STUDENT GUIDE

You may choose any project on the provided list or you may choose one of your own as long as you and the teacher agree that it is a valid project. The purpose of the project is for you to perform an in depth study in which you can demonstrate considerable gaining of knowledge and understanding. It will require much self discipline, a high work ethic, patience, and the application of all you have learned so far in your learning experience.

All projects must include the following:

1. A logical, well thought out, statement as to why you have chosen a particular project. Include in this statement how you will apply subject areas such as Math, Science, History, English, Technical Education, Music, Art, Etc. to your project.
2. A milestone schedule of task completion dates
• When research will be completed
• When an outline will be completed
• When construction, if required, will be completed
• When a rough draft will be completed
• When a dress-rehearsal will be given
• When the final oral and written presentation will be given
3. A list of all materials and costs of the project
4. A list of resources
5. A list of the people you will be presenting this project to upon completion. The list must include at least three students, a teacher, a parent, and someone knowledgeable in the area you are reporting on.

Here are some characteristics of a well done task or project.

When you show understanding of a problem, concept, question, task, or project by:

1. Using historical thought processes
2. Clearly defined principles, vocabulary, and learning processes
3. Stating more than one point of view
4. Showing connections to other learning disciplines
5. Using multiple resources
6. Showing how others might be affected by your findings
7. Using creativity in solving/completing and presenting your project results
8. Presenting the finished project in a manner that:
• Is neatly done
• Is correctly spelled
• Is word processed
• Uses high standards of English usage
• Uses figures, diagrams, graphs, and charts appropriately
• Uses excellent technical language and vocabulary
9. Justifies conclusions using your own interpretation of facts and data

Here is a list of possible project oriented learning experiences for you to consider. Remember, you do not have to choose one of these projects, you can propose your own. If you choose your own please provide the teacher with a written description of your project for approval.

1. Do an analysis of election results showing the voting patterns of various groups of citizens such as male, female, retired people, young voters, etc.
2. What would be the effect of an industry of 500 employees moving into our city?
3. What would be the effect of loosing the high school and middle school on our city?
4. Learn to use an electronic publishing program.
5. Learn to use a different computer - take it apart and assemble it again - it must work.
6. Create mathematical computer models.
7. Learn a new computer language.
8. Learn to use a computer data base. Collect data and analyze it using the data base.
9. Learn to use a computer paint/art program.
10. Learn to use a CAD program.
11. Learn to use a new word processor with publishing options.
12. Learn to make and compose music on a computer.
13. What has been the impact of the computer on society?
14. Build a radio controlled model airplane, car, or boat and learn to operate it well.
15. Build a computer.
16. Do a multimedia project.
17. Design and construct a major woodworking project.
18. Learn to use a CNC lathe.
19. Build a high mileage car.
20. Build a full size airplane.
21. Would the outcome of World War II have been changed if Germany had developed the jet airplane five years earlier than they did?
22. Design, build, and operate a rubber band powered car, plane, or boat.
23. Build an indoor rubber band powered model plane.
24. How does a laser work - do several demonstrations.
25. Explore a part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
26. Explore sound and how it is made and measured.
27. Build a mechanical clock.
28. What is time?
29. Learn how to locate stars in the celestial sphere.
30. Build a weather station.
31. How does a steam engine work?
32. Do a study of flywheels and their potential use.
33. Study waves in a lake or ocean.
34. Build a ripple tank to show fluid dynamics.
35. Develop a method of raising plants without soil.
36. Learn basic electronics
37. What is magnetism?
38. What causes the Aurora Borealis?
39. Build an electric generator/motor.
40. How do tornadoes form?
41. Perform a statistical analysis of some kind - ball team, eating habits, etc.
42. Create a survey and analyze the data collected.
43. Use solar cells to power an airplane, car or boat.
44. Do a career study on an area of interest.
45. Build a device that runs by hydraulics.
46. Make a new kind of musical instrument and play music on it.
47. Make an object of fiberglass using a molding system.
48. What would have happened if Germany had developed the atomic bomb first?
49. How were the pyramids built?
50. Do a study of the architecture of residential housing.
51. Learn to lay bricks and do a demonstration project.
52. Learn to do zone black and white photography - Ansel Adams
53. Do a nature photography project.
54. Learn how to photograph the moon and stars.
55. Develop a method of photographing microscopic organisms.
56. Use a strobe to photograph high speed objects.
57. How does a sailing ship work?
58. How does a rocket engine work?
59. How does a turbojet engine work?
60. How do squirrels find their buried food?
61. Make a holograph.
62. What is lightning?
63. Do a detailed study of a planet.
64. How does the brain learn?
65. Build a telescope.
66. Work with school budget to show spending trends.
67. Build a small wind powered electric generator.
68. Build a small air cushion vehicle.
69. How does satellite TV work?
70. Design a low cost stove/oven for third world use.
71. What are the most practical alternative energy sources?
72. Learn to do deep space photography.
73. Get an amateur radio license.
74. Do a historical study of a military vehicle, build a model of the vehicle, show how it was used in warfare, and what effect it had on the outcome of a war.
75. Do a study of what is known about a human virus.
76. Do a study of computer viruses.
77. Study how the binary and hexadecimal number systems work and how they are applied to computers.
78. Do a study of the sun including a long term tracking of sun spots.
79. How does a tape recorder work?
80. How does a television work?
81. What can you find out about the origin of language?
82. Why are there different races of people?
83. How has man improved animals, such as horses, dogs, etc. by selective breeding?
84. Do a historical study of the American/Soviet space race.
85. What is the best theory for the disappearance of the dinosaurs?
86. Use your leadership abilities to organize a group of students to perform a community service.
87. Do a photographic essay on our city, our school, or local issue.
88. Do a video documentary about a local issue, business, person, or place.
89. Do a study of a local species of fish.
90. Do a study of a local bird.
91. Why do some lakes turn green in the summer?
92. Do a study of bicycles.
93. Build a canoe.
94. Study the biology of a square meter of swamp, woods, etc.
95. What is the best way to estimate the fish population in a lake?
96. How does the compound bow work?
97. How does a gyroscope work and what are some applications?
98. How do satellite global positioning systems work?
99. How can you find where you are in space?
100. How big is the universe?
101. What is the big bang theory?
102. What is a black hole?
103. Do a study of a disease, such as Polio, and tell how it was controlled.
104. What is the history of AIDS?
105. How is technology used in law enforcement?
106. Design a lunar colony.
107. Write a significant works of poems.
108. Write a significant story or series of short stories.
109. Write a one act play.
110. Carve a wooden model of a bird and paint it like a real one.
111. Learn how to do taxidermy.
112. Do a study of the Vikings (not the football team) and their place in North America
113. Do a historical study of a sport showing how it has changed over the years.
114. How has man developed tools to perform mathematical operations?
115. Create a computer animated cartoon.
116. How does a CD player work?
117. Study how weather systems work in the northern and southern hemispheres.
118. How does an automatic transmission work?
119. How do people learn?
120. Write a home page for the Internet.
121. Develop a learning unit for a lower grade level and present it to a class.
122. How do humans become addicted to a drug?
123. How does the electrical power grid work in our country?
124. How are all the planes flying in the air at a single time controlled?
125. What is involved in the construction and playing of a guitar?
126. Do a major work of art ( painting, pottery, sculpture, etc.).
127. Restore a classic tractor, car, or boat.
128. Study the stock market by following a few stocks and analyzing earnings/losses.
129. What does it take to start a business?
130. What are the most effective ways to extinguish different types of fires?
131. What is the effect of television on the brain of a child/adult?
132. Learn to fly an airplane.