Democracy in Action

Ms. Ockimey, Ms. Braxton and Ms. JonesSocial Studies WebQuestGrade 5; Cohort 3Leonard V. Moore School

Student PagesIntroduction

This WebQuest integrates the language arts, math, social studies, and technology

curriculums as you embark on an exciting learning adventure about Democracy in the

United States of America today.

   

Now that power is spread between the Democrats and the Republicans, compromise will become key to

getting any legislation approved. However, since Republicans and Democrats have different ideas

about how to solve America's biggest problems, our political future will be one of the greatest tests of

democracy in action. Create your own platform to let your voice be heard!

Task

• First, you will read articles about current events in politics.

• Then, you will complete interactive activities related to the articles.

• Next, you will be introduced to your mission as an effective citizen.

▫ Research information about political parties and their views.

▫ Identify with your political beliefs by inventing a political party.

▫ Create a name and symbol for your political party.

▫ Compose an advertisement and speech about why your political party is the best choice for

our government today.

• Finally, present your party’s political platform to your class.

ProcessPart 1: Article ResearchScholastic Election 2010 Article

America Votes! Article

Republicans Website

Democrats Website

What is Congress? Article

Election Map

Congress by the Numbers

Composition of Congress

Part 2: Interactive Activities- Use the “Congress by the Numbers” link to create 2

bar graphs. The bar graphs should show the number of representatives and senators that represent each party. Use this graph maker.

Create A Graph

- Use the “Composition of Congress” link to create a graph showing the change in the number of Democrats in Senate from 1999- now. Create another graph showing the change in the number of Republicans in Senate from 1999- now. Use the link below. Remember to choose an appropriate graph. Hint: These graphs show change over time.

Create a Graph

- Use RACE to answer one out of the three open-ended questions below about the research articles.▫ Which article was your favorite? Why?▫ Which article would you recommend to a friend to

teach them about the current political conflicts in our nation? Why?

▫ Which article taught you new political information? Explain the new information that you learned.

Part 3: Create your Advertisement▫ Your advertisement has to include:

your invented political party’s name

a symbol for your political party

graphics: words, pictures, or slogans

that present your political party as the

best one ever

▫ Make sure it is neat, colorful, and

creative.

Part 4: Written Speech•Write your speech.

▫Write about why your political party is the best choice for our government today. Use description, details, and convincing

reasons to support your opinion. Add transition words to help your speech

flow. Check your speech for correct sentence

construction and mechanics.

Part 5: Convince the Class

•Oral Presentation

▫Present your advertisement to the class. Use loud and clear voices. Refer to your advertisement as you present

each section of your speech. Make your presentation interesting and

convincing! Smile and have fun!

Rubric for Graphshttp://orchard.sbschools.net/library/tasks/rubrics/5thgrade/

graph.htm

Open-Ended Scoring Rubric

4clearly demonstrates understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides an insightful explanation/opinion that links to or extends aspects of the text

3demonstrates an understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides some explanation/opinion using situations or ideas from the text as support

2may address all of the requirements, but demonstrates a partial understanding of the task, and uses text incorrectly or with limited success resulting in an inconsistent or flawed explanation

1demonstrates minimal understanding of the task, does not complete the requirements, and provides only a vague reference to or no use of the text

0irrelevant or off-topic

Reading

EvaluationRubrics

AdvertisementAdvertisement ExcellentExcellent

44

GoodGood

33

FairFair

22

PoorPoor

11

A. Required ContentA. Required Content

(party’s name, party’s(party’s name, party’s

symbol, graphics)symbol, graphics)

All required information All required information is displayed is displayed

Most of the required Most of the required information is displayedinformation is displayed

Some of the required Some of the required information is displayedinformation is displayed

Very little or no required Very little or no required information is displayedinformation is displayed

B. CreativityB. Creativity Shows maximum Shows maximum amount of creativityamount of creativity

Shows a moderate Shows a moderate amount of creativityamount of creativity

Shows some creativityShows some creativity Shows very little or no Shows very little or no creativitycreativity

C. Effort C. Effort

(neatness, color, (neatness, color, organization)organization)

Put forth maximum Put forth maximum efforteffort

Put forth a moderate Put forth a moderate amount of effortamount of effort

Put forth some effortPut forth some effort Put forth little to no Put forth little to no efforteffort

Evaluation (continued) Rubric

Written SpeechWritten Speech ExcellentExcellent

44

GoodGood

33

FairFair

22

PoorPoor

11

A. InformationA. Information Contains all required Contains all required information.information.

Contains most of the Contains most of the required information.required information.

Contains some of the Contains some of the required information.required information.

Contains little or none of Contains little or none of the required information.the required information.

B. ContentB. Content Details are very Details are very convincing.convincing.

Details are mostly Details are mostly convincing.convincing.

Details are somewhat Details are somewhat convincing.convincing.

Details are not Details are not convincing.convincing.

C. OrganizationC. Organization Speech is well organized. Speech is well organized. Transitions and headings Transitions and headings are always used between are always used between key ideas.key ideas.

Speech is moderately Speech is moderately organized. Transitions organized. Transitions and headings are usually and headings are usually used between key ideas.used between key ideas.

Speech is somewhat Speech is somewhat organized. organized.

Transitions and headings Transitions and headings are used somewhat are used somewhat between key ideas.between key ideas.

Speech has very little or Speech has very little or no organization. no organization.

Transitions are rarely or Transitions are rarely or not used between key not used between key ideas. ideas.

D. Sentence D. Sentence ConstructionConstruction

Variety in syntax is Variety in syntax is effectiveeffectiveVery few or no errorsVery few or no errors

Some varietySome varietyGenerally correctGenerally correct

Little variety in syntaxLittle variety in syntaxMonotonyMonotonySome errorsSome errors

Numerous errorsNumerous errorsAssortment of Assortment of incomplete and/or incomplete and/or incorrect sentencesincorrect sentences

E. MechanicsE. Mechanics Few or no errorsFew or no errors Some errors that do not Some errors that do not interfere with meaninginterfere with meaning

Pattern of errors evidentPattern of errors evident Numerous serious errors; Numerous serious errors; may detract from may detract from meaningmeaning

EvaluationRubrics (continued)

Oral PresentationOral Presentation ExcellentExcellent

44

GoodGood

33

FairFair

22

PoorPoor

11

A. ToneA. Tone Always spoke loudlyAlways spoke loudly Spoke loudly most of the Spoke loudly most of the timetime

Spoke loudly sometimesSpoke loudly sometimes Rarely or never spoke Rarely or never spoke loudlyloudly

B. ClarityB. Clarity Always spoke clearlyAlways spoke clearly Spoke clearly most of Spoke clearly most of the timethe time

Spoke clearly sometimesSpoke clearly sometimes Rarely or never spoke Rarely or never spoke clearlyclearly

C. Focus on AudienceC. Focus on Audience Kept eye contact with Kept eye contact with the audience most of the the audience most of the timetime

Kept eye contact with Kept eye contact with the audience sometimesthe audience sometimes

Rarely kept eye contact Rarely kept eye contact with the audiencewith the audience

Never kept eye contact Never kept eye contact with the audiencewith the audience

D. Advertisement as D. Advertisement as ReferenceReference

Always referred to the Always referred to the advertisement to present advertisement to present their viewpointstheir viewpoints

Referred to the Referred to the advertisement to present advertisement to present their viewpoints most of their viewpoints most of the timethe time

Referred to the Referred to the advertisement to present advertisement to present their viewpoints their viewpoints sometimessometimes

Rarely or never referred Rarely or never referred to the advertisement to to the advertisement to present their viewpointspresent their viewpoints

Conclusion

•Congratulations! You have analyzed and contributed to the politics of our nation. You have begun your journey to becoming an effective citizen!

Teachers’ Page

• Focus: “Democracy in Action” is an interactive social studies unit that is sure to increase student motivation for learning history. This WebQuest integrates the language arts, math, technology, and social studies curriculums. The students experience the learning of political parties in the present state of our nation.

• Prerequisites: Students should have had prior experiences and a basic knowledge of map skills, civics,

creating graphs, power point presentations, internet research, oral presentations, advertisements, and writing persuasive speeches.

• Class Description: This WebQuest will be completed by all three fifth grade classes in Cohort 3. It is composed

regular education students, special education students, ELL students, basic skills students, and gifted and talented students.

• New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards:▫ Social Studies: 6.4,5D5, 13, 15▫ Language Arts: 3.3,5D1-9; 3.2, 5A6, 7, 8, 13; B2, 9, 10; C1; D1-5, 10, 13,15, 16 ;

3.1,5E2,G1,4,6,9,10,11 ▫ Technology: 8.1,5B6 ▫ Math: 4.4,6A1, 2, 3

• Objectives/Goals: SWBAT:▫ Research and identify the platforms of current political parties. ▫ Graph and analyze data of the current Congressional structure.▫ Compose a persuasive speech.▫ Create and construct an advertisement.▫ Persuade fellow classmates to support their political party’s platform as an oral presentation.▫ Synthesize and analyze information on democracy and political parties.▫ Evaluate the effects of current Congressional structure on our democratic nation.