Name:________________Name:________________
Pacific Rim Memory Box
A Social Studies Research Project
Project Description: You are to research your Pacific Rim focus country and create a specialized report on your findings. Your final research project will consist of a memory box of a “trip” to your country. Your box and its contents will be completed by Tuesday, June 7.
Research: Time and materials for research will be provided in class, but time outside of class will be necessary also. Your sources may include books, magazine articles, encyclopedias, Internet sites, video, etc. A minimum of three resources is required. Go to the school or Kirkland Library and check out books on your country ASAP!
Required Topics of Research:
· Geography and General Facts
· Economics
· Government
· Religions
· Art and Literature
· Food
· A historical person, place, and event
Documentation of Research: Keep your research organized in your Pacific Rim folder. Your folder will be handed in on the final project due date and should include:
Memory
Box: Transform a shoebox into a model
of a traditional house form your country.
· Construct a three-dimensional roof on the lid using appropriate material, and decorate the outside realistically. Choose materials to best simulate the materials used in your country. Balsa wood, raffia, Popsicle sticks, bamboo skewers, cardboard, straw, burlap, twigs, etc. may work very well.
· Use paper, paint, markers, and any other materials you wish to decorate the sides of your house realistically.
· Create a “wall paper” pattern on paper that includes a traditional motif from your country. Use this paper to neatly cover the insides of your memory box and the inside of the lid.
· Your finished box will be a product of your through research, serious planning, and careful work. Be prepared to explain the design and materials you used.
Memory Box Contents:
Postcards: Write four 3 - 5 paragraph postcard reports about the research topics you study. Design a realistic front for each card that matches the content of the report. Plan the content of each postcard from your research notes.
· Your postcard report topics will be
1.
Geography
and General Information
2. Government or Economy
3. Religion or Arts and Literature
4. Food
· Include an introductory paragraph, at least two content paragraphs, and a closing paragraph.
· Use the writing process: prewrite, draft, revise, edit, and publish. You may hand write your reports in ink, however word processing is encouraged.
· Your reports should be written in a ten point font. Your reports need to fit on a five inch by eight inch postcard. You can change the margins to make this work.
· Plan the artwork for your postcard carefully. You may use colored pencils or watercolors as your medium. All artwork must be original. Like a real postcard, each piece should fill the entire 5” x 8” card and should be colorful and neatly done.
· Design and draw a stamp for each postcard. The stamp should reflect your research of your focus country.
Historical Brochure: Create an informative brochure on several aspects of your country’s history.
· Research the history of your focus country, and choose a historical person, event, and place (city, building, or monument) that is significant to your country.
· Make a brochure by tri-folding a piece of 8 ˝ “ x 14” paper (given in class).
·
Write
a one paragraph summary of each historical item on the three panels of the
brochure. Your paragraph should be approximately 50 words. Your paragraphs
should include the name of the person, event, or place, and answer the questions
Who? What? When? Where? and Why? .
· Use colored pencils to draw a picture of the person, the event, and the place.
· Design a cover that includes the title of your brochure, your focus country, and your name.
Timeline: Please note the following due dates for this project:
o Friday, April 29 Fact Sheet 1 (geography and General Facts) – start in class
o Monday, May 2 Fact Sheet 2 (Government)
o Wednesday, May 4 Fact Sheet 3 (Economy) – start in computer lab
o Friday, May 13 Fact Sheet 4 (Religion) – complete in class
o Wednesday, May 18 Postcard Report: Geography/ Facts – complete in class
o Friday, May 20 Fact Sheet 5 (Art and Literature)
o Monday, May 23 All materials for memory box/house need to be at school
o Tuesday, May 24 Postcard Report: Gov. or Economy – start in class
o Wednesday, May 25 Fact Sheet 6 (Food)
o Thursday , May 26 Postcard Report: Religion or Art &Lit – start in class
o Wednesday, June 1 Historical Brochure
o Friday, June 3 Postcard Report: Food
o Tuesday, June 7 Memory Box with contents and Pacific Rim Folder
(***On May 31 – June 3, you will have 75 minutes per day to work on your house).
o Thursday, June 9 Open House 1:30 – 2:30 for family, friends, and school.
