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Action Research Project
Submitted by: Jean
Smith, Susu Floyd
August 30,
2005
Improving
Knowledge about Tennessee Related Standards
Action
Research:
To design
social studies units that address the student accomplishments
and tested objectives in the Tennessee State Social Studies
Framework.
Action
Research Goals:
To increase
student knowledge of Tennessee social studies.
Question:
Will
presenting Tennessee history and geography through storytelling
result in improved scores on a post test of Tennessee knowledge?
(attached)
Subjects:
The
following topics in social studies will be presented through the
use of storytelling:
4th
grade
Trail of Tears
Founding/Settlement of TN
TN’s Native
Americans (5 tribes)
Impact of
Europeans on Native American cultures
TN statehood
Major Political
Leaders (see attached list)
3rd
grade
Heroic Deeds
Ethnic or
cultural celebrations, cultural make-up of state
Urban/suburban/rural individuals’ stories (development through
history of agricultural/industrial regions)
History of
major cities
Procedures:
Third and
fourth grade students will work with professional storytellers
from the College of Education Storytelling program. Students
will research Tennessee topics outlined above and then develop
oral stories based on these topics. Storytellers will model the
development of a character and assist the students in bringing
the character to life.
By
performing their stories for each other, all students will have
the benefit of each piece of the Tennessee picture. A
culminating experience of storytelling will be part of the
project and will include collaboration with the art department
at University School.
Baseline
data will be collected in October and post test will be
administered at the end of the project.
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