History Exhibition
"Why do we have to learn this?"
"These things happened, like, a zillion years ago, it doesn't matter now"
"How is this stuff supposed to help me in my life?"
"Why should I care about these people and what they did?"
These are only a fraction of the comments I have heard from students over the years regarding history. Many see it as a boring exercise that is to be tolerated in exchange for a grade but in no way relevant to their lives today. One of my goals in teaching history is to show the students that events, people and innovations in the past have connections with us in the 21st century. The History Exhibition helps me to accomplish this goal. Every year students in the seventh grade research a topic that has to do with the time period we are studying and present it to the middle school. But more than just a research paper, one of the key elements the students need to think about is how their topic has influenced modern times. This requires students to think critically about both the past and the present and how they are intrinsically connected. Below is the guideline given to the students for this year's History Exhibition
2015 History Exhibition
For this year’s History Exhibition, 7th graders will research an event, invention or person from the Middle Ages.
The History Exhibition will be graded on four different elements: Written, Oral, Visual and On-Demand.
Written
"These things happened, like, a zillion years ago, it doesn't matter now"
"How is this stuff supposed to help me in my life?"
"Why should I care about these people and what they did?"
These are only a fraction of the comments I have heard from students over the years regarding history. Many see it as a boring exercise that is to be tolerated in exchange for a grade but in no way relevant to their lives today. One of my goals in teaching history is to show the students that events, people and innovations in the past have connections with us in the 21st century. The History Exhibition helps me to accomplish this goal. Every year students in the seventh grade research a topic that has to do with the time period we are studying and present it to the middle school. But more than just a research paper, one of the key elements the students need to think about is how their topic has influenced modern times. This requires students to think critically about both the past and the present and how they are intrinsically connected. Below is the guideline given to the students for this year's History Exhibition
2015 History Exhibition
For this year’s History Exhibition, 7th graders will research an event, invention or person from the Middle Ages.
The History Exhibition will be graded on four different elements: Written, Oral, Visual and On-Demand.
Written
A five paragraph essay mainly worked on in Language Arts. This research paper will be due the Thursday (February 5) before the date of the History Exhibition.
Oral and Visual
The oral and visual portion of the exhibition will take place on February 11. Students will be required to speak for 15-20 minutes on their topic, accompanied by a visual presentation. The visual presentation can be a slide show (powerpoint, prezi, keynote, etc), a web page (free web page creator such as weebly) or a documentary (created with iMovie or other such applications). Included in the presentation should be general information about the person, event or innovation as well as how they are connected to modern times and their significance.
On-Demand Task
On February 10, 7th graders will receive a question that they will research the answer to on the internet. Each student will have 15-20 minutes in class to do their research. The answers need only to be one or two paragraphs and will require the use of either two secondary sources or 1 primary source.
Rubric
Oral and Visual
The oral and visual portion of the exhibition will take place on February 11. Students will be required to speak for 15-20 minutes on their topic, accompanied by a visual presentation. The visual presentation can be a slide show (powerpoint, prezi, keynote, etc), a web page (free web page creator such as weebly) or a documentary (created with iMovie or other such applications). Included in the presentation should be general information about the person, event or innovation as well as how they are connected to modern times and their significance.
On-Demand Task
On February 10, 7th graders will receive a question that they will research the answer to on the internet. Each student will have 15-20 minutes in class to do their research. The answers need only to be one or two paragraphs and will require the use of either two secondary sources or 1 primary source.
| CATEGORY | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Preparedness | Completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed | Seems pretty prepared but might have needed a couple more rehearsals | Is somewhat prepared, but it is clear that rehearsal was lacking. | Does not seem at all prepared to present. |
| Organization | Visual element is well organized using multiple pages, and makes excellent use of font, color, design, pictures etc. to enhance presentation. | Visual element is organized using multiple pages and makes good use of font, color, design, pictures etc. to enhance presentation. | Visual element is somewhat organized with some pages and makes some use of font, color, design, pictures, etc. to enhance presentation. | There was no clear or logical organizational structure, just lots of facts and makes little use of font, color, design, pictures, etc. to enhance presentation. |
| Content | Addresses the topic clearly and effectively. Gives background information, connection to modern times and its significance. | Mostly addresses the topic clearly and effectively. Same as “4” but missing 1 element | Pays some attention to the topic. Same as “4” but missing 2 elements | Little attempt to address the topic. |
| Presentation Style | Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time and generates a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others. | Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time and sometimes generates a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others. | Speaks clearly and distinctly most of the time but does not generate interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others. | Often mumbles or can not be understood and did not generate much interest in the topic being presented. |
| Posture and Eye Contact | Stands up straight, looks relaxed and confident. Establishes eye contact with everyone in the room during the presentation. | Stands up straight and establishes eye contact with everyone in the room during the presentation. | Sometimes stands up straight and establishes eye contact. | Slouches and/or does not look at people during the presentation. |