"Thataway" Thursday: Social Studies Edition

Project Components:

1) Wampum belt - contains symbols representing key events

2) Write-up

• Summary - what was the chosen event about?
• Symbols explanation - what symbols did students choose and why?
• Justification - Why is their event (e.g. The signing of the Magna Carta, the Civil Rights Movement, etc.) THE most important event to the history of democracy
• Students are strongly encouraged to visit our criteria for "important events in history" to help write their justification
• Claim --> evidence/proof --> "So, what?"

Below is an example of a Level 2 response for the justification paragraph.

e.g. Claim: I believe the signing of the Magna Carta is the most important event in the history of democracy.

e.g. Evidence/Proof: Without the Magna Carta, we would not have some of the freedoms we have today. Today, we cannot be put in jail without being told why. We have a right to a lawyer and the Prime Minister cannot put us in jail "just because."

e.g. "So, what?" In King John's time, if he disliked you, he could put you into jail without a reason, for as long as he wanted. Sometimes, you may not have even been told why you were in jail. This kind of power violates freedom and justice - two principles of democracy. Without the Magna Carta, we may not have been able to keep our rulers (e.g. Kings, Prime Ministers, etc.) in check. They may be more likely to abuse their power, which has a bad impact on the citizens they rule. A true democracy means that people are protected by the law and that no one is above the law, which is one of the key points in the Magna Carta.