Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Description of Unit
In this project, the students work in groups to explore their local communities and aspects of
the local culture that are meaningful to them (local community and Houston area). After
researching, the students produce a final product that will provide a lasting and impactful
contribution to the community.
Group Research
A. Research Process
1. Selecting a topic. Each group chooses a subject from the local community
to study. The focus of study could be a local author, artist, neighborhood,
cultural component, political movement, or leader. Each group will submit a
topic proposal for approval by their classroom teacher.
2. Ask guiding questions. Once the group has selected a subject from the
community, students should think of five guiding questions to explore, such
as:
a. What does your subject contribute to the community?
b. What is the history behind your subject? How has your subject
changed and developed over time?
c. How has your subject impacted other communities?
d. What would your community be like without your subject?
While these examples are general, the groups questions should be
specific to the chosen cultural aspect. The questions should lead the
group to form research-based opinions. The group should develop a
hypothesis or some possible answers to the questions.
3. Designing and submitting a research proposal. The group should
include numerous components in the research proposal:
a. The cultural aspect the group will study
b. Three to five guiding questions the group will investigate and a
hypothesis
c. Primary and secondary resources the group will need to find answers
to questions, such as an expert on the local community, pieces of
literature or works of art created in the community, or museums and
exhibitions
In the process of writing the research proposal, the students may refine their
guiding questions.
Here are some questions to guide group identification of resources in the
community:
a. What libraries, research centers, archival institutions, museums, or
organizations will have information on the cultural aspect?
b. What are some key words, events, or people related to the subject?
c. What types of primary sources might exist? Who might you interview
to gather information?
d. What letters, diaries, or other first person narratives are available?
e. What manuscripts, songs, hymns, photographs, governmental records,
original newspaper articles or cartoons, or oral histories are available?
f.
D.
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Teachers will designate work days for students to collaborate with group members.
Students will also receive a grade for periodic progress checks on April 27 and May
8. The final project and all research requirements are due by Tuesday, May 19,
2015.