Slice of Life March Challenge #22

One of my goals this year was to incorporate more projects into my social studies class.  So with almost every unit we've done, I've tried to develop some sort of project.  I think its really important that kids get opportunities to work as a team, problem solve, and just be creative.  Not to mention, a project seems like it's just what my kids need.  My students are starting to "check out", and I think they need a little bit of a break in a way.  A project is well-needed right about now in our class.

Right now, we're studying the Industrial Revolution and have learned about lots of important inventions and inventors. For this project, the students are working with a partner to further research an invention from the Industrial Revolution--the one that they think is the best. Then, they're going to create a poster advertising their invention.

To get the kids hyped up about the project, I told them that they had just been "hired" by a prestigious advertising firm and their "job" was to work as a team to create and design a poster that would convince the public to buy their  invention.  Any time my students have to get into character or are given a "job" for a discussion or project in social studies, they'll all about it! They get excited about some of the silliest things. That's what's so great about sixth graders! 

We were off to the library today to research our inventions! And my kids did such a great job!  We had a successful day in social studies researching and gathering information and working together and giggling and learning a lot while having fun. I'm excited for Monday to see their projects start to come together!