Mrs. Barry's 5th Grade - The Meaning of Christmas

Introduction

Mrs. Barry's 5th Grade students will research how different cultures around the world celebrate Christmas. After gathering and sharing information, students will discuss their findings to discover the unified meaning of Christmas from the different cultures, though separated in different geographical locations around the world.

Task

Each collaborative group will chose a different culture to research. The students will discover the geographical location of a certain people group, research their way of life, beliefs and traditions, and compare differences and likenesses of that culture with their own culture. Lastly, students will search the core of that culture's most meaningful celebration and compare it to our own celebration of life at Christmastime.

Process

1. Students will work in collaborative groups; each group member will be assigned a project job, requiring an element of meaningful research and development to be assimilated into the final product.

2. A schedule of reporting requirements will be agreed upon by the group.

3. Gather artifacts, schedule special appearances, create powerpoint, maps and art work, practice dialogue.

3. Drafting, proofing, and syncronizing student material; teacher checks will be required.

4. Final draft and group presentation.

Evaluation

Group Project Mrs. Barry's Fifth Grade-The Meaning of Christmas

	Exceeds 100 pts	Good 90 pts	Fair 80 pts	Poor 70 pts

Project	Project reflects student creativity and effort, is completely done, covers history, geography, traditions/ customs, art, folk tales, maps, and PowerPoint with embedded videos and websites.	Project is mostly done. Covers some of the main ideas in the assignment such as other countries' differences, traditions, some art, maps, and PowerPoint.	Project is somewhat done. Covers other locations, some traditions, maps, and PowerPoint.	Project is incomplete. Covers 3 or less points, PowerPoint.
Style/Creativity	The project has an element of creativity and style.	The project is somewhat creative.	The project lacks style and creativity.	The project is not creative.
Attractiveness	PowerPoint is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout and neatness.	PowerPoint is attractive in terms of design, layout and neatness.	PowerPoint is acceptably attractive, though it may be a bit messy.	PowerPoint is distractingly messy or poorly designed.
Text	Text is accurate and neatly written.	Most text is accurate and neatly written.	Little text and/or inaccurate drawings, not written neatly.	No written essay.
Work quality/effort	The work done demonstrates full effort that the learner is proud of. The effort that was put into this task is the best it can be by the learner.	The work was done with good effort that shows what the learner is capable of. It is evident that time was put into this poster.	Work is done with fair effort, but the quality is still not what the learner is capable of. It is evident that the work was rushed.	Work is done with little effort, quality is not what the learner is capable of. It is evident that the work was rushed and little time was spent on the final product. Work is incomplete.

Research	Research was done by following instructions in the classroom as well as completing the information on time. The student took the time to read the information and understand it.	Research was done in the class by just answering basic questions.	Research was completed by not typed on time	Research was not done

Bottom of Form

Conclusion

Students recognize different cultures have their own traditions that value life though they may express it in different ways and at different times during the calendar year.

Credits

References

Pictures of Christmas Around the World. (2014). https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8o8_b5NUlmAA7ySJzb…-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dchristmas%2Baround%2Bworld%26_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dchristmas%2Baround%2Bworld%26fr%3Dyhs-mozilla-001%26hsimp%3Dyhs-001%26hspart%3Dmozilla%26spos%3D12%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D91&w=1600&h=1115&imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-PJbO2E_AQck%2FUNJ3F8IeA9I%2FAAAAAAAAhtM%2FjO75qEBCCpM%2Fs1600%2FChristmas%2BAround%2Bthe%2BWorld%2BBulletin%2BBoard.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Frainbowswithinreach.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F12%2Fchristmas-season-bulletin-boards.html&size=315.6KB&name=photo+of%3A+%26quot%3B%3Cb%3EChristmas%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EAround%3C%2Fb%3E+the+%3Cb%3EWorld%3C%2Fb%3E%26quot%3B+Bulletin+Board+%28From+%3Cb%3EChristmas%3C%2Fb%3E+...&p=christmas+around+world&oid=426b18d43b37f855a6120679182e0f09&fr2=&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&tt=photo+of%3A+%26quot%3B%3Cb%3EChristmas%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EAround%3C%2Fb%3E+the+%3Cb%3EWorld%3C%2Fb%3E%26quot%3B+Bulletin+Board+%28From+%3Cb%3EChristmas%3C%2Fb%3E+...&b=61&ni=128&no=91&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=12l4d5tob&sigb=15u676msf&sigi=13me640n9&sigt=13fkjmnr6&sign=13fkjmnr6&.crumb=cPhRwy12pBg&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=mozilla

Teacher Page

This is a great end-of-unit project in which to leave off before the winter break. Students may be encouraged to expand their interests by gathering more information on their own over the break, keeping them motivated for learning until classes resume in January.