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Create a Standards-Based PowerPoint Project

 

Introduction
Objectives
Content Standards
Essential Questions
Probing Questions and Keywords
Search Tools
Finding Information and Images
Developing Content
PowerPoint Tutorials
Content in Web-Based Activities
Content Collections

Introduction

 

This website was created to guide you through the process of developing a PowerPoint presentation that is content driven.The purpose of this activity is for you and a partner to develop a project that meets your curriculum and aligns to content standards. Research on the Internet can be overwhelming and sometimes frustrating, but with some direction that we have for you on this site, you may be able to find the right sites with the information and images you need for your presentation.

 

Objectives

  • to find one content standard that reaches your curriculum topic
  • to create an essential question, subsidiary questions, and key words on your curriculum topic
  • to introduce you to 2-4 search engines that may help you find rich content on the web
  • to create a 5-6 slide presentation on your curriculum topic
  • to use web-based activities and lessons for more content

 

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Content Standards

  • Pair with another who is interested in a similar curriculum topic, grade level, and focus on one topic for your presentation: i.e.11th grade U.S. History > the McCarthy Era.
  • Go to your curriculum area at the California content standards or search the database for your state standards and choose one standard that aligns to your topic: i.e.
 

Grade Eleven History-Social Science Content Standards
11.9 Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and containment policy, including the following:
3. The era of McCarthyism, instances of domestic Communism (e.g., Alger Hiss) and blacklisting

  • Copy the content standard.
  • Open Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Choose a Blank Presentation.
  • Create a slide by choosing the first AutoLayout slide. This will be you first, or Title slide.
  • Paste the content standard onto the first title slide in the Subtitle box. Note: You may need to adjust your fonts and resize the Subtitle box.
  • Give this file a name and Save. Keep application open.
 

 

Essential Questions

 

An essential question is the Big Question that is difficult to answer. Most essential questions are interdisciplinary in nature. They cut across the lines created by schools and scholars to mark the terrain of departments and disciplines. (Mackenzie, 2001 - FNO) Jamie Mackenzie writes: "Answers to essential questions cannot be found. They must be invented. It is something like cooking a great meal. The researcher goes out on a shopping expedition for the raw ingredients, but "the proof is in the pudding." Students must construct their own answers and make their own meaning from the information they have gathered. They create insight."

 

Which one of these is the best essential question for the curriculum topic and standard?
Why are people blacklisted? Can the McCarthy era happen again?

  • Work with your partner to develop an essential question about your topic.
  • In your PowerPoint presentation, type the essential question in the Title box.

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Probing Questions and Keywords

 

Probing questions are smaller questions which will help you answer the essential question. List 2-3 questions that target your curriculum topic.

    1. What events occurred after World War II that led to blacklisting people as Communists?
    2. Is there any similarity of the McCarthy trials and Salem Witch Trials?
    3. How did Joseph McCarthy come to lead the House of Un-American Activities Committee?
  • Work with your partner to develop 2-3 questions that target your curriculum topic and may lead to some answers to your essential question.
  • Go back to PowerPoint and add slide 2.
  • Type in the first question. Press Return/Enter and add slide 3.
  • Type in the next question. If you have another question, add another slide.
  • On a piece of paper or using Inspiration software, brainstorm keywords and phrases: i.e.

Joseph McCarthy, McCarthyism, Communists, blacklist, Salem Witch Trials, House of Un-American Activities

 

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Search Tools

 

Choose at least two of the search tools below and search for information using one of your keywords.

Search Engines and/or Subject Directories
Google
Vivisimo
Librarian's Index to the Internet
Ixquick

Fill out the Chart Below with what you found:

Search Tool Used Number of Hits Relevance to Topic Special Attributes of Tool Concerns about Tool
         
         
         

Open search.doc to type in directly into a Word document.


Searching Tools Chart
Use the tools chart to learn more about Boolean Operators and searching with combinations of phrases and words. Google does not use Boolean operators any more. You can even spell a word wrong and Google will ask you if you meant the correct word. However, Google may not be the best choice for certain phrases and searches.

 

Find Information and Images

Finding Relevant Information
When you find information that you can use in your presentation, enter the title, the URL (you can copy and paste it from the location bar), and the information you want to use. Bookmarking pages is helpful so that you can refer back to the page later.

Title URL Information
     
     
     
     
     

Download the web3.doc template to use with activity above for each subsidiary question created. You can type directly into this template or print it out and write the information.

 

Go to Wolfgram-Memorial Library Web Evaluation Site on your own time to determine if the site and information you found is relevant and appropriate for your topic.

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Find Images for Your Presentation

  1. In the search engine, type "images:[name of image]" and then search.
  2. When you find an image, right-click (PC) on top of the image and select Save Picture As... (Mac- Click and hold down the mouse button to bring up the menu to copy image.)
  3. Type in a file name for your picture and save it.
  4. On the web3.doc template, record the title of the web page and URL where you found the picture. Also record the file name of your picture.
Developing Content
  1. Work together to pull together a presentation about your topic that shows understanding of the content standard.
  2. Summarize some of the information you collected. Use the bulleted list under the questions.
  3. Add a slide and title it "Conclusion" that tries to answer the essential question.
  4. Add a final slide titled "Credits" and list the sources you used for your presentation.

Insert Images

  1. In PowerPoint, go to a slide where you want to put your image.
  2. Go to the Insert Menu to Picture to From File...
  3. Choose the picture you just saved earlier.
  4. Your picture should appear in your slide. You may need to resize your picure and move it to the appropriate place on your slide.
  5. Remember to cite your source in your Credits slide.
  6. PowerPoint contains a large library of clipart that you can also use. Go to Insert to Picture to Clipart.

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Applying Design to your Presentation

  1. Follow our PowerPoint Step-by-Step Guides to learn more about creating a presentation.
  2. Add some pizazz to your presentation by applying a design, transitions, and animations.
  3. Work together to pull together a presentation about your topic that shows understanding of the content standard and that has good design.
  4. Use the Assessment Rubric for PowerPoint presentations from the Sample Assessment Rubric to evaluate content, design, etc.
 

 

 


Find Content from Web-Based Activities

 

Using the collections below of web-based activities, you might be able to find more content you can add to your presentations.

 

The WebQuest Page

Blue Web'n from Pacific Bell

SCORE CyberGuides

 

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Collection of Content Sites

 

You may find the content you have been looking for in one of the sites below.