Texas-Hero-Project
Dear Parents,
Your child will be participating in a district required research project. During the next two weeks, students will be researching
information on an important historical figure from Texas. Students will be guided in class on topics to research using search engines
in the computer lab and nonfiction texts from the library. Class time will be given to complete the research and the writing needed
for the project. Your child will be taking home their research information & class work on Friday, May 8th to complete the project
and display at home. Parent help is allowed; however, evidence of student work should be abundant. The Texas-Hero Project is due
on Monday, May 18th. Students will be presenting their projects and sharing information learned from their research.
In an effort to allow for creativity and ownership of the project, students will be allowed to choose the types of extra information
they want to share on their display. Included is a Texas Hero Tic-Tac-Toe board. Students must choose any three boxes in a row as
their “free choice” information to include in the final display of their project. Along with the “free choice” information, your child’s
teacher has assigned required information that all 4th grade students must include on their display. The required information is:

a picture of their historical figure (may be hand drawn),

a summary of their person’s life,

an description of their person’s influence on Texas’ history,

and a RAFT activity (Role-Audience-Format-Topic).
Again, the deadline for this project is Monday, May 18th. Students will be taking home their research on Friday, May 8 th. It is strongly
advised that students and parents plan ahead of time for ways in which they want to display the research information and the
materials needed.
Attached, you will find a rubric that outlines how the Texas-Hero Project will be graded. Reading teachers will introduce and
discuss the rubric so that students understand the expectations of the project. Should you, or your child, have any additional
questions, please contact your child’s reading teacher.
Thank you,
4th grade RELA Team
Texas-Hero Tic-Tac-Toe Board
(Choose 3 research topics in a row to display on your project. You will be researching all topic areas in class, but you do
NOT need to display all of them)
Newspaper Interview
Fun Facts
Timeline
Pretend you are a reporter interviewing your
Research fun, interesting facts about
Draw and label a timeline beginning with
your person and create a unique way to
your person’s birth and ending with their
historical figure. What would you like to know
that you could not find out through your
display on your project board.
death. Include important milestones and
Diary Entry
Map
Fact or Fib
Pick a significant day in the life of your
Research and discover the part of
Write 10 statements about your historical figure
historical figure. Create a journal
Texas your historical figure traveled
entry for a diary your person would
and/or lived. Describe how he/she
have kept.
came to Texas. Label this information
research? List at least 5 questions you would
ask during your interview.
events from their life on the timeline.
that classmates can learn from reading your
project and determine if they are a fact or fib.
Include an answer covered with a self-checking
flap.
on a Texas map.
Character Traits
Create a Wanted or Hero poster using
character traits to describe your
historical figure.
Texas Artifact
Acrostic Poem
Think of the time period in which your person
Create an Acrostic poem using your
lived. What major historical events were going
on at the time? What is your person’s influence
in their community? Identify and describe an
artifact that your character would have needed
or used. Explain why it was important.
person’s name.
Texas-Hero-Project Rubric
*Required information must be included on the display and is worth 70% of project grade.
The tic-tac-toe items (shaded area below) are worth the remaining 30% of the project grade.
Final Project Grade
Name:
The letter is written in correct letter format
*Creativity /Neatness: 5 point max _____
*Completed on time:
5 point max _____
*Picture*
The project includes a picture & is labeled with:
name, date of birth , and date of death.
*R-A-F-T Activity*
(date, greeting, body, closing) and is written from the
_____________
*Summary*
The summary is written in paragraph form & includes
important information that sums up their hero’s life.
perspective of the Texas hero.
15 point maximum _____
*Historical Influence on Texas*
This information must include historical facts explaining how
their person shaped or influenced Texas. Students can be
creative on how to display-historical accuracy will be graded.
5 point maximum _____
20 point maximum _____
20 point maximum _____
Newspaper Interview
Fun Facts
_____
Timeline
The student creates at least 5 correctly written
Project includes at least 5 interesting, fun facts
The timeline should include dates with important
questions to ask their historical figure and includes a
about their person & is displayed in a creative manner.
milestones /achievements and span from birth to death.
10 point maximum _____
10 point maximum _____
10 point maximum _____
Diary Entry
Map
Fact or Fib
The diary entry reflects believable thoughts & feelings and
Draw & label a map of Texas showing areas your person:
The project includes 10 correctly written statements (some
references historical events during the time period your
lived, traveled to, influenced, fought, died, etc….
facts & some fibs). The student will cover the answer with a
10 point maximum _____
10 point maximum _____
10 point maximum _____
Character Traits
Texas Artifact
Acrostic Poem
List character traits that describe your hero and explain why
The artifact should relate to your historical figure. Include a
The poem should accurately reflect the historical
they have each specific trait. (Remember, these do not
picture of the artifact that explains why it was important to
figure with traits, descriptions, facts, or biographical
reasonable answer for each.
person lived.
describe how some looks).
your person and how it was used.
10 point maximum _____
10 point maximum _____
self-checking flap indicating True or False.
information using the person’s full name.
10 point maximum _____
R-A-F-T Writing Activity Information
R-A-F-T stands for Role, Audience, Format, & Topic. It is a GT writing activity that encourages
students to use their creativity to demonstrate their knowledge of new information and their thinking
(synthesis). The following information outlines the RAFT Writing Activity required for the TexasHero Research Project.
Role-
Assume the role of the historical figure you are researching.
Audience-
Write to future generations of Texas children.
Format-
Write a letter using the correct letter format.
Topic-
Write about why you think Texas is a great state (or place to live if Texas had not yet won
its independence from Mexico or entered statehood into the United States when your person was
was alive).
Texas-Hero Research Project Display Suggestions:
 tri-fold display board
 power-point presentation
 poster board
 Newspaper/Magazine
 mobile
 diorama
 pamphlet/brochure
 time capsule w/information inside
(Students may choose one of the suggested ideas above or create their own idea!)