IN THIS PACKET

1) Instructions for completing your summer work.

2) A copy of the Senior Project Portfolio Rubric

3) Senior project deadlines:

Description / Deadline
Senior Project Summer Work / August 11, 2015, 3:30 P.M.
Senior Project Portfolio / October 30, 2015, 3:30 P.M.
Senior Project Presentations / Scheduled for second week of January 2016

NOTE: Any missed deadline will result in removal from the program.

SENIOR PROJECT SUMMER

Now that you have, or hopefully soon will, passed the research paper requirement for the Ag/Science academy it is time to start your project! For those of you going on to AgSci English 4 this packet takes the place of your summer reading. Meaning, instead of having summer reading you will work on your project instead. For those going on to IB English 4 you will still have a summer reading assignment in addition to this. This packet contains detailed instructions for you to successfully complete your Senior Project, including suggestions for projects, direction for a learning log, and a Senior Project Planner. A portion of this assignment is due on the first day of school next year, if this portion is not completed and submitted you will be removed from the program. Removal from the program means you will be taken out of your Ag/Science classes and placed in CP classes if there is room in those classes to do that. If there is not room in other classes to move you, you will remain n Ag/Science classes but you will not attend the field trip or graduate with the program.

A few notes about what a project should be (these comments will be repeated throughout this packet). An oral report is not a project, nor is simply making an informational power point or pamphlet a project. If you make a pamphlet you MUST share that pamphlet with people from the intended audience. For example, if your research paper is about foods that fight cancer and your project is to make a pamphlet describing those foods, you MUST offer that pamphlet to a doctor’s office, a hospital, or someone with cancer. If your paper is about the stages of pregnancy and you make an ABC book to explain the stages, you MUST offer the book to the child development class on campus, Planned Parenthood, a doctor’s office, the STEPS program or someone else who could benefit from what you learned. If you are going to conduct a survey you MUST survey no fewer than 200 people.

Bottom line, you must DO something that requires you to push yourself. You MUST create something that demonstrates what you learned and of which you can be proud. This packet contains all of the information to help you do that. Additionally I am available most days before school gets out if you simply come by and make an appointment. I am also available over the summer via email.

Senior Project Summer

Nutshell: THE FOLLOWING IS DUE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL MONDDAY AUGUST 11 2014 TO THE ACADEMIES OFFICE BY 3:30 P.M. IF YOU DO NOT TURN IN THE ITEMS BELOW YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE PROGRAM.

Tuesday AUGUST 11, 2015 BY 3:30 P.M. TO THE ACADEMIES OFFICE
A completed Learning Log following directions outlined in this packet.
A detailed, updated plan for your project
OR
A completed Learning Log following directions outlined in this packet. AND A completed project.

If you haven’t begun your project by the time school starts, you will be dropped from the program.

Details:

You are expected to work on your senior project over the summer. On the first day of school next year you are to turn in your learning log from the summer and a detailed plan for completing your project, or a completed project. Your portfolio containing your completed project will be due Friday, October 30, 2015.

Guidelines for Learning Log

Your Learning Log is a critical part of your project. It provides you with the documentation of your work in progress from the very beginnings, i.e., when you initiate your project – to the final moments as you prepare for your presentation. It is a record of all of the hours you put in on your project, of all of your thoughts, plans, discussions, everything that you have done for your completed Senior Project.

While working on your senior project this summer you need to keep a log which reflects a minimum 8 hours of work. Use the table below that includes the dates you worked on your project, the number of hours you worked, a summary of what you did, a reflection of what you learned, and a parent signature. All entries need to be in complete sentences and each reflection must be no less than five sentences. Below the chart are some suggestions for reflections and project ideas. If you haven’t begun your project by the time school starts, you will be dropped from the program.

Learning Log Format: FOLLOW THE FORMAT BELOW EXACTLY You may use the format below in a composition book, a three ring binder, or a notepad:

Date / Hours / Summary (what you did) / Reflection (What you thought about what you did.) / Parent Signature

Learning Log Reflection Prompts: Below are some suggestions for writing your reflections. You do not have to use all of them, but your log must reflect a variety of responses to the prompts. You may certainly use your own prompts as well.

·What ideas do you have?

·What questions do you still have?

·What did you learn today that you didn’t know before?

·How does what you did today tie in with your research paper and/or project?

·What did you learn about yourself?

·What did you learn about working with others?

·How will you use today’s experience?

·In what ways did you make decisions and solve problems?

·What ideas do you have for improving your project?

·Were there any differences between your initial plans and what you actually did?

·What challenges are you facing and what are some ways you can solve them?

Senior Project Planner

What you have done toward your project so far:

ü Chosen a topic.

ü Researched the topic.

ü Written a research paper

Now you need to:

PLAN

What must I do?

1.  Read through the sample ideas in your Project Planner which is included in this packet. Think about ideas for a project in your pathway, or what you plan to do after high school. Feel free to talk about project ideas with other students, teachers, family members, and friends.

2.  Begin to write down your project ideas. Use an outline, drawings, or other techniques you have used in the past to help organize thoughts as you decide what to do.

3.  Discuss your project ideas with your teachers, family members and friends. Show them your written ideas, drawings, or outline. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas they will be able to make some suggestions. You should talk with them about the following questions:

§  Are your project ideas related to your pathway or plans for after high school?

§  How long will it take for you to complete the project?

§  Do you demonstrate skills from a particular discipline (English, math, history, agriculture, science, etc.)?

§  Are all required materials to complete the project available?

§  Who, outside of your classroom or school, might be involved or might be able to help you?

§  What final products do you expect to develop?

4.  Use the Organizer to help you develop your plan. Your project plan must include:

§  the aim, what you expect to accomplish.

§  at least three ways to show you are making progress: research notes, journal entries and rough drafts (including outlines) of the research paper.

§  A timetable listing steps and showing how long it will take to finish the project. Be sure to allow time after the project is completed to prepare and deliver your presentation.

§  Optional: any additional comments (for example, potential in accomplishing your plan)

5.  Show your plan to your teachers and parents. Before approving your plan, your teachers will look to make sure your project plan:

§  Outlines a project that relates to your pathway.

§  Includes appropriate work to demonstrate skills from particular disciplines.

§  Describes work that can be completed in a reasonable amount of time and includes a timetable which is realistic.

§  Outlines work that uses readily available materials.

Note that in your plan you state what you will be evaluated on, with your teachers’ approval. Be sure also to refer to how you will be evaluated for progress and product as you finalize your project plan.

6.  Write the final plan for your project. Based on feedback from your teachers, make any required changes to your initial plan. Your final plan should be typed. Once your teachers have approved your project plan, all should sign the cover. The final plan is a contract between you and your teachers.

7.  Start your project! Tell your teachers about your progress as you work on your project. At least once a week you will update your timetable as you complete each activity listed.

Discuss any problems you may be having on your project with your teachers or classmates as they happen. You might need to make changes to your original plan. Any major changes must be approved in writing by all your teachers. Minor changes can be approves by the individual teacher whose discipline is affected.

Remember to use your plan as a guide as you work in your project.


Senior Project Planner

(This portion of the packet is similar to your proposal that you have already completed)

This project plan is where you turn your research paper into a tangible product since the research paper’s purpose is to support your project. NOTE: An oral report is not a project nor is simply making an informational power point or pamphlet a project. Included in this packet are sample projects as examples of what other students have done for their projects. You are encouraged to develop your own project idea. Some questions you may ask yourself when thinking about creating a project include

ü  How can I show what I have learned?

ü  Who could use the information I have found?

ü  How does my paper relate to my future plans?

ü  What do I want people to know about my topic?

You’re probably wondering, “What can I do for my project?” Well, here are some ideas:

·  Design a lesson for a teacher to use in their classroom

·  Teach a lesson

·  Plan/participate in a fundraiser

·  Plan/participate in an awareness campaign

·  Build something

·  Conduct an experiment

·  Write an ABC book about your topic

·  Make a video

·  Just about anything that demonstrates what you learned from your research paper and pushes you to step outside your comfort zone.

“Gosh, thanks! But wait……….how do I turn my paper topic into a project?”

Glad you asked:

Paper / Project / Presentation
History of Architecture / Design/build model of addition to a house / Describe process, and model of addition
Dog training techniques / Train a dog to run an agility course and build equipment / Run dog through agility course.
Steps in growing and harvesting walnuts / Grow and harvest walnuts / Bring the walnut harvester.
Endangered Coral Reefs / Become Certified in SCUBA Diving, then dive at an endangered reef / Bring dive gear, explain it, and model it
Basic Genetic engineering / Breed two cows to make a mini cow / Explain DNA and genes; bring the calf.
Stages of cognitive development / Test preschool kids perception of volume / Video tape of experiment.
Use of Sensory in Special Education / Create a sensory station for special education dance / Photos/videos of sensory table in use at dance.
Cemeteries as Historical Resources / Digitize cemetery records and clean up headstones / Photographic evidence of project.

Bottom line, you must make something tangible, a Power Point does not a project make. If you make a pamphlet you MUST share that pamphlet with people from the intended audience. For example, if your research paper is about foods that fight cancer and your project is to make a pamphlet describing those foods, you MUST offer that pamphlet to a doctor’s office, a hospital, or someone with cancer. If your paper is about the stages of pregnancy and you make an ABC book to explain the stages, you MUST offer the book to, oh, I don’t know, the childhood development class on campus, the STEPS program or someone else who could benefit from what you learned.

Senior Project Planner

Use your completed Spring Planner as the model for your final plan. This is a rough draft. List as many activities that you can think of, and estimate the time required to complete each step. At this point do not worry about the order of the steps. You will organize the steps as you include them into your Final Project Plan.

Aim of the Project

I plan to accomplish:______

Description of Activities

Break the activities into steps below. You do not need to use all of the steps below use as many steps as you need. Estimate how long the step will take to complete (number of hours or days).

Step 1: ______

Time Required:______

Step 2: ______

Time Required:______

Step 3: ______

Time Required:______

Evaluation

Evidence of progress (in addition to research notes, learning log, and/or rough drafts, outlines, of the research paper):