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Housatonic River Unit

 

Houatonic Project Presentation Outlines – Peer and Elementary

 

Expectations:

You are expected to use the time you are given to work on your presentations wisely.  Your group should decide immediately which group member will be responsible for each aspect of the presentations.  Each group member is responsible to make his or her own set of index note cards for each presentation. 

 

Format:

            Each presentation will consist of the following aspects.  Your group must follow this outline very closely.  Failure to include all these parts in your presentation will cause your group to lose valuable points.  

 

8th Grade Presentation Outline:

1.      Introduction

·        Either the brochure person or the advertisement person is responsible for this section.

·        Address the group of Bostonians.

·        Persuade people to move to this area.

·        Don’t read your essays; instead, take the key reasons your group’s members used in their persuasive essays and highlight them.

·        Tell some key location facts about the Berkshires (towns we are around, distance from Boston, states and cities we are near).

·        Introduce visual (either brochure or advertisement).

2.      Layout and Resources of the Land

·        The map person should complete this section.

·        Discuss the resources available.

·        Discuss key aspects of the landscape.

·        Use map as proof.

·        Explain map in detail.

3.      Key Elements to Prove the Necessity of the Move

·        Either brochure person or advertisement person is responsible for this section.

·        Discuss canoeing experience on the river.

·        Talk about the potential of the land.

·        Discuss agricultural aspects of the land (crops and animals).

·        Sell audience on the idea of a move by discussing quality of life in new area.

·        Introduce visual.

4.      Math Shape

·        Explain shape and where and how it is found in nature.

·        Discuss inherent beauty of the landscape.

·        Point out other beautiful shapes that can be found in nature.

5.      Conclusion

·        Same person that completes introduction should provide the conclusion.

·        Seal the deal—last chance to convince the Boston assembly to move this area.

·        Provide a call to action (use essays for ideas).

 

Elementary Presentation Outline:

            You are going to be responsible to give a group presentation to an elementary class.  Please keep in mind that your group will have to rethink your presentation techniques so that your new audience will be able to understand the information you convey.  You maybe in a first grade classroom or a sixth grade classroom, so be prepared to be flexible.  In other words, be prepared to explain certain ideas in more depth for a really young class. 

1.      Introduction

·        Explain why you are there.

·        Explain what your “Through the Eyes of a Settler” project is supposed to accomplish.

·        Explain the purpose of the essays your group wrote.

·        Bring kids into the discussion by asking questions re. their knowledge of the river.

·        Describe the visual projects to the students.

2.      Historical Background/Key Facts

·        Describe the length of the river, depth in certain spots, etc.

·        Tell where it begins and where it ends.

·        Discuss the Native American use for the river.

·        Describe early white settler’s use of the river.

·        Describe use of the river throughout time.

·        Discuss current use of the river.

·        Discuss Canoeing experience with the students.

3.      Protection and Preserving of the River

·        Discuss field experience/service learning at length.

·        Provide ideas on how we can preserve the river.

·        Tell why we should preserve the river.

·        Offer ways for students to help.

4.      Conclusion

·        Wrap up of key points.

·        Call to action about preserving the river.

·        Dispelling of myths (river is dirty and poisonous).

·        Facilitator for question and answer period (2-3 minutes).

·        Group is responsible to create 5-10 questions for the students in case no questions are posed.

·        Group is responsible to get answers back to students later if you cannot answer their questions.

 

 

Good luck!  Do a nice job with these presentations, as they will be graded.