Title:
A Walk Through History
Subject:
 Social Studies
Grades:
 Seventh
Overview
 In observance of Black History Month, students will research the lives of African Americans who have made special contributions to American life and society. The student's will write a short biography or script highlighting the event or person's contribution. In addition students will create a newscast of their biographies and significant event in African-American History.
The students will need to use the Internet to do research on their chosen African Americans or event. If the Internet is not working the students can do the research in the library from books and journals. This will not be as efficient or informational as the Internet. The use of the Internet will not only provide information that the students will need but it will also can provide the necessary props the students will need to do their presentations. For example the students can use the Internet to find pictures of the individual or event.
Benchmarks:

Identify the basic components of online communication.
Locate and use the Internet resources through links.
Develop systematic search methods to obtain more relevant information from search.
Access, select, and analyze information from a wide range of online resources.

Objectives:
 The students will:
1. Recognize contributions made by African Americans to American life and
society.
2. Defend ideas and assertions with factual research.
3. Write a well-organized description of African Americans contributions or historical event to American life and society.
4. Create a video honoring African Americans and their contributions.

Materials:
This lesson requires the following materials:
1. Videotape and other resources as an overview of the African American experience in US history.
2. Access to the Internet, encyclopedias, reference books and other informational materials relating to African Americans and events.
Core:
1. Brainstorm African Americans and their specific contributions to
American life and society.
2. Pass out list of African American Leaders.
3. Each student choose one African American Leader or event to research.
4. Tell students they are researching to answer the question, "What
contribution did you make to American life and society?"
5. Once the students have discovered the answer to the question, a brief
description of their contribution is to be written.
6. After the description is completed, students are to construct a script in honor of the individual.
7. Upon completion of the script, students will videotape their script as a news broad cast.

Task:
 At the end of this project, students will have:
1. A biography of an African-American, or a description of a significant event in African-American history.
2. The different categories to choose from:
a. Athletes
b. Historical Events
c. Entertainers
d. Civil Rights Leaders
e. Educators and Scientists
3. Pictures or models
4. Background information.
5. Why they were important or the event important.
6. A typed script of the students program and any props needed to tape the program.
7. Students will copy the facts that are believed to be important for the project. Students can use the following websites to do their research from the Internet:
www.biographies.com
www.usinfo.state.gov/usa/blackhis/
www.blackflix.com/
Culminating Activity: The students will videotape as a news broadcast about what they learned about their African Americans' contributions to American life and society
Narrative:

This particular assignment will take approximately four to five days to complete. I'm just going to reflect of the The first day of the lesson plan. The first thing I would do is hand out the assignment sheet to the students making sure that each student received a sheet. I would then begin to explain the assignment.
Mr. Alliton,"Today, we will began an assignment in honor of African American history month. I will be dividing you into groups of five students per group."
Student#1, "Can we pick our own groups."
Mr. Alliton,"No, I have already randomly selected you into groups."
I now would began reading the overview of the assignment as the students follow along on their own sheet.
Mr. Alliton,"In observance of Black History Month, students will research the lives of African Americans who have made special contributions to American life and society. The student's will write a short biography or script highlighting the event or person's contribution. In addition students will create a newscast of their biographies and significant event in African-American History."
I would now ask for volunteers for the next paragraph to read out loud.
Mr. Alliton, "Would anybody like to read the next paragraph?"
I had about ten students raise their hands and I selected student#2.
Student#2,"The students will need to use the Internet to do research on their chosen African Americans or event. If the Internet is not working the students can do the research in the library from books and journals. This will not be as efficient or informational as the Internet. The use of the Internet will not only provide information that the students will need but it will also can provide the necessary props the students will need to do their presentations. For example the students can use the Internet to find pictures of the individual or event."
After student#2 read I would have the students bring up the Internet Explorer and type in the address biography.com.
Mr. Alliton,"At this time I would like you to go online and type in biography.com."
Student#3,"How do you spell biography?"
I would then proceed to the board and write the correct spelling of biography.
I would then briefly show them and explain how to go through the web site.
After searching the site I would the have the students get their assignment sheets out and explain the assignment objectives to them.
Mr. Alliton," Students please get out your assignment sheets and lets take a look at the assignment objectives. The objectives are as follow:1. Recognize contributions made by African Americans to American life and
society. 2. Defend ideas and assertions with factual research. 3. Write a well-organized description of African Americans contributions or historical event to American life and society. 4. Create a video honoring African Americans and their contributions. Are their any questions?
Student#4,"What is a role model?"
Mr. Alliton,"A role model is someone in society that we look up to, or someone who has accomplish something significant in our society."
Student#5,"Can I do Michael Jordan?"
Mr Alliton,"Once you get into your group, you will decide who is going to do what role model."
At this time I will put the students into their groups.
Mr. Alliton,"O.K. students I am going to put you into groups of 5 students. While you are in your groups you will have fifteen minutes to decide what role model each student will do. You will need one role model from each of the five categories: Athletes, Historical Events, Entertainers, Civil Rights Leaders, Educators and Scientists."
At this time I would hand out the Role Model sheet to the students, and put the students into their groups.
Mr. Alliton,"The Role model sheet is broken down into the five categories each group must select one person from each category. You will have fifteen minutes to come up with a role model per person. At the end of the fifteen minutes you will be going on line to do research on your role model. You will need to copy down the facts that you feel are important to your person. Some web sites that you can use to do your research are as followed: www.biographies.com; www.usinfo.state.gov/usa/blackhis/;
www.blackflix.com/."
I would then proceed to the board and make sure the web sites are on the board. While in the groups I had to put out some small fires because most of the want to do the same people.
After fifteen minutes I move the students to the computers and begin doing their research.
Mr. Alliton,:O.K. students it has been fifteen minutes you know need to begin your research on your role model you have the remaining part of the hour to do your research.
I would make sure that all the students are working on their research. At the end of the hour I would gather the students attention and go over what is going to happen next.
Mr. Alliton,"O.K. students I need your attention, tomorrow we will spend some time researching your project and getting back into your group and putinng your presentations together. Have a nice day and I will see you tomorrow."

Reflection:
 After reflecting on the first day of the lesson I came up with some conclusions. The first thing I would do different is that I would show examples of past student presentations. Also I would make sure that the students receive all the handouts at the beginning of class and then go through them each. I would also develop a fact sheet so that the students could fill out while they are doing their research. I would also have the students draw for their catagory on which role model they are going to do. I would make sure that all the pernint information is already on the board before class started.