We don't have a standardized SBA test for social studies (or music or art). In fifth grade we have a social studies CBA, an independent research project.
Students chose a topic at the beginning of January, and they have been taking notes during their library time all month, starting with print sources before moving to any online sources. (I really appreciate how Mrs. Upton works with me on projects!)
They should be finishing up the hunt for notes by now.
Starting in February we will have an hour a day in the lab so children can organize and write several well-developed and well-organized paragraphs about what they learned:
- introduction
- before--the causes
- the conflict--who, what, when, and where
- after--the consequences, the effects
- conclusion
All the paragraphs for the body--there should be two to three typed pages--are due February 21.
The introduction and conclusion paragraphs are due February 28.
If you want lots more information about the CBA, how it is organized, and how it will be graded, please go to the social studies section of the Elementary Stuff page.
BTW, we had a class discussion once the Great Thinker presentations and the poetry readings were done about "How to Make Next Time Even Better." Check out our class notes here!