Destruction and Tragedy Project

Destruction and Tragedy Project

It’s time for our next research project! This is a graded project and students will be required to present to the class. We are making a timed slide with just visuals to share information about a tragic or destructive event in our history. Below are the steps to take to complete the project, resources, and helpful presentation tips. Have fun!

Here is an example of a visual, timed presentation: http://www.pechakucha.org/channels/kids/presentations/alfie

Possible Topics

List of Disasters & Tragedies

Each topic can only be chosen TWICE in each class, so be sure to have at least 4 topics that you would be interested in learning about.

-Use Simple English Wikipedia to learn more about the topics.  This will not be considered a source, just a place to gather information. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

  • Apollo 1 (The Space Race)
  • Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster
  • Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
  • Prestige Oil Spill
  • Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
  • Titanic
  • Cholera
  • Smallpox
  • Salem Witch Trials
  • The Boston Massacre
  • The French and Indian War
  • The Underground Railroad
  • The Great Recession (economic)
  • The Great Depression
  • Tiananmen Square Massacre
  • Assassination of JFK
  • The Plague
  • War in Afghanistan
  • Vietnam War
  • D-Day
  • Alamo
  • Persian Gulf War
  • The Trail of Tears
  • The Hindenburg disaster
  • 9-11
  • Joplin Tornado
  • Hurricane Katrina
  • Hurricane Sandy
  • Mt. St. Helen
  • 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
  • New Madrid Missouri Earthquake of 1811
  • San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
  • Dust Bowl
  • The Great Chicago Fire
  • Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (The Triangle Fire)
  • The Influenza of 1918
  • Japan Fukushima Nuclear Crisis
  • Chernobyl Nuclear Crisis
  • Grasshopper Swarm of 1931
  • Hiroshima
  • First Battle of Bull Run
  • Normandy
  • Waterloo
  • Japanese Internment Camp
  • BP Oil Spill
  • Nagasaki
  • Atomic Bomb on Japan
  • Marie Curie

Steps To Follow

Step 1: Choose Topic-tell Mrs. Ennis

Step 2: Locate 3 sources that are reliable. Use the Library Resources FIRST.

Step 3 (optional): IF you have to use another website, evaluate those sources using the Website Credibility Checklist (File-Make a copy, share with me). If one doesn’t score high enough, choose a new source.

Step 4: Use your Research Gathering Grid to complete the Who, What When, Where, Why, How and use two sources to confirm all the information.

Step 5: Highlight Important Facts yellow (Interesting stay unhighlighted).

Step 6: Use your sources and the information you’ve gathered to answer your conclusion question. Fill out the gathering grid for that question.

Step 7: Create Google Slides and decide how you will organize your information. (Remember you need 10-12 slides that will automatically advance after 15 seconds.)

Step 8: This step has two parts…. You can choose the order.

-Create your notes for each slide. Remember you will be talking for 15 seconds each slide. (Hint… most people speak at about 2 words a second. So each slide should have around 30 words … minus a few for the transition.) You can type notes in Google Slides or you can write on index cards. Your choice. I can print typed notes if needed.

-Choose images for your slides and place the images on the slide. Pixabay or Google Images (cite).

Step 9: Practice your presentation. Use Google’s Online Stopwatch to time how long you are speaking on each slide. If it is too short, add information. If it is too long, you either need to eliminate information or create two slides out of the information.

Step 10: Practice with a partner. Put your slides into presentation mode and give your presentation. Does your pace change?

Step 11: Evaluate yourself using PV LEGS. Practice on your own using the PV LEGS strategy.

Step 12: Practice using PV LEGS with a partner.

Bonus Step 13: Practice using PV LEGS at home with a sibling or parent!

Resources

Library resources here

I am a middle school teacher who loves to read ALL KINDS of books. I am part of the ARC-sharing group LitReviewCrew, a co-creator for the YouTube Channel Legit KidLit and the Podcast Read to Write KidLit. Check out my Linktree for more: https://linktr.ee/Mrsbookdragon

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