Multi-Cultural Night

Multi-Cultural Night is virtual! Students shared their reports via MS Teams with our classrooms. Our 8th graders are awesome and did a great job! Check out their reports here.

***Updated 4/26/2021***

From Mrs. Fox
Dear 8^th Grade Families -

I am very happy to announce the 8th grade project for Multi-Cultural Night.  And I am also very happy I get to be a part of this with them.  There is a lot of information here – please check in with your student, we have talked about this and it will be an area of focus for them until May 20th. We are going to throw a Multi-Cultural  Night in May exploring the many different ways culture and history affect our lives and showcasing student learning.  For 8th grade we are going to have a showcase in the gym, it is a Family History Project.  For this long-term project, a tri-fold board that presents information about your family history and/or ethnic or cultural heritage will be shared.  The students will have some class time for research and forming ideas, but much of the work will be done at home.  The students’ boards will be on display during Multi-Cultural Night.  We are working out the details to keep all socially distanced in the gym. Multi-Cultural Night is May 20th.  It is required each 8th grade student complete this project and be present that evening. Required Elements on the Family History Project: 1)    Tri-Fold 2)   Presentation: Both in class for a grade and at Multi-Cultural Night. 3)    Writing   – a 2-3 page research paper.   Details about the 3 Project Components 1. Tri-Fold Board Your board must be a standard tri-fold board that is 3’ x 4’. Your board must be self-sufficient.  Anyone looking at it needs to be able to tell what your topic is easily and understand your overall message.  You should have visual displays of information such as photographs, drawings, maps, charts, tables, graphs, etc. Every item on your board must be bordered. You may choose 2-3 colors to enhance your borders, title, etc. You may display other materials in front of your board within a 2 square foot space.  Items not allowed in school are not allowed at the fair. Map of how the student got here.  A visual representation of how parents, grandparents, etc.. got to the Seattle area.  Example: if parent moved from New York to Seattle the student would show that on a map. Family Culture – pictures of or artifacts that show how your family celebrates, how they come together, worship, etc.  How does this connect to the life of the student? Research on a country of heritage.   Each student is required to have information on one of the countries they have a connection to. 2. Writing You will create 2-3 page paper.  It will include the descriptions of the 3 required elements.  Your papers will be typed, double-spaced, and no larger than 12 pt. font.  Choose ONE font style and stick with it for all written work (except the title). 3. Presentation During the week of Multi-Cultural Night, you will give a presentation about your board in your class and at Multi-Cultural Night .   There are 6 Country of Origin Required Elements: (all are on the board as well as in the paper) 1. Map of Country 2. Type of government – including the flag 3. Religions practiced there 4. Size – Population and Land 5. Language 6. Cultural Significance  What should you write? One part of the paper will be personal and will tell your personal culture in depth, how you experience this aspect of your culture, or how this aspect of your culture has influenced you or your family. Personal essays can tell a family history, immigration story, or traditional practice in the family.  After reading your personal essay, the audience should have learned something about you that they wouldn’t have learned from an encyclopedia article or newspaper. A second part of the paper will be historical, which tells historically factual information about one aspect of culture from your personal essay.  Historical topics may include the history of the tradition in your personal essay, history about a particular event or time period mentioned in your personal essay, etc. Other parts of the paper and display may include interviews, personal narratives, or any type of writing that tells the story of your topic.  Be creative!   Additional Items and Props You may display additional items during the Multi-Cultural  Night such as important objects, pictures or clothing that relates to your topic.  Each item should include a separate caption. Oral Explanation During the week of Multi-Cultural Night, you will give a presentation about your board in your class.  Your presentation will include the following information:          An explanation of your project (what was the topic) and why you chose the topic.       You may reference the items you have included on your board, however this should not be a point and explain presentation.       What you learned about your family, heritage, and yourself.  Multi-Cultural Night Presentation: During the Multi-Cultural Night, you will be expected to stay with your display to present and answer questions from passers-by such as parents, teachers, or other visitors to the fair.   Length:  Your presentation will be approximately three (3) minutes long General Considerations Your Multi-Cultural Night should reflect how your topic is related to YOU, your family, and your culture. Your project should speak for itself.  It will be a combination of text, visuals, and objects.  Anyone looking at your project should be able to tell what you are trying to say, the purpose of your project, and what you learned about your topic. Your project should be colorful, creative, and neatly done.  Pay particular attention to details:  color choices, borders, textures, lettering; all graphic elements should be well thought-out.  Your title should be unique and creative. All writing should be at the level of an 8th grade student.  Labels with clear, complete explanations should describe all visual objects.    Family History Project Checklist – the earlier you complete each task the easier the project will be! ______  Reviewed ALL directions from Multi-Cultural Night Packets (this packet) Due 4/23 ______  Get project display board -no later than 4/30/2021 ______  Determine your project title 4/30  ______  Complete necessary research (interviews, internet, articles, etc.) Due 4/30  ______  Write your paper.  Revise, edit, and proofread all text.  Make sure someone else                        looks at your writing to help with proofreading before your final product.  Remember, lots of                people will be reading, listening and seeing your work.  RD Due 5/7/21, Final 5/14 ______  Gather supplementary materials (photographs, drawings, maps, charts, tables, graphs,                     artifacts, food, etc.) Due 5/7  ______ Type captions for all supplementary materials explaining  the materials and their                significance (this includes any material in front of your tri-fold board – artifacts). Due 5/7   ______  Cut borders to straight lines.  ¼” borders look good and plan out an arrangement of all items on your                   tri-fold board. Due 5/14  ______  Be ready to present your Multi-Cultural Night Family Heritage Project in class the week of May 17. In class presentations will be May 17-May 19.   Notecards for presentation due 5/14.              ______  Bring your Multi-Cultural Night Tri-Fold and any supplementary material to school no later than                Monday, May 17th. If you have any questions please email me.  I am happy to help and am so excited to see what these 8th grade students can do with this project. Blessings, Lisa Fox

lfox@stpx.org