Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Eighth Grade Orientation

Middle Years Programme

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Guiding Question

How will my MYP experiences help me in the future?

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Eighth Grade Highlights

MYP Requirements Culminating Project High School Fairs Eighth Grade Exams End of the Year Activities

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

What is the 8th Grade Culminating Project?

The MYP Culminating Project is a great opportunity to:

learn about a topic that interests you apply the skills you have developed while participating in

the Middle Years Programme at Ada Merritt K-8 Center in all your subjects and through approaches to learning

develop and showcase talents and interests that you may have and apply them to a chosen goal

apply your knowledge of the design cycledo what you want to do on your own.

Your Culminating Project should also clearly focus on an issue or theme closely related to an Area of Interaction.

Your 8th Grade

Culminating Project should:have a clear and achievable goal allow you to express a truly personal message be the result of your initiative, creativity, and ability to

organize and plan reflect your special interests, hobbies, special

abilities, or concerns about particular issuesdeal with a topic or area to which you are committed be entirely your own work—authenticity is very

important and you will be required to sign a document stating that the project is your own work.

What your 8th Grade Culminating Project should not be:

a group projectan all consuming project taking over your whole

personal and social lifean interference with your studies, even though it will

involve many hours of workanything that does not truly reflect your own work,

values, interests and/or concerns

How will it be graded?

Your project will be graded using the Technology assessment criteria.

The various phases of the Design Cycle will each receive a grade during the course of the year.

Your presentation of the final product will be evaluated by your teacher and your peers using a rubric.

The project is an independent research activity and you will

complete it on your own. You will, however, receive guidance and support during selected homeroom classes and during your technology and gifted classes. Your will receive a packet that is designed to help you through the process and to ensure that your project has all the required components.

What type of project can you do?You will be working on this project for an extended period

of time, so it needs to be something you really want to do. Depending on your goal, you might choose to do:

an original work of art (for example, visual, dramatic or performance)

a written piece of work on a special topic (for example, literary, social, psychological or anthropological)

a piece of literary fiction (for example, creative writing) an original science experiment an invention or specially designed object or system the presentation of a developed business, management,

or organizational plan, or the development of a new student or community organization.

Examples of Successful ProjectsCreating a picture book for young childrenAIDS information for teenagers and young adults Writing a vegetarian recipe book Choreographing a dance performance Designing and constructing a beach chair The importance of sports for handicapped peopleCreating a travel guide Designing and making clothes and accessoriesCreating books and games for the visually

impairedDesigning a website for a zoo

What are the required components of the 8th Grade Research Project? A Design Folder compiling your work through

all the phases of the Design Cycle A link to an area of interactionA guiding questionA presentation of the project with visual aidsA structured piece of writing or personal

statementAll project components need to be presented in

your Design Folder

The written report will include:

A Cover/Title Page A Table of contents An Introduction: the focus of your project with

a link to an area of interactionA Rationale: why you chose this project and

the particular Area of InteractionThe Process you followed to complete this

project, divided into subsections for each step of the Design Cycle

A Conclusion: reflecting on the process, the product and its impact

A Bibliography Appendices

September 22, 2010Eighth Grade Project Presentation. Start thinking about what you want to do

September 29, 2010 Investigate: Submit your Problem Statement and Design Brief

October 6, 2010 Submit your Project Proposal of 2 ideas of projects

October 20, 2010 Design: select one topic and elaborate on your design

November 3, 2010 Submit your written SMART goal with a rubric.

November 17, 2010 Plan: submit planning sheet

December 1, 2010January 5, 2011January 26, 2011February 16, 2011March 9, 2011April 6, 2011

Create: Submit Design Folder showing documentation of the creation process (include process journal entries, photographs, tapes, drawings, rough drafts, etc.)

April 27, 2011 Written Personal Statement: see checklist

May 11, 2011 Classroom Presentations: Peer and Teacher evaluations

Week of May 16 Project Fair: presentation of projects to underclassmen.

May 25, 2011 Evaluate: Submit self evaluation of project

Tentative Project Timeline

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Enjoy this opportunity to:

• learn more about yourself and a topic that interests you

• show off your knowledge, skills, and talents!

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

October 13, 2010: Young Women and Young Men Academies

October 20, 2010: MAST Academy October 27, 2010: High School Fair with

representation from: Coral Gables High School International Studies Prep Academy International Studies Charter High School Terra High School

Applications due January 15, 2011

High School Fairs

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Mid-term and Final Exams Algebra 1 Exit Tests Earth Space Science Exit Exam FCAT in Mathematics, Writing, Reading, and Science Spanish Language AP Exam

Eighth Grade Exams

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Eighth Grade Field Trip Prom/Dance Promotion Ceremony

End of the Year Activities

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Eighth Grade OrientationSeptember 22, 2010

The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.

Plato