Mapping Local Heroes: Celebrating Community Contributions
Created byShirin Mathew
2 views0 downloads

Mapping Local Heroes: Celebrating Community Contributions

Grade 3HistorySocial Studies5 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
The 'Mapping Local Heroes' project invites third-grade students to explore and celebrate the contributions of diverse local figures who have played significant roles in their community's development. By researching the lives of women, indigenous people, and various racial and religious groups, students gain a richer understanding of community history through interviews, story collection, historical analysis, and map creation. With a focus on recognizing diversity, students employ research and cartography skills to produce a collaborative map of local heroes, culminating in presentations that share their insights and findings with the community. The project aims to foster an appreciation of diverse narratives and an understanding of historical impacts on community development.
Local HeroesCommunity ContributionsDiversityHistorical AnalysisMappingPresentation Skills
Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.
📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as third-grade historians and cartographers, identify and map the contributions of diverse local figures who have significantly shaped our community's past and present?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • Who are some local figures that have made significant contributions to our community?
  • How have women, indigenous people, and different racial and religious groups shaped our local community?
  • What methodologies can we use to research and map the contributions of local heroes?
  • Why is it important to remember and acknowledge the contributions of diverse individuals in our community?
  • How can we present our findings and appreciation for local heroes to others in our school or community?
  • In what ways have historical events influenced the roles and recognition of local community figures?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will identify and describe the contributions of diverse individuals and groups to their local community.
  • Students will analyze how historical events have influenced local community figures and their recognition.
  • Students will utilize research and mapping methodologies to document the role of local heroes in the community.
  • Students will understand the importance of recognizing and celebrating diversity in historical narratives.
  • Students will present their research findings in a clear and engaging manner to their peers and community.

State History Standards

3.H.1.1
Primary
Explain how the experiences and achievements of women, indigenous, religious, and racial groups have contributed to the development of the local community.Reason: The project focuses on identifying and mapping contributions of diverse local figures, directly aligning with the importance of understanding diverse groups’ roles in community development.
3.H.1.2
Primary
Explain the lasting impact historical events have had on local communities.Reason: This standard is aligned as the project involves examining historical events and their impact on local figures and communities.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Hero Interview Day

Arrange for students to meet and interview living local heroes or their descendants. Through personal stories and direct engagement, students gain fascinating insights into local history, fulfilling academic standards through real-world interaction and challenging assumptions about who can be considered a 'hero.'
📚

Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Local Hero Story Collectors

Students will begin by selecting and researching a local hero from diverse backgrounds, such as women, indigenous, religious, or racial groups. This activity emphasizes the importance of diverse narratives and their contributions to the community.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduce students to the concept of local heroes and their significance in the community.
2. Provide a list of diverse local figures and allow students to choose one to focus on.
3. Guide students in conducting initial research on the chosen figure using books, online resources, or interviews.
4. Encourage students to gather stories and anecdotes about the hero's contributions.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA research journal containing stories and insights about a chosen local hero from diverse backgrounds.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsThis activity aligns with 3.H.1.1, as students explore the contributions of diverse groups to community development.
Activity 2

Historical Impact Investigators

In this activity, students will delve deeper into the historical events that impacted their chosen local hero's life and contributions. They will explore how these events played a role in shaping the community.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Have students list key historical events from the time period of their local hero.
2. Research how these events influenced the contributions and experiences of their chosen hero.
3. Create a timeline marking significant events and their direct impact on the hero’s achievements.
4. Discuss findings with the class, highlighting the interaction between individual achievements and historical events.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed timeline and analysis of historical events relating to their local hero's life.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsThis activity aligns with 3.H.1.2, focusing on historical events' lasting impacts on local communities.
Activity 3

Community Hero Map Makers

Students will take the researched stories and historical analyses to create a community hero map. This map will visually represent the locations and contributions of diverse local figures.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Teach students basic mapping skills and introduce them to map symbols.
2. Have students plot the locations associated with their researched figures on a community map.
3. Annotate the map with key contributions and fun facts about each figure.
4. Compile student-created maps into a collaborative display for the community.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collaborative community hero map displaying contributions of diverse figures around the local area.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsThis activity supports both 3.H.1.1 and 3.H.1.2 by visually documenting diverse contributions and emphasizing historical impacts.
Activity 4

Hero Presentation Show

Students will present their findings and maps to the class and community members. This presentation will highlight the importance of each local hero and their historical significance.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Guide students in preparing a short presentation about their local hero.
2. Practice public speaking and presentation skills with peers.
3. Invite family, friends, and community members to attend the presentation day.
4. Provide a platform for Q&A from the audience to deepen understanding.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA class presentation event showcasing students' research and mapping projects to the community.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsThis activity highlights 3.H.1.1 and 3.H.1.2 by encouraging students to communicate their understanding of diverse contributions and historical events.
🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Mapping Local Heroes Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Understanding of Local Figures

Assessment of the student's ability to identify and explain the contributions of local figures from diverse backgrounds.
Criterion 1

Identification and Explanation

Evaluate the student's ability to accurately identify a local hero and explain their contributions to the local community.

Exemplary
4 Points

Identifies multiple aspects of the hero's contributions with comprehensive explanation and contextual understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Accurately identifies the hero and explains their main contributions to the community.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies the hero with basic explanation of their contributions that may lack depth.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify the hero or provide a clear explanation of their contributions.

Criterion 2

Diverse Representation

Evaluate how well the student's work acknowledges the contributions of diverse groups such as women, indigenous, religious, and racial groups.

Exemplary
4 Points

Thoroughly includes diverse perspectives and highlights contributions from multiple groups.

Proficient
3 Points

Includes perspectives from different groups and acknowledges their contributions.

Developing
2 Points

Includes limited perspectives with minimal acknowledgment of diversity.

Beginning
1 Points

Little to no representation of diverse groups' contributions.

Category 2

Research and Analysis

Evaluation of the student’s research skills and ability to analyze the impact of historical events.
Criterion 1

Research Effectiveness

Assessment of the student’s ability to conduct effective research about local heroes and related historical events.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates extensive research with multiple sources and detailed findings about the local hero's life and times.

Proficient
3 Points

Conducts thorough research using several sources to gather information about their hero.

Developing
2 Points

Uses limited sources and produces basic findings about their hero.

Beginning
1 Points

Relies on minimal sources with insufficient findings about their hero.

Criterion 2

Historical Analysis

Assessment of the student's ability to analyze historical events and their impact on the local hero's life and contributions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Offers profound insights into historical events' role in the hero's achievements with detailed analysis.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides a clear analysis of how historical events impacted their hero’s achievements.

Developing
2 Points

Provides a basic analysis with limited insights into historical impacts.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to connect historical events to their hero’s contributions.

Category 3

Presentation and Mapping Skills

Evaluation of the student's ability to present their findings and use mapping skills to convey information about local heroes.
Criterion 1

Presentation Clarity

Assessment of the student's ability to clearly and effectively communicate their findings during the presentation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Delivers an engaging presentation with clear, insightful content and strong public speaking skills.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents information clearly with good public speaking skills.

Developing
2 Points

Presents basic information with some public speaking challenges.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to present information clearly, with significant public speaking difficulties.

Criterion 2

Mapping Accuracy

Evaluation of the student's ability to accurately create and annotate maps related to their local hero's contributions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Produces a detailed, accurate map with comprehensive annotations that enhance understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Creates an accurate map with relevant annotations that are easy to understand.

Developing
2 Points

Creates a basic map with limited or unclear annotations.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to create an accurate map or meaningful annotations.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on what you learned about the contributions of diverse local figures to our community. How has this impacted your understanding of community development?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how effectively do you feel you used research and mapping methodologies to explore your local hero?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Why is it important to acknowledge the contributions of diverse individuals in historical narratives? Select the most compelling reason according to you.

Multiple choice
Required
Options
It ensures all voices are heard and recognized.
It provides a full and accurate account of history.
It promotes understanding and appreciation of diversity.
It helps to foster community pride and identity.
Question 4

Describe a personal insight you gained from conducting your research or participating in the Hero Presentation Show.

Text
Required
Question 5

How has participating in this project changed your perception of who can be considered a 'hero'?

Text
Optional