Exploration Project Launch!

Exploration Project Launch

Goals of Project Time

• You are the leader in your learning.
• Instead of getting all of your knowledge from the teacher, you learn how to build your own knowledge.
• You explore an area you are interested in.
• You meet various curriculum outcomes by completing check-ins, meeting deadlines, and completing tasks along the way.
• We work with peers and teach to edit our work and get make a professional product.
• You connect your learning to the world outside of school.
• We show off our work to the world!

Details of the Exploration Project

• You are given a list of socials and science curriculum outcomes.
• You will pick one you want to explore.
• You will come up with one focused way to explore the outcome.
• You will meet English outcomes by keeping a journal where you reflect on your learning and set goals.
• There will be check-ins for things like proposals and drafts that will be marked.
• You will present your project with an oral presentation and during a public presentation time with other Grade 8 students

Every Student Will...

• meet some English outcomes,
• meet 1 outcome from the list of socials or science options,
• use technology at various points along the way and to publish your work,
• create something (a "product"),
• teach others about what you learned so they understand that aspect of the learning goal,
• give an oral presentation explaining your findings at the end.

Options for Science and Social Outcomes to Explore

Remember, you are to come up with a specific, focused way to explore the topic found in the outcome. You are not giving a generalized overview. 

Socials

You may choose to focus on the years 500-1600 or explore modern instances of the learning outcomes)

1.  Describe how societies preserve identity, transmit culture, and adapt to change

Some ways you might explore this outcome could be,

a.      Look at worship centres in Prince George and explore how they are connected to ideas of culture and identity in our community.

b.      Explore a religion(s) between 500-1600 and report on how religion transmitted culture and adapted to change.

c.       Explore the evolution of art in a culture and connect it to change or identity.

d.      Look at the traditions of Aboriginal peoples in this area and how they preserve their culture.

e.       Explore family traditions and their role in preserving identity and transmitting culture.

f.       Look  at what happened to a society at a moment of change (ex. the First Nations of Prince George with Fort George Park, dam building and First Nations in BC, the effect of missionaries on Aboriginal cultures, how Aboriginal peoples are rebuilding following residential schools).

2.      Demonstrate an understanding of the tension between individual rights and the responsibilities of citizens

            Some ways you might explore this outcome could be,

a.       Explore the difference between rights and responsibilities in a certain culture or context.

b.       Look at how rights are treated in a variety of societies.

c.       Examine the relationship between an individual(s) and the power structure at a certain point in history.

d.      Explore different political systems.

e.       Explore how people can and do use their rights.

f.       Explore a protest movement.

g.      Examine the Charter of Rights and/or the Quebec Charter.

h.      Profile the rights of a person in a specific time.

i.        Explore what it was like to be a person in a specific time.

j.        Profile a leader in rights movement.

k.      Become active in rights movement.

3.      Describe the impact of technological innovation and science on political, social and economic structures.

      Some ways you might explore this outcome could be,

a.       Look at an important technology, such as the printing press.

b.      Study past navigation systems and how they changed the world.

c.       Look at the invention of Viking ships and what they led to.

4.      Compare the changing nature of labour in rural and urban environments.

a.      Look at how rural and urban communities adapt to changing work options.

b.   Explore how job changes affected the structure of a society.  

Science

These are only some examples of the ways you can explore these curriculum outcomes. 

            1.      Demonstrate ethical, responsible, cooperative behaviour.

                   a.       Look at the ethics of certain scientific issues

            2.      Describe the relationship between scientific principles and technology.

                                      a. Explore the science behind how does ___________ work?                                         

      3. Perform experiments using the scientific method.
              a. Develop an experiment where you apply the scientific method.
      4. Represent and interpret information in graphic form.
              a. Research an important topic and find a way to present it meaningfully in graphic form.
       5. Demonstrate scientific literacy.

1. Become familiar with an issue in the news and present various sides. 

               

Do something awesome!

Discover your passion.

Explore your interest in projects.

Activity

 In a small group, use books, computers, and each other as resources to brainstorm as many possible interesting topics someone could explore under each curriculum organizer. Try to get thinking about specifics.  Write all your ideas on sticky notes and put them under the relevant curriculum outcome. 

Handout: Thinking about exploration topics.