Advanced Studies: Type III Projects: Passion Based Learning
…must be appropriate for school and have academic value
Research, experiment, learn, and then... Create something that you could show at the GT Expo in June… a poster, a tabletop display, a computer program, a Prezi, a web page, a model, a video, a book, an object, etc.
You can do a project that lasts all year, or a few shorter projects, but make sure that you have work to do even if your partner(s) are not there.
These projects are meant to be independent projects with some help and guidance from me. Do not bite off more than you can chew; for instance, if the completion of the project involves learning how to use a special software program, make sure that you can get access to the program and will be able to use it. Much as I love to learn and teach new skills, I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew either :)
What are some of the possibilities?
Language Arts
Social Studies
The Arts
Music
Engineering & Technology
Mathematics
Science
If you think that you want to do Advanced Studies, but aren’t sure what project you would like to complete, I have questionnaires that might help you get ideas. Once you choose a project, you must fill out a project proposal form and get my approval.
Research, experiment, learn, and then... Create something that you could show at the GT Expo in June… a poster, a tabletop display, a computer program, a Prezi, a web page, a model, a video, a book, an object, etc.
You can do a project that lasts all year, or a few shorter projects, but make sure that you have work to do even if your partner(s) are not there.
These projects are meant to be independent projects with some help and guidance from me. Do not bite off more than you can chew; for instance, if the completion of the project involves learning how to use a special software program, make sure that you can get access to the program and will be able to use it. Much as I love to learn and teach new skills, I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew either :)
What are some of the possibilities?
Language Arts
- Writing…Poetry, Short Fiction, Song Lyrics, a novel (Ask about NanoWrimo)
- Enter a writing contest (http://birchlandgt.weebly.com/eventscontests.html)
- Create a comic strip
- Read Shakespeare, or some other classic piece of literature
Social Studies
- Oral History (research, think of questions that you can ask, Interview an older person and record their history)
- Create a History Day display about Rights and Responsibilities
- Learn about an important issue and express your opinions
- Write and perform a play for History Day (Up to 5 students)
- Learn a foreign language
- Learn about philosophy, local history or the history of a favorite sport
The Arts
- Learn about an artist or one style of art
- Create a book or website about the history of dance, or a dance troupe
- Learn about another culture through their art
- Research how countries have used art to promote political ideas
- Find out how artists use their art to promote their ideas
Music
- Learn about the history of rock and roll
- Learn about other genres of music
- Learn about the science and math of musical instrument design
- Design a Musical Scratch program
- Learn how music has been used to promote social justice
Engineering & Technology
- Take part in Future City
- Design a bridge for the West Point Online Bridge Competition
- Build and program a robot
- Invent something
- Write a computer program to teach a classroom topic.
- Enter a contest (http://birchlandgt.weebly.com/eventscontests.html)
- Learn about the history and future of computers, or robots, or …
Mathematics
- Learn about cryptography (codes and code breaking)
- Learn about the History of Math
- Sign up for Alcumus or Brilliant (two excellent online challenge math sites)
- Create 3d origami models
- Do a math project on the Pythagorean theorem, optical illusions, platonic solids, math in the news.
- Design a survey and report your results.
- Create a math related computer program
- Do a project on the mathematics of baseball
- Create a poster that illustrates mathematical data, or answers a mathematical question.
Science
- Research and Design a Science Fair Project and take part in the Western Mass Science Fair
- Create and perform Science Experiments (restrictions do apply)
- Learn about nanotechnology
- Learn how the brain works
- Learn about local hawk migrations
- Learn about the geology of the area
- Create a recycling brochure
- Learn about green energy
If you think that you want to do Advanced Studies, but aren’t sure what project you would like to complete, I have questionnaires that might help you get ideas. Once you choose a project, you must fill out a project proposal form and get my approval.