HERITAGE PROJECT

Multiage 4/5 - 2011

Heritage is something that is passed down from preceding
generations. It can be a cultural, religious, family, or ethnic
background. It takes the form of traditions, beliefs, values, and
ways we live our lives. At school we are exploring the ways in
which each of us has a unique identity because of our personal
heritage while also having some aspects of heritage in common
with others.

Project Description:
Who? Multiage 4/5 students
What? Creating a scrapbook as a language arts project for our
heritage theme
Where? At school and at home
When? Assigned on January 19, due February 23
Why? To learn more about heritage through writing and creative
assignments

This project will be a collection of writing and creative assignments

that shows your personal, family, ethnic, and cultural heritage
and/or research of the cultural traditions of another country.

The directions for this project are very general. You make the
decision on what is important to you about your heritage. The
word family can be as broad or as narrow as you care to make it.
We hope that you will find a way to learn more about history by
talking to others in your life who have lived through events before
your time.

Your project will be presented in final scrapbook form. Be as

creative as you wish to be. Each scrapbook should have a neat
cover and pages that are bound in some way.
Writing Assignments:
1. An autobiography (required):
- this will include experiences of your life that you have
chosen to share,
narrated by you. We will plan, organize, and write much of
this at school.
Some of the writing will be done outside of school.

2. Heritage research (choose one):

• A heritage story of another person with topics such as

- how couples met
- immigration stories
- holiday traditions
- school experiences from long ago
- birthday celebrations
- vacations
- special life events
- careers and achievements of individuals
- witnessing historical events (e.g, wars, meeting
someone famous…)

• A biography of another person

- tell the story of another person’s experiences by
interviewing them
and writing his/her story in biography form. This form
of writing differs from the heritage story by including
a more complete scope of the person’s life.

• A research report on traditions of another culture

- choose a country and write a report about the heritage
of the people there. Give several examples of customs,
traditions, holidays, religion, etc. that are found in that
 country and explain how each is practiced or celebrated
in that country.

Creative Assignments (choose at least 5 from

below):

* 3 poems that show heritage relating to you or people who are important to
you
- poems must be at least 10 lines in length

* family tree (handouts on how to create a tree are available)

- should go back at least 3 generations (this would be your great-
grandparents)

* family shield – shields and examples of symbols to use will be given out in
class. Symbols represent people, interests, culture, religion, etc. which are
important to you.

* collage - pictures, illustrations, and words that tell about your family and
heritage

* history timeline – at least 50 years described in the timeline related to your

family

* photos with captions - at least 10

* recipe collection
- at least 5 recipes of foods related to your heritage
- recipes cannot be photocopied from a book unless they are added as
artifacts

* heritage/family ABC book - word, caption, and illustration for each letter of
the alphabet

* photocopied artifacts with captions (passports, birth or baptism certificate,

immigration
papers, old letters…)
- at least 5
* map of places your family lives
- names and relation to you
- how and/or why they live there (i.e., went to college there and
stayed, relocated for a job, vacationed there once, etc.)

* interview with a family member or member of another generation

- completed in a typed question/answer format
- questions should be open ended-questions that enable to person to
tell more about your family heritage (i.e. questions about childhood
stories, family traditons, holidays)

* heritage through movement

- show your heritage research through a 32 count dance
- this assignment would be performed when your scrapbook is shared

* digital assignment – take one of the assignments above and present it in

digital format or add something new using technology: glogster, podcasts,
blog or website, digital storybook, powerpoint

* add a creative assignment of your own with approval from your teacher.
Mid-term dates along the way:
1/19 - 1/23
brainstorm ideas through talks at home, conduct interviews, listen to
others tell stories, complete at least 1 creative assignment

1/24– 1/30
begin autobiography; complete at least 2 more creative assignments

1/31 - 2/6
finish autobiography, plan & start writing 2nd writing assignment;
complete at least 1 more creative assignment; plan format for
scrapbook (folder, page size, etc..)

2/7 - 2/13
complete at least 1 more creative assignment; complete final copies of
all creative and writing parts; plan format for scrapbook

2/14 – 2/23
put the scrapbook together, add final touches, plan how you’ll share it

2/23
FINAL SCRAPBOOKS DUE

* Ways to extend your project and possibly earn a 4 on the

Heritage Project

- complete more than the required amount of creative and

written projects
- write with enough detail to show thorough research through
interviews with others
- use writing strategies and organization to make your writing
descriptive

(Note: Writing more than two stories does not guarantee a 4. In the same
way, completing more than five creative assignments does not earn a 4.
The quality of each assignment counts. Students who complete the required
quanity can earn a 4 if what they have shows exceptional detail.)
 Parent signature sheet:
Please return only this sheet to school– keep the rest of the
packet in your take home folder.

I’ve seen the description for this project and the home progress dates
along the way.

I’m aware the the final scrapbook is due on Wednesday, February 23,
2011.

Below is a tentative selection of my child’s writing and creative

assignment choices

Student’s Name:

Written Pieces
1. ______Autobiography ___ __________ _____
_____

2. ____________________________________________
____________

Creative Pieces
1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________
 Additional creative and written pieces can be added as you work
through the project.

Parent/Guardian Signature: