Country Reports are due on
May 14th. During this week student will have the opportunity to present their reports to their classmates. Parents are welcome as well. We will have sign up times early in the week prior to presentations so parents can make plans to join us if possible. Please plan for 15 to 25 minutes to watch the presentation.
Also, 6th Graders have been invited to display their reports for Multicultural Night at Butler. This is on
Monday, May 7th. If your child wants to meet this earlier deadline, please note that they are not required to have the written report completed for this special event. However, we would really love to have the visual display/trifold as part of this multicultural learning experience. Students may choose to stay near their display to answer questions about their country, or they may visit the different activities.
I have country report groups with differentiated minimum writing requirements. Student groups were assigned and given instructions at school, so they know their group number. Below are the trifold directions requirements, the writing requirements for each group with the rubrics, and the guiding questions for every report (these I posted at the end in bold). Please note that each student has received their own copies. Students will have at least one hour in school each day, with computer access, to work on their reports. Additional work at home on this project will probably be necessary for most students.
Trifold Display Elements for Country Reports
Each student must have a trifold display board for their country report presentation. This may be either the 36 x 48 inch format or the smaller one, depending on the size and quantity of your information.
Every trifold display must contain the following information.
· The country name in a prominent position. Country name should be written in large format letters, colored or decorated. You may use cut out letters or craft letters.
· Display a hand drawn map of your country. Stay true to proportions, and political and geographical boundaries. Include the surrounding countries or bordering bodies of water, at least one major river, the capital, and at least three of the largest cities. The size can be letter size (8.5 x 11 in) or greater.
· A hand drawn and colored flag from your country. Be sure to research your flag dimensions and use what you’ve learned about ratios and proportion to determine the size of your flag reproduction.
· A paper doll in your countries traditional dress. This may be drawn and colored on, or you may use real fabric to dress you doll. (your teacher will supply the doll cutout)
· 2 to 5 interesting pictures or sketches of your country. These may be printed from the Internet, cut out of magazines, or use real photographs or postcards if your family has visited the country. You may also draw pictures. Each picture must include a neatly written or typed caption describing the scene.
· An example of the country’s monetary unit – this may be printed, drawn, or use actual money. If your country uses the Euro, please include its original unit as well.
· A graph showing the average temperature of your country through the months of the year.
· A chart or table including the following information: the total area of the country in square miles, the population of the country, the population of the capital city, the population of the next three largest cities, the name of the monetary unit and its comparison in worth to the U.S. dollar, three major rivers and their length, the three most common religions and the percentage of the population that follow those religions.
For example:
The United States of America
| Area | 3,794,100 square miles |
| National Population | 313 million people |
| Population of Capitol (Washington D.C.) Population of New York, NY Population of Los Angeles, CA Population of Chicago, IL | 617,996 19,465,197 3,792,621 2,695,598 |
| Monetary Unit | The dollar $1 USD= 0.76 Euros |
| Major Rivers | Mississippi River (2,340 miles) Missouri River (2,540 miles) Yukon (1,980 miles) |
| Major Religions | Protestant (51.3%) Roman Catholic (23.9%) No religion (16.1%) |
Your trifold must have a good layout. It must be neat and visually pleasing.
In addition to the required elements above, you may include any of the following suggestions, or some of your own ideas if you still have room on your trifold display. (Remember these are things you can talk about during your presentation.) Some ideas include a recipe, graphs on population growth over a hundred years, interesting facts, a travel brochure, additional pictures with captions, and/or pictures of animals that live in that country, birth rate/death rate, list the territories/provinces, other ideas...
You can use borders, craft paper, mount pictures on construction paper frames, contrasting colors, scrapbooking supplies, or any other idea you have to make it look pretty and artistic.
Country Reports Group #1
A country report is a report for which you research information about a specific country and put this information into a written form, which will then be presented orally to the class.
You will need to do the following in order to complete this assignment:
1. Write neatly or type in 12 point font, double-spaced, complete answers to each of the questions about your country. Write it in your own words.
2. Fill out bibliography cards for five different resources. You must have one encyclopedia, one book, one website, one online database, and a fifth source of your choice.
3. Decorate a trifold with a hand drawn flag, hand drawn map, chart (see additional requirements) and graph.
4. Present a MEMORIZED 10-12 minute report to the class using information from your research pages. You may hold cards with notes to help you remember what you’re going to say BUT YOU MAY NOT READ THE REPORT!
5. Bring visual aids (artifacts) from your country or items that represent your country as an extra credit option. These could include pottery, pictures, clothing, food, music, or anything else that will help your oral report.
6. Fill out an evaluation form, given to you by your teacher, on the day of your report.
The following pages will indicate the topics for which you should try to find information. You should a complete, edited sentence ON EACH TOPIC QUESTION. If you cannot find enough information on one of the questions, talk to your teacher about an appropriate substitution question. You may begin with any the topics listed in the packet; you do not have to begin with #1 on the next page. However, please give each topic a heading on your final copy.
Word Report Grading Rubric #1
Your reports will be graded on the following:
· 10-12 minutes MEMORIZED oral presentation= 100 points
· Answer all questions with a complete, well-edited sentence. Written neatly or typed in 12 point font, double-spaced pages. = 130 points
· 5 completed bibliography cards = 50 points
· Small or large trifold with the following elements = 100 points
§ Hand drawn flag
§ Hand drawn map
§ Chart (see requirements for chart)
§ Graph
§ Doll in traditional dress
· Using work and research time wisely = 75 points
· Evaluation form (given to you by the teacher) completely filled out = 20 points
· Extra credit (up to 25 points) = Although not necessary, this could include artifacts, store-bought food, music, clothing, or other items that represent your country.
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE= 475 plus up to 25 points for extra credit
Country Reports Group#2
A country report is a report for which you research information about a specific country and put this information into a written form, which will then be presented orally to the class.
You will need to do the following in order to complete this assignment:
1. Type in 12 point font, double-spaced, 8-10 pages of interesting information about your country. Write it in your own words.
2. Fill out bibliography cards for five different resources. You must have one encyclopedia, one book, one website, one online database, and a fifth source of your choice.
3. Decorate a trifold with a hand drawn flag, hand drawn map, chart (see additional requirements) and graph.
4. Present a MEMORIZED 10-12 minute report to the class using information from your research pages. You may hold cards with notes to help you remember what you’re going to say BUT YOU MAY NOT READ THE REPORT!
5. Bring visual aids (artifacts) from your country or items that represent your country as an extra credit option. These could include pottery, pictures, clothing, food, music, or anything else that will help your oral report.
6. Fill out an evaluation form, given to you by your teacher, on the day of your report.
The following pages will indicate the topics for which you should try to find information. You should write approximately 2/3 of a page ON EACH TOPIC. If you cannot find enough information to fill out 2/3 of a page sheet per topic, write as much as you can on each topic to make a total of 8-10 pages. You may begin with any the topics listed in the packet; you do not have to begin with #1 on the next page. However, please give each topic a heading on your final copy.
Word Report Grading Rubric # 2
Your reports will be graded on the following:
· 10-12 minutes MEMORIZED oral presentation= 100 points
· 8-10 pages, 12 point font, double-spaced pages of writing (approximately 1 page per topic) = 130 points
· 5 completed bibliography cards = 50 points
· Small or large trifold with the following elements = 100 points
§ Hand drawn flag
§ Hand drawn map
§ Chart (see requirements for chart)
§ Graph
§ Doll in traditional dress
· Using work and research time wisely = 75 points
· Evaluation form (given to you by the teacher) completely filled out = 20 points
· Extra credit (up to 25 points) = Although not necessary, this could include artifacts, store-bought food, music, clothing, or other items that represent your country.
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE= 475 plus up to 25 points for extra credit
Country Reports Group #3
A country report is a report for which you research information about a specific country and put this information into a written form, which will then be presented orally to the class.
You will need to do the following in order to complete this assignment:
1. Type in 12 point font, double-spaced, 13 pages of interesting information about your country. Write it in your own words.
2. Fill out bibliography cards for five different resources. You must have one encyclopedia, one book, one website, one online database, and a fifth source of your choice.
3. Decorate a trifold with a hand drawn flag, hand drawn map, chart (see additional requirements) and graph.
4. Present a MEMORIZED 10-12 minute report to the class using information from your research pages. You may hold cards with notes to help you remember what you’re going to say BUT YOU MAY NOT READ THE REPORT!
5. Bring visual aids (artifacts) from your country or items that represent your country as an extra credit option. These could include pottery, pictures, clothing, food, music, or anything else that will help your oral report.
6. Fill out an evaluation form, given to you by your teacher, on the day of your report.
The following pages will indicate the topics for which you should try to find information. You should write approximately one full sheet ON EACH TOPIC. If you cannot find enough information to fill out one full sheet, write as much as you can on each topic. You may begin with any of the topics listed in the packet; you do not have to begin with #1 on the next page. However, please give each topic a heading on your final copy.
Word Report Grading Rubric #3
Your reports will be graded on the following:
· 10-12 minutes MEMORIZED oral presentation= 100 points
· 13 pages, 12 point font, double-spaced pages of writing (approximately 1 page per topic) = 130 points
· 5 completed bibliography cards = 50 points
· Small or large trifold with the following elements = 100 points
§ Hand drawn flag
§ Hand drawn map
§ Chart (see requirements for chart)
§ Graph
§ Doll in traditional dress
· Using work and research time wisely = 75 points
· Evaluation form (given to you by the teacher) completely filled out = 20 points
· Extra credit (up to 25 points) = Although not necessary, this could include artifacts, store-bought food, music, clothing, or other items that represent your country.
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE= 475 plus up to 25 points for extra credit
Guiding Questions for ALL Written Reports
1. Find information about why your country has its current name
Some things to look for might be:
a. Was it originally called by another name?
b. Does it have a nickname?
c. Was it named after a particular person?
d. What else can you find about its name?
2. Find information about the early history of your country.
a. Some things to look for might be:
b. Who were the first people who lived in your country?
c. Who are some of the explorers? Invaders?
d. What else can you find out about the early history of your country?
3. Find some information about the recent history of your country.
a. Some things to look for might be:
b. Have they gained independence from any dictators?
c. How have wars influenced your country?
d. What are recent things that have happened in the history of your country?
e. What else?
4. Find some information about the physical features of your country.
a. Some things to look for would be:
b. Thing highest point in the country. The lowest point.
c. The size of the country in area.
d. Compare the country’s size to one of the states in America.
e. Most well-known lakes, streams, rivers, mountains, etc.
f. What else can you find about the physical look of the country?
5. Find some information about the following:
a. What is the population of the country?
b. What is the capital of the country?
c. How is the country divided? Does it have states, provinces, or territories?
d. What are the three largest cities?
e. What other countries surround your country?
*You need to be able to point out your country to the class when you give your oral report!
6. Find some information about the climate of your country.
Some possible things to look for would be:
a) What is the highest temperature your country usually reaches?
b) What is the lowest temperature?
c) What is the average rainfall?
d) What kind of climate does your country have? For example, is it mostly desert, tropical, rainforest, continental, etc?
7. Find information about the major resources of your country.
a. Some things to look for would be:
b. Kinds of soil found in your country.
c. Kinds of minerals found in your country.
d. Kinds of plants that grow in your country.
e. Kinds of animals that live in your country.
8. Find some information about the economy of your country.
a. Kinds of crops grown in your country.
b. Things that are exported to other countries.
c. How much money most people make on average.
d. Kinds of things that need to be imported to your country from elsewhere.
e. What is the money called? What else can you find out about the money?
f. What else?
9. Find some information about education in your country.
a. At what age do children start school?
b. How many years must they attend school?
c. What is the literacy rate? (Percentage of people who can read/write)
d. How is education the same as Utah’s education?
e. How is it different?
f. What else can you find about education in your country?
10.Find some information about the customs of your country. Some possible things to look for would be:
a. How do the people greet each other in your country?
b. What should visitors know, so they won’t do something embarrassing if they go to your country?
c. What are the important rules to remember when eating in your country?
d. What does a visitor need to know about how to dress when visiting your country?
e. What else can you find about the customs of your country?
11.Find some interesting information about the food of your country.
a. Make a list of the favorite foods of your country.
b. Include a recipe of one of the foods.
c. What kinds of foods do most people eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
d. What else can you find about the food?
12.Find some interesting facts about the people of your country.
Some things to look for would be:
a. What do people do for recreation?
b. What are the most popular sports?
c. What holidays do they celebrate?
d. What are they major forms of transportation in your country?
e. What is the language of your country? Find some words in your country’s language and learn how to pronounce them, and what they mean.
13.What are the most famous landmarks of your country?
These might include:
a. Buildings
b. Monuments
c. Statues
d. Rivers
e. Lakes
f. Ruins from long ago
g. National Parks
h. What else?
14.Other things you should find information about:
a. The religions most people from your country belong to.
b. Famous people from your country.
c. How the flag of your country was designed.
d. Myths and legends from your country.
