December 17, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Next week, your child will be bringing home his/her Agents of Change research and notes. We have
spent several days researching in class and in the computer lab. Students have been keeping their
research and notes in a special note-taking packet (yellow cover). Over winter break, we are
expecting them to spend time on this project. This will be the main homework over break. There will
not be a homework packet or reading log.

We have been proceeding through this project very methodically. Your student should know exactly
what he/she needs to do over winter break, but here is a brief explanation:

Students need to organize their notes and write a rough draft. Students have been taking notes in
organized charts in their note-taking packet. Each of these pages should transfer into a paragraph
according to the main heading at the top of the page. The rough draft must include the following
information:
 First paragraph: Introduction
 Second paragraph: The personal history/life story of the person
 Third paragraph: How the person was an Agent of Change
 Fourth paragraph: How the person expressed themselves or their views and how others
viewed the person
 Fifth paragraph: Conclusion

Students have a checklist in their summative assessment packet to follow when writing their rough
draft (purple cover page). Please help them use this checklist (or the one below) to complete their
rough draft. The rough draft should:
 Be typed or written neatly on every other line
 Include a catchy introduction and a conclusion that sends a strong message
 Be written in first person (use “I” instead of “he” or “she”)
 Show the central idea (how someone has made a contribution in language/science/arts)
 Be edited/checked by an adult for spelling/punctuation/grammar

As a reminder, the expectation is that each student has at least three sources of information, and
that those sources are in at least two different formats (books, internet, magazine article, etc.).
These sources need to be recorded on the bibliography pages at the end of the note-taking
packet, and be included on a separate page in the rough draft.

This project is unique in that it is requiring the kids to find information about their subject, think about
it, make connections, and arrive at their own conclusions. This is exciting stuff, and it’s led to some
great work and in-class discussions.

The rough draft is due by Wednesday, January 5!

Thank you for continuing to support your child in this effort. We appreciate the time you are putting in
to help your child with their report!

Sarah Wagoner
Julie Stonehouse
Lori Felton

Class website: www.fifthgradeteam.weebly.com (some information may be posted on the website)

 Agents of Change – Calendar
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Satur-
day
13 19
14 15 16 17 18
Choice due today In class activities Research Time Research Time Research Time
In class activities Brainstorm ?s Computer Lab Note-taking Computer Lab
Note-taking Note-taking

20 26
21 22 23 24 25
Research Time Research Time No School No School
Computer Lab Note-taking
Note-taking Note check!

27 2
28 29 30 31 1 JANUARY
No School No School No School No School No School
Write rough draft Gather props or
over Winter Break!! costume pieces!!

3 9
4 5 6 7 8
Finish rough draft Finish rough draft Rough Draft and Final Draft Final Draft
Peer edit Peer edit Notes due!!

10
11 12 13 14 15
Final Draft due!!! Presentations Presentations Presentations
Peer evaluations