Magazine Project

Grade 7 Social Studies

Your task in this project is to create a magazine based on information

surrounding the War of 1812, an important event in Pre-Confederation
Canada. To complete your magazine, you must complete 2-5 sections
depending on if you are working by yourself or a small group. You must
choose your topic and format for each section. When you have finished all
your selections, put them together along with a front and back cover, table
of contents, and extra visuals to create your magazine. Give it an
interesting, appropriate title, too.

Assignment Overview
Each assignment will be handed in individually. Once your assignment has
been marked I would encourage you to take the feedback and make any
suggested adjustments required. This way you can improve your mark and
you will also be putting your best work into your magazine!
To be Included in your Magazine:
1. A minimum of 2 Sections. Please indicate your two choices:
Special Report
Perspectives on War
Editorial
Special Interest
Political Cartoon
2. Cover page (name of your magazine) and back page
3. Table of contents
4. Numbered pages with a header that includes your name
5. Any extra visuals or advertisements that you want to add.

Skills you will focus on:

Researching
Note-taking
Effective internet searching
Citing your sources
How to write a bibliography
Synthesizing information
Making inferences
Writing: ideas, voice and organization
Visual representations
Clear communication
Generating ideas

Thoughts to Ponder:
What or who are you prepared to make a sacrifice for?
Is conflict necessary in the development of a nation?
What would life be like if the outcome of The War of 1812 had been
different?

SECTION 1: SPECIAL REPORT (RESEARCH) WITH PHOTOS

3

Theme: change and continuity over time

Skills: research; note-taking; citing references
Assignment: report comparing then and now, with accompanying photos.
Question: What has stayed the same and what has changed? Why? In your opinion, what
was one major turning point?
Steps:
1. Choose your topic (1 of the following or with teacher approval, your own choice):
Clothing
Uniforms
Farmers
Weapons
Hero (key figure)
2. Research your topic. Your focus is on what has stayed the same and what has
changed over time, along with the reasons for the changes and continuity. Be sure
to keep track of your sources; you will be required to do a bibliography later in
the project.
3. Find photos to go with your topic. Make sure they are relevant!
4. Prepare an outline for your report. Make note of where your photos will fit in.
5. Write your rough draft, double-spaced.
6. Revise and edit your own work, then get one other person to revise and edit for
you.
7. Prepare your final copy in blue or black ink or word processed, double-spaced.
Dont forget your photos!
8. Prepare a properly formatted bibliography citing all resources used in your
research. (I recommend the use of Son of Citation Machine to ensure that your
bibliography is done properly).

THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SUBMITTED:

Title Page
Final Report (double spaced)
Bibliography
Outline and or Rough Draft

SPECIAL REPORT RUBRIC

5

CRITERIA

EXCELLING

MEETING

APPROACHING

Research and

All research respects

Citations are

Citations are

Bibliography

ownership and

accurate and

incomplete or

integrity of

complete.

incorrectly

information by citing

NOT
YET

formatted.

Final Product

sources accurately.
Final product is

Final product

Final product is

*Engaging

compelling and

is interesting

straightforward

*Clear, relevant

pertinent.

and relevant.

and basic.

pictures
*Historically
accurate,
detailed
information
*Addresses
change and
continuity over
time.

Social Studies
7.1.6.5 How did the War of 1812 contribute to British identity in Canada?
7.1.6.6 How did the War of 1812 contribute to defining Canadas political boundaries?
7.S.7.4 Organize and synthesize researched information.
7.S.7.5 practice the responsible and ethical use of information.
7.S.7.8 Include and organize references as part of research.
7.S.7.9 Plan and conduct a search, using a wide variety of sources.
7.S.8.1 Communicate information in a clear and engaging manner.

Language Arts:
3.1 I can narrow a topic, gather information that is appropriate for it. (Summarizing and notetaking).
3.2 I can choose a variety of appropriate sources and access the information I require.
3.3 I can organize record and evaluate information that I have gathered.
3.4 I can share ideas and information in a way that is appropriate to my audience. I can identify
my strengths and areas for improvement in my research skill
6

SECTION 2: PERSPECTIVES ON WAR

Theme: Perspective
Skills: Synthesizing information; clear communication; making inferences.
Assignment: Choose an individual perspective, explore it and present it through a choice
of formats.
Question: What is the perspective of different individuals as they live through the War
of 1812?
Steps:
1. Choose your perspective. For example:
Soldier
First Nations warrior
Young man or woman
Wife/Husband
Mother/Father
Politician
General
2. Choose your format (1 of the following):
Interview
Journal entry
Poem
Drawing
Short story
Strategic battle map with notes
3. Based on what you already know about the War of 1812, create a web showing the
perspective of your individual. Identify the areas that you need to research
more.
4. Complete your research.
5. Create your rough draft.
6. Revise and edit your own work, then get one other person to revise and edit for
you.
7. Prepare your final copy.

THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SUBMITTED:

8

Title Page
Perspective
Bibliography
Web
Rough Draft

10

11

12

CRITERIA

EXCELLING

MEETING

APPROACHING

Synthesize

Information

Information from

Information from

Information

from web is

web is sufficiently

web is partially

purposefully

incorporated in the

incorporated in the

incorporated

finished product.

finished product.

Clear

product.
Perspective is

Perspective is

Perspective is

Communication

skilfully

effectively

simplistically

NOT
YET

in the
finished

Making Inferences

communicated communicated.

communicated.

.
The

The conclusions

The conclusions

conclusions

drawn are

drawn are

drawn are

thoughtful.

predictable.

insightful.
PERSPECTIVES ON WAR RUBRIC

Social Studies
7.1.6.5 How did the War of 1812 contribute to British identity in Canada?
7.1.6.6 How did the War of 1812 contribute to defining Canadas political boundaries?
7.S.7.4 Organize and synthesize researched information.
7.S.7.5 Formulate new questions as research progresses.
7.S.7.7 Practice the responsible and ethical use of information.
7.S.8.1 Communicate information in a clear and engaging manner.
Apply skills of metacognition by reflecting upon what they have learned and what they need to
learn.
Language Arts:
3.4.1 Communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral, print and other media texts.
4.3.2 Ask questions or make comments that elicit additional information; probe distant aspects
of ideas, and clarify information.
5.1.2 Expand understanding by exploring different perspectives.

13

SECTION 3: EDITORIAL
Theme: Personal opinion
Skills: Writing (Ideas; voice; organization).
Assignment: Write an editorial.
Question: Choose from the following two questions:
1. To what extent was the War of 1812 important in the development of Canada?
2. How has the War of 1812 affected your life today?
Steps:
1. Choose the question you want to focus on.
2. Brainstorm. For example: Webs, lists.
3. Write your rough draft, double-spaced.
4. Revise and edit your own work, then get one other person to revise and edit for
you.
5. Prepare your final copy in blue or black ink or word processed, double-spaced.

14

THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SUBMITTED:

Title Page
Editorial
Rough Draft

15

CRITERIA

EXCELLING

MEETING

APPROACHING

Ideas

Editorial is

Editorial is

Editorial is basic and

*Clear

engaging and

interesting and

simplistically

*Detailed

skilfully

effectively

developed.

Voice

developed.
Voice is confident.

developed.
Voice is clear.

Voice is vague.

*Purposeful
Organizatio

Organization of

Organization of

Organization of

editorial is skilful.

editorial is logical.

editorial is simplistic.

NOT
YET

*Personal
*Consistent

*Opening
*Ending
*Transitions
*On topic

EDITORIAL RUBRIC

Social Studies
7.1.6.5 How did the War of 1812 contribute to British identity in Canada?
7.1.6.6 How did the War of 1812 contribute to defining Canadas political boundaries?
7.S.2.1 Analyse historical issues to form or support an opinion.
7.S.7.1 Develop a position that is supported by information gathered through research.
7.S.8.1 Communicate information in a clear, persuasive and engaging manner.
Language Arts
3.3.2 Produce print texts with well-developed and well-linked ideas.
4.3.1 Present opinions confidently.
4.3.2 Clarify and support opinions with details.

16

SECTION 4: SPECIAL INTEREST

Theme: Creative Expression
Skills: Generating creative ideas; communicating clearly
Assignment: Present information on the War of 1812 in a choice of creative formats
Question: What are the most significant aspects of the War of 1812?
Steps:
1. Choose one of the following formats (your choice? talk to your teacher):
Art: key figure (portrait); landscape; battle scene
Crossword Puzzle, including answer key
Advertisement: TV, magazine, newspaper, billboard
Poem
Illustrated Battle Map
2. Make a plan:
What information will you portray/include? What do you believe are
the most significant aspects of the War of 1812?
What materials will you need?
What do you want your final product to look like? Remember that it
must fit in with the rest of your magazine.
3. Do a rough draft
4. Revise/edit as necessary
5. Prepare a final copy of your project.

17

SPECIAL INTEREST RUBRIC

Criteria
Creativity

Excelling

Meeting

Approaching

*Project is engaging

*Project is

*Project is

*Project is very

interesting

straightforward

visually appealing and

*Project is

*Project is adequate

will attract the

appealing and

and may attract the

audiences attention

will attract the

audiences attention

Not
Yet

audiences
Communicatio

Ideas are skilfully

attention
Ideas are

presented

effectively

Ideas are simplistically

presented

presented

Social Studies
18

7.1.6.5 How did the War of 1812 contribute to British identity in Canada?
7.1.6.6 How did the War of 1812 contribute to defining Canadas political boundaries?
7.S.1.5 Generate creative ideas and strategies in individual activities.
7.S.7.3 Determine how information serves a variety of purposes and that the accuracy or
relevance of information may need verification.
7.S.7.4 Organize and synthesize researched information.
Language Arts
2.4 Create original text.
2.4.4 Create a variety of oral, print and other media texts to explore ideas related to particular
topics or themes.
3.4.1 Communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral, print and other media texts.

THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SUBMITTED:

Title Page
Special Interest Project
Rough Draft

19

SECTION 5: POLITICAL CARTOON

Theme: Point of view
Skills: Clear communication; Visual representation
Assignment: Create a political cartoon based on an important event/person from the
War of 1812.
Steps:
1. Brainstorm possible answers to the question: Which events/people/issues from
the War of 1812 would have elicited the most emotional response from
Canadians at the time?
2. Choose one item from your list to focus on. Brainstorm ideas for your cartoon in
the format of your choice (web, list, sketches, etc.).
3. Create a rough draft. Focus on clear communication, remembering to use as few
words as possible. Remember also that color can often express ideas just as
clearly as words.
4. Prepare a final copy on blank white paper.

20

POLITICAL CARTOON RUBRIC

Criteria

Excelling

Meeting

Visual
Representation

Whoever reads
my cartoon will
have no trouble
identifying the
social or political
change I am
portraying.

Whoever reads
my cartoon may
have some
trouble
identifying the
social or political
change I am
portraying.

I have examined
it fully.

Point of View

My point of view
is crystal clear.

I have examined
it adequately.

My point of view
is clear.

Approaching

Not Yet

Whoever reads
my cartoon will
have trouble
identifying the
social or political
change I am
portraying.
I have examined
it partially.

My point of view
is identifiable.

Social Studies
7.1.6.5 How did the War of 1812 contribute to British identity in Canada?
7.1.6.6 How did the War of 1812 contribute to defining Canadas political boundaries?
7.S.1 Develop skills of critical and creative thinking by generating creative ideas in individual
activities.
Language Arts
2.4 Create original text.
3.3.4 Reflect on ideas and information to form own opinions with evidence to support them.
3.4.1 Communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral, print and other media texts.
3.4.2 Use appropriate visual, print and /or other media effectively to inform and engage the
audience.

21

THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SUBMITTED:

Brainstorming Notes
Rough Draft
Final Copy

22