Slide into Action: Presenting Change!

8th Grade

Project
2 weeks

Slide into Action: Presenting Change!

DANIEL HERNANDEZ

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.7

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.6

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.4

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.2

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.1

+ 1 more

Purpose

Students will engage in a dynamic exploration of a pressing societal issue that impacts their community, fostering critical thinking and research skills. Through the creation of a persuasive Google Slides presentation, students will articulate a well-reasoned argument supported by evidence, while also considering opposing viewpoints. This project encourages collaboration and creativity, as students integrate multimedia elements to enhance their message and inspire actionable solutions.

Learning goals

Students will investigate and articulate an important societal issue through a compelling Google Slides presentation, enhancing their research and critical thinking skills. They will develop clear arguments supported by robust evidence, integrating multimedia elements to effectively communicate their findings. By engaging in collaborative discussions and peer reviews, students will refine their presentations, ensuring they are persuasive and visually engaging. The project will culminate in a call to action, encouraging students to propose viable solutions or actions to address the issue identified.

Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.7 - Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.6 - Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.4 - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.2 - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.1 - Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.5 - Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.

Products

Students will collaboratively develop a Google Slides presentation addressing a significant community issue, structured around a compelling question. Throughout the project, they will gather and analyze data, create multimedia elements, and draft persuasive arguments supported by evidence. The final product will be a visually engaging slideshow that includes a captivating introduction, clear claims with supporting evidence, a counterargument, and a call to action. Each presentation will culminate in a Works Cited page, showcasing the students' research skills and technological proficiency.

Launch

Begin the project with a community walk or virtual tour where students identify and photograph issues impacting their local area. Back in the classroom, facilitate a brainstorming session where students share their observations and collaboratively generate questions about these issues. This activity will help students connect personally with the project and set the stage for selecting their research topics.

Exhibition

Students will host a community showcase event where they present their Google Slide presentations to peers, teachers, and local community members. Each presentation will be set up at individual stations, allowing attendees to engage with the students, ask questions, and provide feedback. Students will also create a visual display or interactive element related to their topic to enhance audience engagement. This event will conclude with a group discussion, where students reflect on the insights gained and potential actions inspired by their presentations.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Community Walk - Students take a walk in their local area or participate in a virtual tour to identify and photograph issues impacting their community, fostering personal connections with potential project topics (45 min)	Brainstorming Session - Students gather in small groups to discuss their observations from the community walk and collaboratively generate questions about these issues, preparing to choose their research focus (20 min) Topic Selection - Students individually select an issue to research, formulating it as a compelling question to guide their project work (25 min)	Research Skills Workshop - Students are taught effective research strategies, including how to find credible sources and gather relevant data to support their claims (25 min) Initial Research - Students begin conducting research on their selected issue, focusing on gathering strong evidence and diverse perspectives (20 min)	Developing Arguments - Students learn to construct clear, persuasive arguments by organizing their reasons and evidence, drafting an outline for their slideshow (20 min) Peer Review Session - Students exchange outlines with peers for feedback, ensuring clarity and strength of their arguments (25 min)	Introduction and Anecdote Writing - Students craft captivating introductions for their presentations, using anecdotes or descriptive elements to engage their audience (20 min) Visual Design Introduction - Students are introduced to principles of visual design to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their slides, starting to plan the visual elements of their presentation (25 min)
Deliverables	1. A refined research question related to the chosen community issue. 2. A draft outline of the Google Slides presentation, including a captivating introduction, clear claim, supporting reasons with potential evidence, and counterarguments.
Preparation	1. Organize a community walk or virtual tour, ensuring access to cameras or smartphones for taking photographs. 2. Prepare a list of credible resources and databases for student research. 3. Develop a rubric for peer review focused on clarity, coherence, and persuasive argumentation. 4. Ensure access to computers or tablets with internet connectivity for research and Google Slides creation. 5. Create guidelines for drafting research questions and presentation outlines.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Slide Drafting and Design - Students begin drafting individual slides of their presentation, focusing on integrating research findings and visual design principles (45 min)	Multimedia Integration - Students incorporate multimedia elements such as images, videos, and graphs to strengthen their arguments and add interest to their slides (25 min) Peer Feedback Exchange - Students share their draft slides with peers to receive constructive feedback on content, design, and clarity (20 min)	Refining Arguments - Students revise their slides based on peer feedback, ensuring their arguments are clear and supported by robust evidence (20 min) Counterargument Development - Students develop counterarguments to address opposing viewpoints, enhancing the depth of their presentation (25 min)	Call to Action Creation - Students craft a compelling call to action that encourages audience engagement with the issue and proposes possible solutions (20 min) Works Cited Compilation - Students compile a Works Cited page, showcasing their research sources and demonstrating academic integrity (25 min)	Final Presentation Assembly - Students finalize their Google Slides presentation, ensuring all elements are cohesive and visually appealing (25 min) Rehearsal and Presentation Skills - Students practice delivering their presentations with clarity and confidence, preparing for the community showcase event (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed Google Slides presentation with all required elements: introduction, claims, evidence, counterarguments, call to action, and works cited page. 2. Revised multimedia elements integrated into the presentation. 3. Practiced presentation skills ready for community showcase.
Preparation	1. Ensure access to computers with Google Slides and internet connectivity. 2. Provide guidelines for multimedia integration and Works Cited formatting. 3. Set up peer feedback sessions and organize mock presentation day. 4. Coordinate with community members for the showcase event logistics.