Engaged Learning Project

Title of Project: American Service, Honoring Our Soldiers

Subject(s): Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 5th Grade
Abstract:
This project is an adaptation of the WWII interview project that can be found at
http://wwii.ltc.k12.il.us/portal/wwii/Home/tabid/55/Default.aspx. This project is designed to allow students to become experts
in a war that American soldiers fought in, interview a veteran of that war, and construct a 2-minute video capturing the
interview and important information from that war. Students will begin by grouping into 2s or 3s then selecting a war
(World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm etc.) and become familiar with the important information surrounding that war. The
students are required to write a report and score a minimum of 80 % on a rubric to show mastery of the content.
After the students show content mastery, they are allowed to find a veteran from that war to interview. Students will take time
to meet with the veterans and ask relevant questions about the war and the time surrounding the war.
Students will then take time with the instructor to learn and practice building videos on the computer using iMovie to
construct an interesting and fact-filled interview video.
The video will be uploaded to an online website where the videos will be stored and available for viewing worldwide.
Learner Description/Context:
Students participating in this project will be fifth grade students at New Holland Knowledge Academy. The students at New
Holland are 90% free/reduced lunch making the school a Title 1 School. The population of the school is 68% Hispanic, 25%
Black, 5% White, 1% Asian and 1% Other. The fifth grade students will be studying wars from WW1 to present, so the project
will be relevant to their content standards.
Time Frame:
This project will take approximately 1 month to complete. Students will have access to video equipment and computers for
editing once a week in the technology lab for the duration of the month. Outside the technology lab, the students will have
time in their history classroom to research the war that they are studying and prepare their report.
Standards Assessed:
SS5H6 The student will explain the reasons for Americas involvement in World War II.
SS5H7 The student will discuss the origins and consequences of the Cold War.
SS5H8 The student will describe the importance of key people, events, and developments between 1950-1975.
Discuss the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.
SS5H9 The student will trace important developments in America since 1975.
Describe U. S. involvement in world events; include efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, the collapse of the
Soviet Union, the Persian Gulf War, and the War on Terrorism in response to September 11, 2001.
ELACC5W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
a. Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically;
include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
b. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related
to the topic.
c. Link ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast,
especially).
d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
e. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.
Nets-S 1 Creativity and Innovation
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression
Nets-S 2 Communication and Collaboration
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
Nets-S 3 Research and Information Fluency
a. plan strategies to guide inquiry
Nets-S 5 Digital Citizenship
a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
Nets-S 6 Technology Operations and Concepts
a. understand and use technology systems
Learner Objectives:
The students will know the important dates, people and event of the selected war.
The students will know how the countries involved were effected during and post-war.

Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University

Engaged Learning Project

The students will have an understanding of the day in the life of a soldier.
The students will create an original video that captures the interview and important facts pertaining to the war.
The students will demonstrate responsibility for the technology used and the respect for the interviewed soldier.
The hook or Introduction:
Students will be introduced to this project by being shown a timeline of wars that American soldiers have fought in since
World War II. Students will have a brief period of time where they can ask questions about the wars before being shown the
winning videos from http://wwii.ltc.k12.il.us/portal/wwii/Home/tabid/55/Default.aspx. By showing students exemplars of this
project, students will have a much clearer idea of what is expected of them and what they can create.
Process:
1) The students will engage in the hook, where they are introduced to the wars that Americans have fought in and
familiarize themselves with each war. Students will then spend time exploring winning videos in small groups at
computers to become familiar with what their end product could look like.
2) The students will break off into small groups and decide which war they would like to student. Deciding which war
will be dependent on the individual that they opt to interview*.
*Interviews must either be with a direct relative or a delegate from a local American Legion or Veteran Affairs. All
interviews will be conducted on school property for the safety of the students. The students can also opt to conduct
an interview via Skype of conferencing tool instead of being face to face.
3) Students will be given a research guide. A paper that lists specific questions to research about their war. This list
will include: Who fought in this war? What was the catalyst or the beginning to the war? How many people on both
sides lost their lives in this war? What technologies were used to fight this war? What were the cultural effects of the
war? What were the financial effects of the war? What ended the war? Etc.
4) Students will use time in the library to use texts to answer as many questions as they can.
5) Students will use time in the computer lab to research the answers to their questions. To avoid websites that will give
false-answers or distracting websites, students will be given a list of appropriate websites for each war.
6) As a group, students will use the notes that they have taken to write a full report of the war.
7) The reports will be graded on a rubric. The reports must score a minimum of 80% to move on.
8) Students will be required to turn in a list of questions that they will be using to guide their interview. With guidance
from the instructor, students will have age and content appropriate questions.
9) Students will conduct the interviews, as a group, with the veterans according to a schedule that has been
coordinated with the veteran and the lead teacher. The interviews will take place at school on school time.
10) The teacher will give 1-2 lessons on video and audio editing basics and how to use the program, iMovie.
11) Students will work in their groups and use the remaining time to edit their material and create the final project. The
teacher will monitor and help the students throughout the rest of the project so that students can create their desired
product.
12) Students will present their projects to the class.
13) The class will vote and select the best presentation.
14) The teacher will upload all of the projects onto a website so that the students can share their work with anyone
outside of school.
Product:
The end product will be 2-minute videos that the student groups will prepare of the interview and relevant war facts. Each
video will be submitted and posted online for viewing worldwide. This project will build student pride and recognition for
American soldiers as well as promote cultural awareness and appreciation, as the soldiers are all of different cultures and
backgrounds. These works will be housed online where students from coast to coast can enjoy and add to the collection.
These videos will last as a notional treasure as our veterans pass and their memories live on.
Technology Use:
Students will use computers to do research as well as use their textbooks to find information about the war that they have
chosen. Students will use Ipads to take and record their interviews with the soldiers. Students will use IMovie to create the
audio/video files that they will be sharing and posting online. Students will also be able to use video conferencing if setting
up a live interview is not possible or not desirable.
References and Supporting Material:
The teacher would need to have the following resources available to the students for research:
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thomas.Pilsch/Vietnam.html
http://bus-l.blogspot.com/p/social-studies-unit-6-world-wars.html
http://www.ducksters.com/history/cold_war/summary.php

Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University

Engaged Learning Project

http://www.ushistory.org/us/60a.asp
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/
http://www.ducksters.com/history/cold_war/cuban_missile_crisis.php
The teacher will also need access and familiarity with iMovie or other A/V software.
Resources on iMovie can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwd3e06CuEQ&feature=youtu.be
http://www.izzyvideo.com/imovie-tutorial/
https://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/imovie-100-introducing-imovie
http://www.icreatemagazine.com/tips/imovie-editing-tricks-how-to-create-pro-movies-on-your-mac/

Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University