Social Studies ABC Book
Due Friday, March 16th.
Create an ABC book about the “Birth of Our Nation.” There will be 26 pages,
one for each letter of the alphabet. On each page there will be the letter and
what it represents. The representation will include a paragraph of explanation
and an illustration. You may use names of famous (and not so famous) Patriots
and Tories, locations of historical significance, names of historical acts,
and/or historical documents or artifacts.
Example: For the letter “H” you might want to use John Hancock. Draw an
illustration of John Hancock or copy his famous signature. Finally, write a
short paragraph about John Hancock…who he was, what did he do, where was he from.
John Hancock (January 23,1737– October 8, 1793) was President of the Second
Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation, the first
Governor of Massachusetts, and the first person to sign the United States
Declaration of Independence. In the first month of his presidency, on June 19,
1775, Hancock commissioned George Washington commander-in-chief of the
Continental Army. A year later, Hancock sent Washington a copy of the July 4,
1776 congressional resolution calling for independence as well as a copy of
the Declaration of Independence.
Hancock was the only one to sign the Declaration of Independence on the
fourth; the other 55 delegates signed on August 2nd. According to popular
legend, he signed his name largely and clearly to be sure King George III
could read it without his spectacles.
The pages of the book will be 8 ½” x 5 ½”. Paper will be available in the
classroom. The written text will either be typed or written in ink. All
illustrations will be in colored pen or pencil. You will also have card-stock
paper for a front and back cover.
The text in your book will be historically correct. You may use the text from
the Chapters of your social studies book that pertain to the time before the
French and Indian war to the Formation of the United States with the
Constitution. (pages 313-447) You might have to use other resources besides
your social studies book. All written text will be grammatically correct with
correct spelling and punctuation.
Most importantly, this book should be fun. Be creative with your choice of
subjects and your illustrations.
You will be given time in class to work on some of the pages. But I am also
expecting you to do a lot of this at home.
I will be binding this book, so remember to do your illustrations and writing
so that they will not be punched and bound.
RUBRIC
Coherence of Content
60 – The writer has used creative historically correct subjects for all 26
letters of the alphabet.
50 - The writer has used creative historically correct subjects for most of
the 26 letters of the alphabet
35 - The writer did not use historically correct subjects for most of the 26
letters.
30 – The writer failed to provide creative historically correct facts.
Project development
20 – Illustrations clearly depict the letter of choice. They are well drawn
and in color.
16 – Illustrations mostly depict the letter of choice. They are clearly drawn
and in color
14 - Illustrations are poorly drawn and not in color.
10 – No illustrations, just text.
Richness of Language
10 - Uses language that creates a sensory image.
8 - Uses language that creates a sensory image most of the time.
6 - Inconsistently uses descriptive vocabulary.
4 - Vocabulary is very simple.
Spelling and Mechanics
10 – Uses correct spelling and punctuation (0-2 errors)
8 – Generally uses correct spelling and punctuation (3-5 errors)
6 - Inconsistently uses correct spelling and punctuation (6 or more)
4 – Writes with frequent spelling and mechanical errors and impede understanding.
Total points ________ out of 100
