Wendy's+Unit

=Identity and Ancient China= ==How does history impact who we are? Does our ancient history matter? What is identity? How do we form identity? Can identity change? What can change our identity? In what way might stories help us find our identity?== (social studies and language arts, grade 5)

Overview
The theme is connecting history to identity. We will look at the history of china but also connect that to book characters who are Chinese. The point is to look for historical events and ideas that “make it through” to the present in the characters we read about. In addition we will think about how identity can change over time and because of events.



What did this unit used to look like?
This unit used to be 3 seperate units: a unit on Ancient Chinese history and two language arts units (one per book). There has always been a map assessment in social studies and an essay at the end of the first language arts unit. The second language arts unit has also had some sort of "new section" creation project. However, creating an overall driving question of "what is identity" has united the units and ideas that we are thinking about and studying for those weeks.

Reflection on the process
media type="file" key="PLP reflection May.mov" width="135" height="135"

Thoughts for Next Time
Although there is at this point no final public display beyond the classroom, it is on its way to being a PBL unit. Students did read their final work to the class and we used a google form to give feedback. There were a few options for presentations, but not enough so that there would not be significant repetition or generalization.

Web tools and iPad apps used
For fishbowl chat: [|Twiducate] For webs: [|iThoughts] or Inspiration For "cases" [|Pages]for posters For reflection: wikispaces (individual eportfolios for year in general) For reflection on games and peer review: [|google forms]