Projects and Updates April 25th!

Hello Everyone!

Here is a quick update of the projects we will be working on for this unit on “Getting Our Needs Met”! Projects meet our learning needs in socials, language arts, science, ADST, career education, and financial literacy, as well as the curricular and core competencies.

Element Superhero or Villain:  Please see the two handouts in your binder, given out on April 14th, about creating a superhero or villain based on your selected element from the periodic table. You will do research on the element’s properties, using the brainstorm handout. Then, you will incorporate those properties into a creative 8.5 x 11 illustration of your superhero/villain. Finally, you will write a 2 page creative story about your superhero/villain. Please see specific criteria on the two handouts. The picture is due Friday, April 29th. The rough draft of the story (before self and peer edit) is due on Friday, May 6th.

Personal Budget:  Each person has been given a job and salary in a pretend job. You will pretend you are starting out in this job, and that you will be living on your own and paying for your own expenses. We brainstormed in class the many expenses you will need to consider and research, so you can make a personal, monthly budget. Please keep into mind those unexpected expenses and savings. Make a spreadsheet in Excel to show your budget. We should be able to complete these by Monday, May 9th. Time will be given in class, and you can also access Excel from home as needed. You don’t need to use formulas, but if you know how to, you are welcome to set them up. The spreadsheet needs to be readable, aesthetic, and take into mind the variety of expenses required.

MACC MALL:  You and a partner will be creating your own business! More on this in class, as we brainstorm what is needed to run a business. You will use the design cycle considerations to make a product that will sell, and then actively try to make a profit, taking into consideration production costs. Our MACC Mall event will be held later in May, so more details to come soon.

Independent Project: Notes, bibliography, and primary research are due by May 31. Please make sure you have gone to the public library for book resources, and that you use the many books our librarian has pulled from District libraries (which must stay in the classroom) to do your research. If you are having trouble with primary research ideas, please come see me this week, so I can help you get on track. Ms. D will spend time in May going over again how to do the formal bibliography, and time will be given in class to work on independent project. That said, it is important everyone set aside time at home to do some, as well, so we stay on target for finishing by end of May.

Crystals and Peeps: As part of science, we will be doing some fun experiments in class, as we have time, over the next two weeks. Stay tuned!

EPIC Reading: Please do take time to read some of the geology and economics related books I highlighted in EPIC.

Earth School: Ted Ed has an Earth School series we will be talking about in class. You can also go online and see their series of videos, as we won’t have time to do them all in class! Just Google Earth School.

Daily Work/Handouts: As a reminder, please make sure you turn in your daily assignments from the last two weeks. This includes any editing practice, science learning handouts, or the math/economics practice.

Student Leds: We have a committee of students who will be making a welcome sign for the event, and we look forward to welcoming families on May 4th. Remember, May 4th and 5th are early dismissals at 2PM. Please see your planner for your confirmed time, or if you aren’t sure, check in with Ms. D before May 4th.

Thank you, and more to come soon!

Ms. D