This research unit that is done in conjunction with a literature unit in which the students read To Kill a Mockingbird (by Harper Lee) , Cold Sassy Tree (by Olive Ann Burns), and short stories by Southern writers. The research involves interviewing senior citizens in the community to determine how life has changed over the past three or four generations. 

Mathematics 

1. Data collection 

2. Data organization 

3. Data comparison 

4. Geometry: Architecture, landscaping, scale drawings 

5. Trigonometry: Surveying, rate of change 

Science 

I. Process Skills 

A. Design and conduct a full scientific investigation.  
B. Collect and interpret data graphically and verbally.

A. Environmental Impact of Growth in Henry County  

1. Populations  

a. animal  
b. plant  
c. human  
d. verses resources  
e. density

A. Pollution  

1. Water Treatment  
2. Solid Waste 
3. Recycling  
4. Water Quality  
5. Acid Rain 
6. Water testing 

a. pH 
b. carbon dioxide  
c. nitrates  
d. phosphates  
e. oxygen  
f. solid particles

A. Biological Communities  

1. Animals 

a. population samples 
b. wildlife samples 

2. Plants 

a. native vegetation  
b. deforestation  

3. Human impact 

B. Global warming  

1. ozone 
2. CFC's 

C. Agricultural Practices  
D. Pesticides  
E. Industry  

1. photochemical smog  
2. acid rain 

A. Economics - How has Henry County changed?  

1. Industry Growth 
2. Small Businesses 

1. Why people move to county 
2. Demographics 

1. Representatives - Congress and GA Legislature 
2. Democrat vs Republican - Elections 
3. Districts - who votes 
4. Offices held in county - past and present 

1. Maps - political, physical, economical 
2. Interstate Link 
3. Formation of cities  

1. Students will participate in group activities. 

2. Rough draft and final paper will meet due dates. 

3. Oral report will be interesting and easily heard. 

4. Written report will be evaluated for content, mechanics, and organization 

Mathematics 

1. In large group, brainstorm questions to include in community surveys. In small groups, gather data and prepare graphs for oral presentation. 

2. Organize and display data collected by other disciplines. 

Science 

1. The students will be involved in the design and completion of a full scientific investigation involved with the growth in Henry County. At the end of the investigation, the student will have a product which would include a typed report, and a display or multimedia presentation of their background, data collection and conclusions from their research.  

Social Studies 

Economics 
The students will work in groups to create a business and present a business proposal. 

Population 
The students will create an essay on comparing /contrasting the shifts and trends of population over the last ten years and on why people move into the county. Also they will draw a picture of McDonough, Stockbridge, or Henry County ten years ago and then draw a picture of the same area in the present. 

Government 
The students will hold a mock election in the class. One group will be democrats and the other will be republicans. Then the class will be divided in Democrats and Republicans, and the students will campaign for their person running for election. In campaigning, the students will hold debates, will create propaganda slogans and commercials, and will make buttons, bumper stickers, and brochures. The class will choose the best representative for Congress from Henry County.  What will this person do for the county? Give results to math department. 

Geography 
Draw a map of Henry county and list the major cities, towns, rivers, interstate, and railroads. Then create a model of McDonough, Stockbridge, and/or Henry County (detailed) showing the rail roads, interstate highways, towns, and cities.

Oral reports are grades as PASSING, AVERAGE, GOOD, or EXCELLENT in the following areas:  

1) eye contact with the audience 

2) presentation was easily heard 

3) the report was interesting and informative 

The written report will be evaluated in the following areas: spelling, commas, sentence construction, and organization.  
 

Mathematics 

Oral presentation will be evaluated on the following: 

A. Visual quality of graphs 

     1. Most appropriate display of data 
     2. Accuracy 
     3. Neatness 

B. Clarity of oral presentation 

C. Eye contact and physical presentation 
 

Science 

The students will be divided into groups to complete a scientific investigation pertaining to Henry County and the rapid growth pattern. Students will be be observed and evaluated with both their portion of the work in the group and the final product presented by the group.  

In the group the student will be evaluated on the following:  

• Contribution to the group 
• Staying on task
• Co-operative actions (team work) 

• Were all areas of the scientific investigation included (problem, research, hypothesis, experimental design, data collection, interpretation of data, and conclusions drawn from the data)?
• Was the investigation presented in an understandable, orderly fashion?
• Were all aspects of the investigation covered in the presentation?
• Were all members of the group involved in the presentation?

Economics 
For the activities in economics, the assessment process will be measured by the following: working in groups, the final product will be the business proposal, advertising, and models.  The presentations can be graded by the students knowing the information, visuals, eye contact and time limits.  

Population 
For the activity in population, the assessment measured can be graded by essay and drawings. The essays must be grammatically correct, spelled correctly, neat and informational. The drawings must be detailed, neat, and colorful. 

Government 
For this activity in politics and government, the assessment can be done through the presentation of the election, discussion on the best representatives, creating slogans and commercials in the campaigns.  What to look for:  neatness, detail, clarity of debates, and groups working together. 

Geography 
The assessment process can be measured by the model that the students had to create. The model must be neat, detailed, and informative.