Unit of Study: We Are Texans

(Texas Performance Standards Project)

2008/09

We Are Texans is a social studies unit that allows students to study the differences between their own communities and those of others, researching what it would be like to live in other places. This project generates a deeper understanding of population groups that settled Texas. Students will create a multimedia presentation showing the contributions of the group of immigrants to Texas.

Linnks:

http://library.thinkquest.org/J001272F/history/historycultures.htm - List of Immigrants

http://www.texaspsp.org/fourth/taskdescriptions.php?p=1 = TPSP site

http://library.thinkquest.org/J001272F/history/historycultures.htm

http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/world.htm = World Map

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_research79e6

http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/

http://www.lsjunction.com/events/events.htm

http://home.netcom.com/~wandaron/txhist.html

http://www.memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/alt/polish4.html - Russian

THINKING SKILLS

Mind Benders: The purpose of this thinking exercises is to sharpen student's deductive thinking by encouraging them to comprehend and organize sets of clues to reach logical conclusions. Skills developed and utilized within the series improve students' reading comprehension, math, writing, science, and test-taking abilities at all grade/aptitude levels.

THINKING SKILLS LINKS

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/braint.htm

Unit of Study

Inventions

2005 A.Novak

1. Inventors and Inventions:

http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/inventor.html - Inventors and Inventions

http://www.bkfk.com/products/index.asp - Inventions by kids

My favorite inventor was?

His/her invention was?

2. FINDING AN IDEA:

Before listing your ideas, think about something people need, to make life better. Talk/interview to people about something they would like to see changed.

3. RESERCH AND PLANNING:

Use your invention plan to make an invention. Write about how your invention would help to solve a problem.

4. Links:

http://www.bkfk.com - Inventions by kids

http://www.noogenesis.com/inventing/pencil/pencil_page.html - new pencil

http://www.noogenesis.com/inventing/eraser_page.html - new eraser

http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/inventor.html - Inventors and Inventions

5. DEVELOPING AND TESTING:

Test and re-test your invention carefully. Make sure it works and is safe to use. Draw a picture of it, and then build a prototype.

6. Design and plan a commercial to market your product.