Attained

Students will be able to:

• Apply what they have learned to a different medium.
• Adapt literature.
• Integrate technology into the study of literature and social studies.

Materials Needed

• Computers
• Project Handout

The Lesson

Anticipatory Set

1. Divide students into project groups, or let them choose their own groups of two or three.
2. Pass out project handout.

Procedures

1. Go over the project choices with your class and talk about prohibitive options, for instance, students couldn’t choose to create a web site if they don’t have a computer to use.



2. Have students select one of the listed projects or propose their own project, which you should approve.



3. Have each group design a project calendar and assessment. Subject to your approval.



4. Task students to work on their projects.



5. then, have students presented and assess their projects.

Assessment

Have each group of students design an assessment rubric, which you then will approve.

Rick Vanderwall teaches Sixth Grade Language Arts and Social Studies at Price Laboratory School located at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Return to main unit page.

Name: __________________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________

Period: __________________________________________________

Instructions:

1. Select a project from the list below or design one for your group.


• Adapting Slave Narratives--A Reader’s Theatre (20 minutes)
  Reader's theater is a performance format sometimes adapted from literature. You do not have to memorize the scripts, so you can carry them during the performance. If you use costumes, they should only be minimal. Do not use full stage sets; instead, if you use sets, they should be simple and suggestive. You can add a narrator to provide transitions between segments.



• Literary Reading--Public reading of selections from literature based on the issue of slavery (20 minutes)
  Select poems, parts of novels, short stories, newspaper articles, and works of nonfiction. Then, compile them into an order following a chronological or thematic organizational pattern. Divide among the group for performance.



• Creating a web-based timeline of slave history
  Using the timelines you and your group made at the beginning of the unit, construct a website or PowerPoint presentation that portrays important milestones in the history of slavery in America.



• A Better Idea of your Own
  Design your own project that your teacher approves.



2. Once you have selected a project and submit it to your teacher for her to sign his/her approval below.
   
   
   I approve _____________________________________________



3. When your project is approved, create a schedule for completing your project. Make sure to include all rehearsal/work times. Clearly list who is to do what on the schedule. Have this your teacher sign his/her approval below, as well. Don’t forget to make copies of the schedule for all group members. Good Luck!
   
   
   I approve of the schedule _____________________________________________