8th Grade Community Project - Day 1

Aims of the Community Project 1. participate in a sustained, self-directed inquiry within a global context 2. generate creative new insights and develop deeper understandings through in-depth investigation 3. demonstrate the skills, attitudes and knowledge required to complete a project over an extended period of time 4. communicate effectively in a variety of situations 5. demonstrate responsible action through, or as a result of, learning 6. appreciate the process of learning and taking in pride in your accomplishments

The Community Project is not... Completed in groups of 1-3 Completed over an extended period of time (min. 15 hours) The project of independent, student-led inquiry, research, action and reflection Focused on identifying a need in the community and creating an action plan to address that need Assessed The Community Project is not... Volunteering for a specific amount of hours only Simple fundraising only (pre-organized fundraisers, buckets/jar drops) Simple, action-only (posting flyers, running errands, picking up trash)

Sample of a Community Project Presentation Before you can dive into your own, it’s important to see a completed community project presentation. Operation Appreciation for Troops (Jolie Anderson & Cameron Green)

There are two things that your team will need to submit to your Advisory Teacher - only one is needed for each group. (attach in Google classroom) Process Journal - on-going throughout the entire project. Slide Presentation - started toward the end of the 8th grade CP. This takes everything in your process journal and condenses into a 3-5 recap of your entire project.

Interest Survey How do we get started? You might have an idea or maybe you have no idea at this point. The best place to start is to figure out what things you are interested in… Individually, take the next 5 minutes to circle a maximum of 5 things that interest you from the Personal Interests and Needs columns Handout the Brainstorm Activity #1: Interest Survey. Each student needs to fill out their own for the two columns. Next, have groups brainstorm ways to connect the two from the activity at the bottom of the survey. Have them discuss which idea they think might make a good community project. Put up the slide of “What the community project is and isn’t” from previous slide to help guide the groups/individuals.

Brainstorm connections between your personal interests and the needs Get together with a small group (or alone) and connect your personal interests to the needs to come up with research ideas for the community project. Examples: If you chose “Painting” with Children and Health… you could paint ceiling tiles at a local hospital Hiking, canoeing, biking with Social… you could start a club on campus that organizes monthly events that incorporate your interests. Instructions to this are at the bottom of the “Interest Survey”

Important Dates: Monday, August 20th-Wednesday August 22nd - sign up with your group (or solo) at lunch, in the quad with Ms. Shrider & Ms. Tabb. Monday, August 27th - Thursday 30th - Advisors and groups posted in the quad IB Block Day: Thursday, August 30th - first meeting with your advisor *** any specific questions, see Ms. Shrider in the IB office in the back of the D-6 computer lab