Engaged Learning Project Template

Title of Project: Famous Georgians Making a Difference

Subject(s): Social Studies/ ELA
Grade Level(s): Second Grade
Abstract:
Second grade students will learn about famous Georgians making a difference. Students will be given a list of famous
Georgians and Georgia landforms that they can choose from. Each student will be able to choose one person or landform to
research and represent in this project. My students are tasked with researching their famous Georgian or landform and then
creating a commercial, ChatterPix or Flipgrid, about the famous Georgian that they choose. My students will network with
other students in their grade and share their commercials with their peers.
Learner Description/Context:
Students in my class are predominantly Caucasian, and 8% of my students are Hispanic, and 2% of my students are African
American, come from a suburban middle-class socioeconomic background, and have experienced different upbringings based
on their home dynamics. Some students are well versed in other cultures from their parents’ upbringing and culture. Students
can broaden their knowledge of famous Georgians or landforms by researching Famous Georgians/landforms with various
resources such as Kiddle, EPIC, Google, Audiobooks, Videos and connecting with other students in their grade. Students will
connect with other students by sharing their commercials to broaden their viewpoint about famous Georgians. Students’
parents may influence who their child picks for their project based on their personal experiences seeing this person live in
concert or even studying the famous Georgian in history previously.

Time Frame:
This project is expected to take six weeks to complete. Students will work on this project for forty-minute periods throughout
the week in Enrichment Block. Enrichment Block is a project-based learning environment at my school.

Standards Assessed:
SS2H1 Describe the lives and contributions of historical figures in Georgia history.

a. James Oglethorpe, Tomochichi, and Mary Musgrove (founding of Georgia)

b. Sequoyah (development of a Cherokee alphabet)
c. Jackie Robinson (sportsmanship and civil rights)
d. Martin Luther King, Jr. (civil rights)
e. Juliette Gordon Low (Girl Scouts and leadership)
f. Jimmy Carter (leadership and human rights)

ELAGSE2RI10: By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science,
and technical texts, in the grades 2-3 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the
range.

SS2G2 Describe the cultural and geographic systems associated with the historical figures in SS2H1 and Georgia’s
Creek and Cherokee in SS2H2.

a. Identify specific locations significant to the life and times of each historic figure, and the Creek and Cherokee, on a
political or physical map.

b. Describe how each historic figure and the Creek and Cherokee adapted to and were influenced by their
environments.
c. Describe how the region in which these historic figures lived affected their lives and compare these regions to the
region in which students live.
d. Describe the regions in Georgia where the Creek and Cherokee lived and how the people used their local resources.

Learner Objectives:
During this project students will learn how to and be able to:
- Research about a Famous Georgian or Landform
- Research using electronic resources
- Use ChatterPix or Flipgrid to create a short commercial about their Famous Georgian or Landform
- Edit their ChatterPix throughout the creative learning stages
The learning experience will be measured by student’s final product where students will then share their commercial about
their famous Georgian or Landform with either a ChatterPix or Flipgrid.
Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University
 Engaged Learning Project Template

The “hook” or Introduction:

At the beginning of our Famous Georgians Making a Difference project, students will brainstorm a list with the teacher about
various famous Georgians and landforms that they have learned about so far this school year. Students will have the
opportunity to explore the topics before choosing their final topic. There will be gigantic sticky notes placed around the
classroom with titles of the different topics that we've covered this school year. During the explore stage, students will have a
sneak peek at the various topics and research those topics through EPIC, Google Chrome, and Kiddle. Students will also be
sent home with a list of the Famous Georgians and landforms to discuss with their parents.

Process:
In the first three weeks of the project, students will learn and research the Famous Georgian/landforms they choose. Students
will be provided with a research packet to gather all their facts in one place. Students are expected to research their notable
Georgian or famous Georgia landform by determining why this person is famous, their childhood, their contributions to
making the world a better place, and fun facts about their famous Georgian or landform. Throughout the project, the teacher
will be a guide to help students with research and develop a plan if a student is having difficulty finding information about
their Famous Georgian or landform. After researching and completing their research, students can create visual aids for their
presentation or bring in props from home that they would like to use for their commercial. Students will be given ample time
to create props or even create a poster about their famous Georgian or landform to assist them while working on their
presentation. During the last two weeks of the project, students will have time to practice recording their commercials,
finalizing their ideas about the props they would like to bring or clothes they could use to bring this project to life.

Product:
Students will branch off individually to research their famous Georgian making a difference with the teacher's help. Each
student will have researched their notable Georgian and determine why this person is famous, what their childhood was like,
contributions they made to make the world a better place, and fun facts about their famous Georgian. After students have
researched their famous Georgian or landforms, they will create a commercial on the following platforms: Chatter Pix or
Flipgrid. Students will then share their commercials with their classmates and peers. The final Famous Georgians Making a
Difference project will be shared with students' families, the local school community, and peers.

Technology Use:
- Flipgrid will be used for students to create their commercials about their famous Georgians or landforms.
- ChatterPix will be used for students to create their commercials about their famous Georgians or landforms.
- iPad
- EPIC will be used as a research tool for students to read about their famous Georgian or landform . 
- Kiddle is a kid-friendly platform that students can use to research about their topic. Students will be using this
platform on their iPads and is a site that is appropriate for second graders.
- Google Chrome is a school approved web browser that students can use.

The technology used in this learning experience supports the indicators of engaged learning by allowing students to become
facilitators of their learning. Students create meaningful/authentic learning experiences, and the teacher serves as a guide for
students. This project is challenging for students because it takes ample time to complete and isn't something they could
finish in two days.

References and Supporting Material:

- Kiddle
- EPIC
- Anchor Chart Paper
- Writing tools
- Gigantic sticky notes
- Flipgrid
- ChatterPix
- Famous Georgian Research Packet
- Library Books
- Markers and Crayons
- Rubric

Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University