What is an Independent Unit of Study?

The dictionary definition: a research project carried out by yourself or with others. This project is carefully planned out with yourself and your teacher.

Mrs. Fuller’s definition: The project allows you to explore passions and interests that you are truly “in to”. The topic does NOT have to be something we talk about in the classroom! You get to become the real researcher (or expert) You get to collect your info from all different sources! (books, magazines, internet websites, other expert folks, etc.)

Are you excited yet? Are you wondering when and where you get started? Are you thinking, what all is involved in this?

Here’s the Step by Step Process for all you organizational freaks! Step 1 – pick your topic (hopefully school appropriate) Step 2 – meet with the teacher to bounce your ideas around and come up with a plan! Step 3 – decide on a study method Step 4 – collect information Step 5 – develop a product (lots of fun!!!) Step 6 – present your project to an audience Step 7 – evaluate your super project

Step 1 – Picking a Topic Some brainstorming may be involved in picking your topic… – Is there a problem out there in the world I want to solve? – Is there a fact I want to prove? – Is there something I want to learn to do? – Is there something I want to learn more about?

Here comes the big and I’m not talking about backsides! Students: What is the big “But” Mrs. Fuller? Mrs. Fuller: But, you need to keep in mind that you want to choose a topic that will be easy to locate all kinds of info from all kinds of sources.

Step 2 and 3 – Meet with the teacher to come up with a and decide on what important you want to answer. What are you going to figure out? – I will look at the past or history of my topic. – I will collect factual information. – I will examine an improvement I made to solve a problem. – I will observe a person, group, or thing more closely. – I will look at changes or development of my topic.

Step 4 – Collect Info Library books, magazines, newspapers People or experts that can be interviewed Brochures, pamphlets, advertisements Teacher approved Internet websites

Teacher approved internet websites/search engines (Sports Illustrated for kids) (kids info bits)

Step 5 – Develop a Product Students decide what they will do or create to present all their hard work and research to others.

Product Choice Examples Book Cartoon/comic strip Graph Poster Editorial, story, essay Game Interview Rap Play Demonstration/experiment Painting Sculpture Poem Pamphlet/brochure Photo album Map Powerpoint Mini movie/video Diorama

Step 6 - Presentation I think it is extremely important for students to have the opportunity to present their information to an audience, not only to share with others but also show themselves how hard work pays off!

Step 7 – Evaluate (What do we think?) Teachers, students, and anyone in the audience should let the presenter know what they thought. How will we do this? – Jot down our thoughts on our own reflection sheets that will be given to the presenter in privacy. – KEEP it POSITIVE!