Research and Build Island Nation

Day 4

Goals:

1. Students research the island they have chosen.

2. Students build a three dimensional model of the island they have chosen based on their research.

Time:

1-2 hours

Resources/Materials:

styrofoam, construction paper, toothpicks, anything to apply colors (markers, crayons, paints), any other materials that could possibly be used in building three dimensional islands, library, computer lab, paste, clay, scrap paper

Procedure:

1. Explain to the students that they need to start thinking about the island nation they have chosen from the previous lesson. Explain to the students that they will be going to the library and/or computer lab to find out everything they can about the particular nation they have chosen to report on. The students will work with the partner they have for the island nation they have chosen. Focus on images/pictures/physical descriptions of the nation which can be reproduced with the design materials provided to the class. Use colors for trees, clay for mountains, and beads for cities using styrofoam as the base of their island nation.

2. Go to the library for 20-30 minutes for students to find information on their island and find out everything physical about the island nation that can be represented when they build their three dimensional island.

3. After allowing time to research, the rest of the allowed time is used to build a three dimensional model of the island that the students have chosen to build. Students construct their model. Allow students to be as creative as they can be within the boundaries of the assignment. Use the period to allow students enough time to complete the task. When the models are completed, the students need to write their names on the bottom of the model they have constructed.

Assessment:

Rubric

4 The student makes insightful determinations of the types of information that will benefit the model and effectively seeks out that information.

3 The student accurately assesses the task to identify areas that he/she will need information about.

2 The student does not accurately assess the assignment and does not get the needed information.

1 The student makes little or no attempt to assess the project and get the needed information.

(Adopted from Green Bay Area Public Schools)

Curricular Strands:

Art - building the three dimensional model

Math - correct use of space on styrofoam

Social Studies - researching information

Cooperative Learning - working with partner

Communications - converts information into own presentation in model

This page submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program