In this project, students create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to raise awareness around immigration, housing or labor unions. The PSA will draw on the unit’s themes and material to highlight the history and evolution of each topic choice. Students may choose one of the three topics that they feel the most connected to or interested in. The topics are broad, so students are encouraged to follow their interests to discover new facets or details of their topic to guide their project. The format of this assignment also allows for student choice. Students may create, for example, a pamphlet, video, podcast, comic, magazine article, Instagram/Twitter feed, blog, etc. The audience for the PSA will be fellow students and local communities. In-text citations are encouraged, and all projects must include certain elements for grading (see student-friendly rubric for more details). The class should review the model example of a housing brochure.
This project is designed for students to work independently during class time, researching individualized topics and creating unique products. Teachers should structure work time according to students’ needs and provide a wide range of resources (books, computers, laptops, touchpads, etc.). To keep students accountable for their ongoing work, exit tickets and reflections may be used at the end of each day to keep students on track, check in on needs and requests for the teacher(s). Furthermore, exit tickets are designed to have students reflect on the content and/or process of their research. Exit ticket reflection questions may include:
Depending on the teacher(s) philosophies and grading procedures, a daily class conduct grade may also be considered as part of the assignment. The teacher should walk around and help individuals and may observe and take note of how students research independently.
Student Procedure:
This project is designed for students to work independently during class time, researching individualized topics and creating unique products. Teachers should structure work time according to students’ needs and provide a wide range of resources (books, computers, laptops, touchpads, etc.). To keep students accountable for their ongoing work, exit tickets and reflections may be used at the end of each day to keep students on track, check in on needs and requests for the teacher(s). Furthermore, exit tickets are designed to have students reflect on the content and/or process of their research. Exit ticket reflection questions may include:
- What were the most challenging and easiest parts to research for you today?
- What surprised you the most and/or have you changed any ideas you used to have about this subject?
- What have you noticed about yourself in completing independent work?
- What is one thing you would like to improve on?
- What specific skills do you want more help on?
- If you could do this project over again, what would you do differently? What would you change?
Depending on the teacher(s) philosophies and grading procedures, a daily class conduct grade may also be considered as part of the assignment. The teacher should walk around and help individuals and may observe and take note of how students research independently.
Student Procedure:
- Choose one topic from the following three issues that faced Progressive Era Americans:
- Tenement Housing
- Immigration
- Labor Unions
- Read the background information
- Choose a PSA product
- Generate 2-3 questions about the topic to guide your research
- For each work day, students are required to complete accountability exit tickets and reflections that will be returned to the teacher daily