During the unit, students will need to complete one Big Project from Dr. Hartnell's approved list, which is found found below.
This list is not all encompassing, and students are permitted to pitch Dr. Hartnell a suggestion and/or different Big Project idea. These need to be approved prior to completion and submission.
Students may create their project using traditional means (markers, posters, etc.). If they choose to do this, they need to take a picture of their project and send it to Dr. Hartnell's school e-mail (hartnelb@wcsoh.org).
If students want to use their computers or on-line platforms to create their project, they are certainly welcome to do so. They should submit it as an attachment to Dr. Hartnell's school e-mail (hartnelb@wcsoh.org).
Please be sure to label all Big Project submissions as "Big Project" so they don't get confused (or graded) as a Mini-Project.
Students earn 100 points for completing their Big Project.
This list is not all encompassing, and students are permitted to pitch Dr. Hartnell a suggestion and/or different Big Project idea. These need to be approved prior to completion and submission.
Students may create their project using traditional means (markers, posters, etc.). If they choose to do this, they need to take a picture of their project and send it to Dr. Hartnell's school e-mail (hartnelb@wcsoh.org).
If students want to use their computers or on-line platforms to create their project, they are certainly welcome to do so. They should submit it as an attachment to Dr. Hartnell's school e-mail (hartnelb@wcsoh.org).
Please be sure to label all Big Project submissions as "Big Project" so they don't get confused (or graded) as a Mini-Project.
Students earn 100 points for completing their Big Project.
APPROVED BIG PROJECTS LIST
(Have a suggestion? Talk with Dr. Hartnell!)
Yearbook
Create a yearbook that reveals multiple characters and events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). You may create a physical copy of the yearbook or create it on-line. It should have the look and feel of an actual yearbook, complete with a cover, pictures of no fewer than 15 "students", some pictures of "clubs" and/or "sports" (either real pictures or photo-shopped versions), a "Most Likely To..." page, and an autograph page (with pretend messages left by these 15 students to each other). Be creative!
Create a yearbook that reveals multiple characters and events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). You may create a physical copy of the yearbook or create it on-line. It should have the look and feel of an actual yearbook, complete with a cover, pictures of no fewer than 15 "students", some pictures of "clubs" and/or "sports" (either real pictures or photo-shopped versions), a "Most Likely To..." page, and an autograph page (with pretend messages left by these 15 students to each other). Be creative!
First person/eyewitness account
Write a story about being present at a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Your story should include a title page with a brief introduction of who the eyewitness is and what event s/he is witnessing. It be typed and be no less than four pages (single spacing, not counting the title page).
Write a story about being present at a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Your story should include a title page with a brief introduction of who the eyewitness is and what event s/he is witnessing. It be typed and be no less than four pages (single spacing, not counting the title page).
Pen Pals
Write multiple letters back-and-forth between key people involved in a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). There should be no fewer than five letters per person involved in the pen pal arrangement. Each letter should be formatted and written like an actual letter (with each letter at least a half page in length).
Write multiple letters back-and-forth between key people involved in a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). There should be no fewer than five letters per person involved in the pen pal arrangement. Each letter should be formatted and written like an actual letter (with each letter at least a half page in length).
Diaries/Journals
Pick someone (real or fake) involved in a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and write a series of diary/journal entries. Your diary/journal should include a title page with a brief introduction of who is writing the journal (real or fake). Each diary/journal entry should be formatted and written like an actual diary/journal (with each entry at least a half page in length). There should be 10 total entries.
Pick someone (real or fake) involved in a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and write a series of diary/journal entries. Your diary/journal should include a title page with a brief introduction of who is writing the journal (real or fake). Each diary/journal entry should be formatted and written like an actual diary/journal (with each entry at least a half page in length). There should be 10 total entries.
Newsletter
Pick someone (real or fake) involved in a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and write a series of newsletters trying to convince people one way or another about a specific event. There should be no fewer than five newsletters, and each newsletter needs to be connected to a specific event (for example: a newsletter encouraging people to join Black Lives Matter). Each newsletter should contain enough information about the event and be convincing. Each should be formatted and written like an actual newsletter (with each newsletter at least a half page in length).
Pick someone (real or fake) involved in a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and write a series of newsletters trying to convince people one way or another about a specific event. There should be no fewer than five newsletters, and each newsletter needs to be connected to a specific event (for example: a newsletter encouraging people to join Black Lives Matter). Each newsletter should contain enough information about the event and be convincing. Each should be formatted and written like an actual newsletter (with each newsletter at least a half page in length).
Twitter
Create fake Twitter accounts (on paper, not for real) for people involved in major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Have them report or cover or "live tweet" from a historic event. These tweets should look and sound as real as possible. A total of 20 tweets needs to be submitted. All 20 can come from one person or they can be a "collection" of tweets from multiple people. The tweets should reference actual events. Be creative with the handles, hashtags, and tweets.
Create fake Twitter accounts (on paper, not for real) for people involved in major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Have them report or cover or "live tweet" from a historic event. These tweets should look and sound as real as possible. A total of 20 tweets needs to be submitted. All 20 can come from one person or they can be a "collection" of tweets from multiple people. The tweets should reference actual events. Be creative with the handles, hashtags, and tweets.
Facebook
Create fake Facebook accounts (on paper, not for real) for people involved in major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Have them post things to their Facebook "wall" from a historic event. These pages should look and sound as real as possible. If it's just one Facebook page, a total of 20 Facebook "posts" needs to be submitted. If you choose to create multiple Facebook pages, a total of 20 posts is needed combined across all pages. You may use picture posts only if they include text or an explanation of what's happening in the picture. The posts should reference actual events. Be creative with page names, hashtags, and posts.
Create fake Facebook accounts (on paper, not for real) for people involved in major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Have them post things to their Facebook "wall" from a historic event. These pages should look and sound as real as possible. If it's just one Facebook page, a total of 20 Facebook "posts" needs to be submitted. If you choose to create multiple Facebook pages, a total of 20 posts is needed combined across all pages. You may use picture posts only if they include text or an explanation of what's happening in the picture. The posts should reference actual events. Be creative with page names, hashtags, and posts.
Social Media
Create fake Instagram, Snapchat, or other social media accounts (on paper, not for real) for people involved in major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Have them post pictures and images from a historic event. These pages should look as real as possible (either because they are pictures of them actually at these events or because you photo-shopped them into the events). A total of 20 "posts" needs to be submitted. If you choose to create multiple social media accounts, a total of 20 posts is needed combined across all accounts. The posts should reference actual events. Be creative with page names, hashtags, and posts.
Create fake Instagram, Snapchat, or other social media accounts (on paper, not for real) for people involved in major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Have them post pictures and images from a historic event. These pages should look as real as possible (either because they are pictures of them actually at these events or because you photo-shopped them into the events). A total of 20 "posts" needs to be submitted. If you choose to create multiple social media accounts, a total of 20 posts is needed combined across all accounts. The posts should reference actual events. Be creative with page names, hashtags, and posts.
Social Justice
Write a report on social justice in Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Compare and contrast a whole host of events that brought us from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) to today.
Write a report on social justice in Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Compare and contrast a whole host of events that brought us from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) to today.
Card Game
Create a card game about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Create a card game about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Board Game
Create a board game about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Create a board game about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Alternate History
Write a "What if?" story about an alternate version of something that happened during a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). (For example: What if the U.S. lost the American Revolution?)
Write a "What if?" story about an alternate version of something that happened during a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). (For example: What if the U.S. lost the American Revolution?)
Children's Story
Write and illustrate a children's story about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Write and illustrate a children's story about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Reality TV Show
Using real political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical people from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877), create a Reality TV Show in which they must interact. You can write the script or actually film a pretend version. (CAUTION: Use discretion and tact when creating this.)
Using real political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical people from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877), create a Reality TV Show in which they must interact. You can write the script or actually film a pretend version. (CAUTION: Use discretion and tact when creating this.)
Political Cartoon Analysis
Gather 10 actual political cartoons drawn about major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events/people from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and explain what you can learn from them (one paragraph per cartoon).
Gather 10 actual political cartoons drawn about major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical events/people from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and explain what you can learn from them (one paragraph per cartoon).
Comic Book
Pick a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and draw your own comic book about it.
Pick a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and draw your own comic book about it.
Documentary
Make your own documentary about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Make your own documentary about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Time Travel Brochure
Pick a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and create a brochure to convince people to want to travel "back in time" to witness or be a part of/attend.
Pick a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and create a brochure to convince people to want to travel "back in time" to witness or be a part of/attend.
Attend and Perform at a Poetry Reading
Write a poem about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and record yourself presenting it at a local Poetry Reading.
Write a poem about a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event/person from Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877) and record yourself presenting it at a local Poetry Reading.
Interview
Pretend to interview someone who was alive during Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Ask them what they recall - or where they were - when a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from that time happened (like the Persian Wars or the Crusades). Write down their (pretend) responses or record yourself interviewing the (pretend) individual.
Pretend to interview someone who was alive during Colonial America (1607-1775), the American Revolution (1775-1783), Antebellum America (1783-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), or Reconstruction (1865-1877). Ask them what they recall - or where they were - when a major political, cultural, athletic, educational, societal, religious, entertainment, or historical event from that time happened (like the Persian Wars or the Crusades). Write down their (pretend) responses or record yourself interviewing the (pretend) individual.
