Engaged Learning Project Template

Title of Project: Causes we care about research project

Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 6th grade
Abstract: In this project students will be asked to work in partners or groups to choose a “cause” they care about to
research and write about (Ex: global warming, ocean pollution, etc.). They will be asked to write two pieces of
informational writing about the cause they have chosen and publish those pieces on their own personal blog. Each
student will need to publish two articles to the blog and one collaborative video, persuading others to care about their
cause. We will reach out to local businesses to get them involved and help support student’s attempts to raise money for
their cause. Through the use of a local school night, we can raise money for each student's cause. The business can
display their persuasive writing pieces around their business. Students will assume the role of a journalist by
researching and writing to inform. They will also assume the role of a philanthropist through their persuasive video to
persuade others to join their cause and by raising money to support their cause. This is an authentic and meaningful
project because it is standards based with a focus on writing, research, and speaking/listening, it is student -directed and
requires students to participate in real life scenarios. The research students are doing is meaningful because often
students do not know how they feel about a topic, and this research will allow them to not only choose a side for
themselves but learn to persuade others to feel the same way. Students will be encouraged to reach out to people that run
organizations for their cause to speak to real world people that support their cause. When the product is complete,
students will present their blog to the class. Students will also compose an email to the cause or organization of their
choice. I will email them on their behalf with their blogs and how much money we raised for the cause.
Learner Description/Context:

Trickum Middle School is a middle school located in Lilburn, GA. It is part of the most diverse cluster in Gwinnett
County Public Schools and sits in the southern region of Gwinnett County . Students are from a variety of social-
economic backgrounds and vary between 11 and 13 years of age. Trickum is part of the Parkview cluster and has been
known for its success over many years. The school grows in diversity each year and is known for its e xcellence in
ensuring learning for all students. Students will be given the opportunity to talk about who they are and include their
culture in this project.

Student Demographics:
26% Black
24% white
25% Hispanic
20% Asian
5% Two or more races

Time Frame: This project will take place over 6 weeks and will be the focus of class for about 3 hours a week. Other
class time will involve reviewing relevant pieces of text that provide students with examples of what is to be expected of
them. This will include reading articles to determine central idea, purpose, and perspective.
Standards Assessed:
6LA.C.20: write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence

6LA.C.20.a: introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly

6LA.C.20.b: support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an
understanding of the topic or text

6LA.C.21: write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through
the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
6LA.C.23: produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience
6LA.C.24: develop and strengthen writing as needed, with some guidance and support from peers and adults, by
planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach

6LA.C.28: draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research

6LA.B.12: analyze how key individuals, events, or ideas are developed in order to evaluate the relationships among the
key individuals, events, or ideas; use textual evidence to support analysis

Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University

 Engaged Learning Project Template
ISTE Standard 1.1: Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving, and de monstrating
competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences.

ISTE Standard 1.3: Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce
creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.

Learner Objectives: I can write an argument to support my claim providing clear and relevant evidence.
I can produce clear writing to inform or explain a topic of my choice using relevant sources and convey clear ideas.
I can use technology to construct knowledge and create artifacts to display my knowledge and make meaningful learning
experiences.

The “hook” or Introduction:

Before introducing the project, students will read and annotate an “example” of their future writing piece and video.
They will read to determine the central idea, author’s purpose, and synthesize across texts to determine what the texts
and videos have in common. This will be a review of the previous unit. The following day the project will be introduced
by referring back to the previous lesson and informing students they will be creating just that. A fun and engaging video
example will be provided to show students what they can create and engage them in the project. We will then go through
an interactive Nearpod to discuss what a “cause” is, provide examples, and then ask students to list as many causes as
they can think of.
Process:
Research is so fresh and new for students in the sixth grade. After introducing the idea of the project, the first thing that
needs to be done is a lesson on how to use online tools to research a topic. A day with the media specialist will be
scheduled to show them the tools available to them to research and how to do so. After that, students can spend time
choosing their partners or groups and researching topic ideas.
Week 1: Introduction/How to research/Choosing topic/Begin researching
Week 2: Show students how to use NoodleTools to organize their research. Continue research and
brainstorming/outlining. Begin writing first informational text on their ca use. What is your cause? Why is it important?
Week 3: Show students how to use Postach.io to create an online blog. We will meet with someone from an organization
for a cause. Students can ask questions and learn from someone in the field. Students will finish their writing piece. Peer
edit, publish piece one. Reach out to participating local businesses to set up our charity night.
Week 4: Students will turn their focus on writing text two, the persuasive piece. Why should someone join your cause?
Students should have a rough draft complete by the end of the week.
Week 5: Students will peer review and publish piece two. They will turn their focus on the video. I will show students
how to use Animoto to create an online video.
Week 6: Students will work on their video and have it published by the end of the week.
Week 7: Share projects with class, share blogs with organizations in their cause via email. We will share how much
money we raised for each cause. Students will create the email and find the organization they would like to reach out to.
I will send the email on their behalf.
Students are facilitating their own learning throughout this project. They are choosing their topic, doing their own
research, writing their own informational articles, and creating their own blogs. Students will be shown how to use each
technology tool and then sent to explore and create on their own. I, as the teacher, will be with them every step of the
way for questions on their writing, on the technology, and the research. While students are working, I will be pulling
students into small groups to check on their progress and make sure they are moving in a positive direction. I will also
be monitoring group work by walking around the room. Students will be assessed and graded along the way to allow for
feedback and opportunities for improvement before receiving a final score. This grade will be broken into 4 parts. There
will be writing piece number one, writing piece number two, video, and technology and research. A rubric will be used
to assess each part. Students will be given feedback by me each week. They will also be given peer feedback prior to
turning in each portion of the blog.

Product:
The final product will be a blog the students have created that includes their articles they have written on the specific
cause they have chosen. Both pieces of writing will need to be relevant to the cause. Each website will also need to
include a video the student has created to persuade someone to support their cause. Students will be sending their end
products to organizations that support the cause they have chosen, as well as donating the money they have raised. This
product is meaningful to students because it encourages them to research a cause they care about and not only learn
more about it but convince their peers why they should care about this cause as well. It also encourages them to take an
active role and get involved with the cause by raising money to support something they care about. This helps students
with their writing skills, research skills, and speaking skills. Technology will be used throughout the project to create the

Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University

 Engaged Learning Project Template
blog, make a video, and share their product with others that will care about it. A rubric will be used to assess the overall
product. However, there will be a rubric to assess their individual writing as well. Students can use the rubric to follow
and make sure they are meeting the standards.

Student’s Name:_________________________________________

Causes we Care about Writing Rubric

Criteria Distinguished (10) Developing (7) Beginning (4)

The text and the illustrations are
Appearance/ visually appealing, clear, and
Neatness colorful. Text is written in
proper paragraph form.
Exceptional idea development
Content with supporting details written in
Knowledge the author’s own words, or
correctly credited if quoted.
Student has done thorough
research from at least 2 credible
Research sources. Research directly relates
to the cause that is being studied
and sources are properly cited.
There are no spelling or grammar
mistakes. Complex and
Mechanics compound sentences are writing
properly. There are no run on
sentences or sentence fragments.
The text and the illustrations are
The text and the illustrations
clear and colorful. Text is written
are adequate and clear.
in paragraph form.
Unclear, incorrect, or limited
Satisfactory idea development with
idea development with lack of
some supporting details written
details. Author’s own words
mainly in the author’s own words,
are not used, or quotes are not
or correctly credited if quoted.
correctly credited.
Student has done little to no
Student has done research from a
research. Research does not
credible source. Research relates to
relate to the cause that is
the cause that is being studied and
being studied OR sources are
sources are properly cited.
not properly cited.
There are minimal spelling or
There are spelling and
grammar mistakes. There are
grammar mistakes. There are
mostly simple sentences with some
no compound or complex
compound and complex sentences.
sentences. There are sentence
There are some run on sentences or
fragments.
fragments.

Student’s Name:_________________________________________

Causes we Care about Project Rubric

Criteria Distinguished (10) Developing (7) Beginning (4)

Blog is creative, neat, and visually
Blog appealing. The blog has both pieces
Appearance of writing properly added and
includes illustrations or pictures.
Video is well made and shows off
student’s creativity. It informs
viewers about the cause and is
Video convincing to get involved. Video can
be used during announcements to
show the school to get more students
involved and donate.
Student gave quality and exceptional
feedback to at least 2 peers during the
writing and creation process.
Peer Review
Feedback was beneficial to help a
peer make improvements on their
project.
Student worked well with peers and
Collaboration
did their part to create the project.
Blog is creative and neat. The blog
Blog is neat. Both pieces
includes both pieces of writing
of writing are added.
properly added.
Video is well made and shows off
student’s creativity. It informs
Video shows off
viewers about the cause. Video can
students’ creativity. It is
be used during the morning
lacking relevant
announcements to inform viewers
information.
about the cause and the charity
night.
Student either did not
provide feedback to a
Student gave quality feedback to at
peer or feedback was not
least one peer during the writing
beneficial to making
and creation process.
improvements on the
project.
Student worked well with peers
Student did not work
and did their part to create the
well in peer group.
project.
Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University
 Engaged Learning Project Template
(based on Student was a team player and was a Student did not always
group dependable member of the team. meet group deadlines.
feedback)

Technology Use: Technology will be critical to this project as it is the driving force of the final product. Students will be
using technology to create, publish original products, research and discover, and to receive teacher and peer feedback.
The technology use supports collaboration among peers. It makes the project authentic/meaningful because students are
creating a product for audiences that will care about it and produce a positive effect. The technology used also supports
the indicator “student directed” because it is directly related to interests and questions posed by students.

References and Supporting Material:

Google Suite will be used for rough drafts of papers to allow for easy sharing and feedb ack.
Postach.io will be used to create the blog.
Animoto will be used to create the video.
NoodleTools will be used to organize research
An engaging video to introduce the project would need to be made as well as sample articles and a sample blog to show
students what will be expected of them.

Jo Williamson, Ph.D., Kennesaw State University