September Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose:
Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (ie. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Citizenship Government Family Transportation Citizenship (responsibilities, roles, etc.) Government (rules, authority figures, individual rights, common goods, etc.) Family (family tree, coat of arms, etc) Transportation (types, land, water, air, engines, electric, etc) Independent Study Project Presentation:

Guidelines:

Topics:

Some Project Ideas:

Due Dates:

October Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose:
Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (ie. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Bats Spiders Owls Fall Matter Bats (species, nocturnal habits, prey, predators, habitats, diet, etc.) Spiders (compare/contrast arachnids & insects, types, prey, predators, webs, etc.) Owls (species, nocturnal habits, prey, predators, habitats, diet, etc.) Fall (why we have seasons, changes in environment, fall crops in California, etc.) Matter (solids, liquids, gases, how matter changes, etc) Independent Study Project Presentation:

Guidelines:

Topics:

Some Project Ideas:

Due Dates:

November Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose: Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (i.e. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Guidelines: Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Topics: Bartering Public and private goods Harvest Thanksgiving Some Project Ideas: Bartering (how it is done in other countries or how it was done long ago) Public and Private Goods (compare and contrast items/producers and consumers) Harvest (farming, fall crops, process of harvesting, selling crops, etc.) Thanksgiving (family traditions) Due Dates: Independent Study Project Presentation:

December Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose:
Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (i.e. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Hibernation Traditions from around world Cultures Hibernation (animals that hibernate, how they prepare, where they hibernate) Traditions (how are birthdays celebrated, weddings, independence day celebrations) Cultures (discuss different cultures and different aspects of a culture)

Guidelines:

Topics:

Some Project Ideas:

Due Dates:
Independent Study Project Presentation:

January Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose: Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (i.e. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Guidelines: Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Topics:

Magnets, force, and motion Motion Polar animals Winter activities

Some Project Ideas:

Magnets (electromagnets, uses (industrial, residential), types, MRI, etc.) Force (pulleys, levers, push vs. pull, natural forces, manmade forces, etc.) Motion (pulleys, levers, ways animals/people move, ways we move objects, etc.) Polar animals (penguins, polar bears, caribou, artic fox, etc.) Winter activities (snow skiing, snow boarding, hockey, figure skating, etc.)

Due Dates: Independent Study Project Presentation:

February Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose:
Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (i.e. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Groundhogs Day Abraham Lincoln George Washington Weather Groundhogs Day (facts about groundhogs, shadows, other wives tales) Abraham Lincoln (places he lived, jobs he held, characteristics, ways symbolized) George Washington (same as Abraham Lincoln, compare/contrast to Abraham Lincoln) Weather (types, storms, patterns, meteorologists) Independent Study Project Presentation:

Guidelines:

Topics:

Some Project Ideas:

Due Dates:

March Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose:
Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (i.e. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Rocks, minerals, and soil Spring activities St. Patricks Day Biographies

Guidelines:

Topics:

Some Project Ideas:

Rocks/Minerals (types, uses, characteristics, classifications, etc.) Soil (types, uses, who/what makes soil, what/what lives in soil, etc.) Spring activities (kites/kite flying, new beginnings) St. Patricks Day (history, origin, significance) Biographies (athletes, presidents, musicians, historical figures)

Due Dates:
Independent Study Project Presentation:

April Independent Study Project (OPTIONAL)

Purpose:
Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (ie. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems.

Guidelines:
Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Space Earth (model, relationship to moon and sun, why we have seasons, etc.) Moon (phases, surface map, moon exploration, moons of other planets, etc.) Day and Night (shadows, why we have day/night, international time line, etc.) Stars (types of stars, size, constellations, the Sun, etc.) Planets (compare to Earth to other planets-size, distance from the Sun, etc.) Related careers (astronaut, NASA, astronomer) Independent Study Project Presentation:

Topics:

Some Project Ideas:

Due Dates:

May Independent Study Project

Purpose:
Students are challenged to become "Resident Experts" by learning new material that enriches and extends their knowledge of topics related to the social studies or science curriculum. Students choose how to share the information they have learned with the class, which enables them to utilize their multiple intelligences. Students learn to work independently, take responsibility, manage a "long term" project, and utilize resources available to them (i.e. prior knowledge, reference materials, technology, adult experts, etc.) to solve problems. Completion of an independent study project is completely optional. Please encourage your child to choose a project that is manageable. Ideas for acceptable student projects are listed on the back of this paper. Guidance, assistance, and resources will be available at school and at home. All due dates must be followed. Weather Plants Space

Guidelines:

Topics:

Some Project Ideas:

Weather (clouds, water cycle, severe weather, tools to measure weather, related careers, etc.) Plants (parts of a plant, how we need plants, how animals use plants, photosynthesis, etc.) Space (moon, earth, stars, planets, day/night, related careers, etc.)

Due Dates:
Independent Study Project Presentation:

STUDENT PROJECT IDEAS

Draw or trace pictures that represent learning onto transparencies. Narrate information to listeners as your pictures are shown. Create a game for others to play to learn the same information. Create a mobile, diorama, display, or other visual. Create a puppet show and present it. Create a radio or television broadcast or a video production. Write a diary or journal of an important historical event or person; write a speech a person might have made at the time. Create a time line of events: personal, historical, social, etc. Create dictionaries for specific topics, or translate words into another language. Make an alphabet book related to your topic. Create an invention to fill a personal or social need. Present biographical information dressed as the person investigated. Write a song, rap, poem, advertisement, or jingle. Create a travel brochure. Create a map. Make a model; describe its parts and the functions of each. Create a chart or poster to represent synthesis of information. Write a script for a play. Write to people to gain specific information about your topic. Draw attribute webs. Write brief topic ideas on the spokes of the web. Create a Power Point presentation. Come up with your own ideas Be creative and have fun!

Adapted from Susan Winebrenner, Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom, Acceptable Student Projects, p. 41

Extra Effort Award Presented to _________________ for completing an Independent Study Project _______________ signed