Stamp Project Background Information

Formulate Questions:

The children were asked which heading interested them the most and were assigned a topic based upon this information. Next, our focus was to formulate questions. The students were grouped with classmates who had selected a similar heading. Together they brainstormed questions they had about the subject. For example, the group researching "famous people" thought of questions they wanted answered about a person. From this list of questions, categories began to emerge. The students organized the questions under appropriate categories with teacher direction.

Looking for Answers:

Students were now ready to look for the answers to their questions. Using on-line and CD ROM resources as well as books, magazine articles, and encyclopedias, the children gathered their information. When each student was satisfied he/she had thoroughly explored the topic and had answered all the questions, the information was shared with a teacher. Each category of questions led to a paragraph of the assigned report.

Written Reports and Stamp Design:

From these written reports, ideas emerged for a stamp design. The children incorporated important dates and information about their topic into each stamp design. Throughout the process, rough drafts of written work and illustrations were shared with classmates and teachers for their continual input. When each author/illustrator was satisfied with the drafts, a typed copy of the report and colored illustration were completed.

Web Page:

When you look at a student's work on our web pages, you will see abstracts of their final reports. Each child selected key paragraphs from their research report to include with their stamp illustration on the web page.

Postal Letter:

The final part of this project, included having each student write a business letter to Marvin Runyon, Post Master General of the U.S. Postal Service in Washington (make a hot button to give that address) requesting that their own stamp be considered as a commemorative stamp. Each letter had to include specific reasons why the postal service should recognize their topic. The letters were judged by a panel of teachers/administrators and 2 letters from each class were selected for submission.

COLONIAL AMERICA STAMP PROJECT

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Research ! Here is the latest project (gift) from your fourth grade teachers. We hope you have a great time doing it, and we'll look forward to seeing it, when it's all done, on the GA home page. Have fun!

This is a research project in which you will create a "First Day Cover" stamp to show an important event, colony, person, or cultural group during the period from 1585 to 1775, the time when the thirteen colonies were still part of England.

You already have your topic and the questions which will help you find out everything you need to know. Now it's time for some research. You will use the books on the Colonial period to help find the information you need. After you find the information, you'll be ready to put your research together. First you will try to cluster your answers into three or four categories. Your homeroom teacher will help you do this. You must turn in a rough draft of your stamp write up on Tuesday, December 10th. You should also hand in a sketch of your stamp with an explanation of the design.

You must design a stamp for your topic. You should include the year that is important and the name of your person, event, colony, or cultural group. Your write up should be in paragraph form and should be at least a page in length. From that information, you will need to write a description of what your stamp shows (this is in addition to the research page.) The finished product is due Thursday, Dec. 19th. Watch your dates, your book review is due on the 18th. Your homeroom teacher will tell you how your stamp should be done. He or she will also tell you exactly what is expected.

Happy creating! Keep in mind that we want to submit some of your stamp designs to the Postal Service so they can consider them for new stamps. Have fun!

Colony Research Guide Questions

`Where is the colony located?`

Who founded the colony? When was it founded? Why was it founded?
Why did the founders want to come to America?
What country colonized it? What language do they speak?
How did the colony get its name?
What is the climate and geography like? Is it rainy or dry? Is it flat or hilly and mountainous?
How is food produced? What crops are grown? What farm animals do they have? Are supplies available?
What type of shelter or housing do they make?
What type of transportation do they use?
How do they make their living? Are they wealthy or poor?
Was education available for children?
Was there a government? Who was the first governor? Who appointed him?
Where was the government located? Besides the governor, who else helped to make laws?
Are there any natives in the colony? Are they friendly ?
Are there any enemies around? Who? What weapons do the colonists use for defense?
What were some important events that took place in the colony? When did they happen
Who were some important people in the history of the colony?
What was the main religion of the colony
What was life like in the colony?

Culture Research Guide Questions

What ceremonies did the culture have? How was marriage, funeral and birth ceremonies conducted?
How do they worship? Who do they worship?
What holidays do they observe?
What are their symbols? What do they mean?
How did they cure disease
What did they do to change the world? What did they do to change the world of the colonists?
What were their contributions to the world?
What were their code of laws?
What did they do with their free time?
What did they eat? Any special or unique food? How did they get food?
Were they hunters, farmers, both?
What was their shelter? Their clothing?
Who was their leader
What did they do to protect themselves? What weapons did they use?
Were they free or enslaved?
Were they ever conquered?
What were their economic conditions? Are they rich or poor?

Questions for Event Category

Who is involved in the event?
Where does the event take place?
What happens at the event?
When does the event take place?
How did it happen?
Why did it happen?
Is this event a part of a larger event? What is that event?
What caused the event?
Did this event cause another to take place?
What effect did the event have on the colonies?
How does the event effect the United States today?

Famous Person

Research Guide Questions

What:

What is important about this person?
What did he/she do? What were they good at?
What did he/she do in spare time?
What colony did they live in?

Why:

Why are they known?
Why should this person be remembered and commemorated?

Who:

What did they look like?
What was their background? (i.e. job, family, siblings)
Did they marry/ have children?
Were they rich or poor?
Did they make or discover anything we use today?

When:

When did they live? (birth & death)
In what year(s) did they do something important?
Was something named after them?

Where:

Where did they accomplish their achievement?
Did they live on a farm, town, city?
Did they travel? If so, where?

How:

How did he/she accomplish/achieve his or her goal?
What inspired them?
How long did it take them?
What did they like about what they did?

Colony Research Organization Sheet

Please look at your colony research questions. There are lots there, right? Hmmm, that means we need to do some organization in order to see what categories some of these questions might fit into. Here's where you can help. Please go over the questions and see if you can come up with some big categories that questions can fit under. Try to find about 4 different categories. List your categories here (I've given you 4 spaces, you might even find five.):

1. ___________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________

Once you've found the categories, the rest is pretty easy. Under each category, list the information to the questions that belong in that category. This will help you when you go to write your report.

1._____________________________________________________

a. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

b. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

e. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________

a. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

b. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

c. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

d. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

e. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

3 _____________________________________________________

a. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

b. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

c. _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

4 .____________________________________________________

a. ______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

b. ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

c. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

d. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

e. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Now that you've organized your research, you still need to organize your thoughts for your stamp design. On the first lines please describe what your stamp will show. On the second lines list what (who) will be in the scene and what is actually happening in the scene. You should be sure to include why the event or person is important. In a colony stamp, make sure you tell what part of the colony's history or location you are showing. On the third lines tell why you chose this scene to illustrate.

1. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Cultural Group Organization Sheet

Please look at your cultural group research questions. There are lots there, right? Hmmm, that means we need to do some organization in order to see what categories some of these questions might fit into. Here's where you can help. Please go over the questions and see if you can come up with some big categories that questions can fit under. Try to find about 4 different categories. List your categories here (I've given you 4 spaces, you might even find five.):

1. ______________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________

1._________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

2._________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

3 _________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

4 .________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

1. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Event Research Organization Sheet

Please look at your event research questions. There are lots there, right? Hmmm, that means we need to do some organization in order to see what categories some of these questions might fit into. Here's where you can help. Please go over the questions and see if you can come up with some big categories that questions can fit under. Try to find about 4 different categories. List your categories here (I've given you 4 spaces, you might even find five.):

1. ______________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________

1._________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

2._________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

3 _________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

4 .________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

1. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Famous Person

Research Organization Sheet

Please look at your famous person research questions. There are lots there, right? You're lucky, you already have categories to put your information under. Fill in lines below, using the information you have found. Try to put them in the most logical order so you can easily put them into paragraph form.

1. Highlights of the Person's Life

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

2. Personal Data

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

e. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

f. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

g. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

3 Lifestyles

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

4 .________________________________________________

a. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

______________________________________________

1. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

COLONIAL STAMP RESEARCH PAPER EVALUATION SHEET

TOPIC_________________________ NAME___________________

The following grades are used to help you know how you did on this project. A check+ means you did an excellent job and you need not make any revision. A check means that your work is satisfactory, but you could do more research/editing/drawing to make your report more complete. A check - means you need to make a lot of changes and you also need to conference with the teacher before you begin your revisions.

ORGANIZATION:

___ You used your organization sheet to put your information in order.

___ Each of your paragraphs has one central idea.

___ You have at least three central ideas covered in your report.

___ You organized your facts under the correct headings on your organization sheet.

WRITTEN REPORT:

___ Your information is factual and tells about the subject.

___ You give enough information about the subject.

___ You revised your report and made the changes that were recommended.

___ You edited your report as recommended.

WRITING MECHANICS:

___ You use paragraphs to separate ideas and you indent each paragraph.

___ You use clear, well written sentences.

___ You use capital letters when needed.

___ You use correct punctuation.

STAMP DRAWING:

___Your drawing clearly shows something about the subject.

___ Your explanation of the stamp design tells why your chosen scene is important. ( This should explain why you chose it. )

___ Your final copy of the stamp design is neat.

OVERALL STAMP PROJECT GRADE:

______ Final grade for stamp report.

______ Final grade for stamp design.

COMMENTS: __________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Grading Sheet for Colonial Stamp

The following grades are used to help you know how you did on this project. A plus means that you did an excellent job, and there is no need to do much revision. A check-plus means that you have done a very good job and need only a few changes. A check means that your work is satisfactory, but you need to do more research to make your report more complete. It may also mean that you need to do some correcting on your writing and punctuating. A check-minus means that you need to do a lot more work to make your work acceptable. You would need to talk to the teacher before you began your revisions.

ORGANIZATION

____ You used your organization sheet to put your information in

order.

_____ Each of your paragraphs has one central idea in it.

_____ You have at least 3 central ideas covered in your report.

_____ You organized your facts under the correct headings on your

organization sheet.

WRITTEN REPORT

Information

_____ Your information is factual and tells about the subject.

_____ You give enough information about the subject.

MECHANICS OF WRITING

_____ You use paragraphs to separate ideas, and you indent each paragraph.

_____ You use clear, well-written sentences.

_____ You use capital letters when needed.

_____ You use correct punctuation:

_____ end punctuation

_____ commas

_____ apostrophes

_____ You use correct spelling:

_____ priority words

_____ other words

WRITTEN REPORT - FINAL COPY

____ You revised your report and made the changes which were recommended.

_____ You edited your report as recommended.

STAMP DRAWING

_____ Your drawing clearly shows something about the subject.

_____ Your explanation of the stamp design tells why your chosen scene is

important (which should be why you chose it.)

_____ Your final copy of the stamp design is neat.

OVERALL STAMP PROJECT

_____ The final grade for your stamp report.

_____ The final grade for your stamp design.

Please use this checklist to make sure that all of the necessary information is handed in with your final stamp project.

_____ I have handed in my final report.

_____ I have handed in my final stamp drawing.

_____ I have handed in the rough draft of my stamp report.

_____ I have handed in the organization sheet for my project.

_____ I have handed in the pages that show the revisions I made.

_____ I have handed in my research notes and questions.

_____ I have handed in the list of books I have used.

_____ I have handed in the grading sheet which I got back with my rough draft.

Postal Letter Format Guide

YOUR NAME

Germantown Academy STUDENT ADDRESS

P.O. Box 287

Fort Washington, PA 19034

(Leave 4 to 7 Spaces)

Marvin Runyun

Postmaster General

U.S. Postal Service INSIDE ADDRESS

475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20260

(Leave 2 Spaces)

Dear Postmaster General: SALUTATION

(Leave 2 Spaces)

Introductory Paragraph: This paragraph should give your name, a brief description of the project and a statement about why you are writing.

2nd paragraph: Describe why you topic is important with supporting facts and information about the topic.

3rd paragraph: (Optional)

Make additional statements about the importance

of your topic and give supporting facts and information.

4th paragraph: Explain why you chose to draw your stamp the way you did.

Describe what it represents.

5th paragraph: Closing statement

Thank the Postmaster for his/her time and consideration. Repeat a statement about why you wrote.

Sincerely, CLOSING

(4 spaces)

Signature

Printed Name