Unit 5 - My Final Project

Name of the project:       My Holidays - My Culture 

Language:                       English

Age range:                      10-12 

Students number:          40-70 

Subjects integration:     Art, History, Media Communication, Computer Sciences, Music 

Tools to be used: Twinspace will the main working and communication area for the students. For introduction of the students PowToon is defined after Skype group presentation held once.  Emails, videoconferencing via Blackboard Collaborate, StoryBird personal presentation, creating the project special blog and e-book are planned  during the whole project. Students' creativity will be reflected in their visual performances and poster presentations during the video conferences. Each participating country team will design their Project Corner in the classroom. 

Description: One of the most crucial properties of a nation's existence and that makes it differ from others, is its custom and traditions, holidays and rituals that the nation follow throughout the history. Mental values of the nation are reflected in its traditions, national and religious holidays, state celebrities  which form the nation as a unique in this globalized and hectic world. These holidays are a crucial and essential part of our culture that make us familiar to the world. Every nation has specific holidays with specific traditions that can be extremely interesting to others. We're on eTwinning - an international space where every participating country will share their holiday traditions, rituals, its celebration descriptions and some stories about their history if accessible. There will be 5 groups and each group will represent one country. 

Aims

Main goals of the project are to introduce the different cultures and respect them, develop awareness to our ancestors in children, create consciousness of culture and aesthetic and set a nice example to our surroundings. The project aims to involve schools from 5 different countries. Since each of them represents different cultures, 5 nations will have a great chance to get to know one another's holidays and customs, be aware of some holiday rituals by the help of this project and if will lead students to mingle as one single family. Our children are pure, peaceful, their souls are so far from evil. They should get used to live in a peaceful place where there're no wars. We have to teach our children friendship, collaboration and must have them love to live in a world apart from terror, evil and wars. This project dealing with culture will be a good tool to gain this purpose. 

Expected results

5 country teams will get to know one another's holiday traditions, customs and their meaning why this tradition is followed throughout  the long history of the country. Visual presentations as well as media files posted on Twinspace will be the main assistant in carrying this purpose out. 

Work Process 

The project is planned to begin in October 2017 and will go up to May 15, 2018. 5 paces will be followed by the participants. 

Pace 1. Introduction. This step will cover October 1- November 15

Each participating teacher will add his/her students aged 10-12. Students added by their teachers will introduce themselves using the highly suggested tool- PowToon. Students may need a little instruction and encouragement from their teachers for creating their PowToons. This will let them convert their slides to MP4 files after creating. For those who find it very difficult are allowed to use Padlet or PPT presentation.  A Skype Group meeting or Video conference via Blackboard Collaborate is planned on October 14, Sunday. 

 Pace 2. November 15- December 30. 

Students will present the holidays appropriate to the nation taking place in this period. Video presentations, PowToons,  PPT, blogs, photos taken during the celebrities have to be shared in the Twinspace. 

Pace 3. January 5 - February 28. 

Students will be enrolled in writing activities throughout this pace. Threads headed with the name of the holidays will be created in the forum. The threads will contain a story about the holiday and its history. Students will be encouraged to comment to one another's stories and learn more about the holidays described.

Pace 4. March 1 - April 30. 

Two main types of activities have to be fulfilled during this pace. 

1.Special blog and E-book are planned to be created in this pace. Each team's separate contribution will be strongly needed. 

2. Students will make a colourful poster for their eTwinning corner.Unless the school has any corner just a little board titled "My Holidays - My Culture on eTwinning" is OK.  

Pace 5. May 1 - 15. Assessment. 

This is the time students sum up all they have learned and gained during the project. It's highly recommended  to organize a terse and modest event for reporting to the school staff, parents and society. Students will be awarded with certificates of achievement for their activity during the project.