Student+Projects


 * January Project Check-ins (cut and paste the following information into your wiki for this course. Include everything from here on down to the horizontal grey line).**

Project planning resource guide completed?

Project idea chosen and approved by Mr. M/Mr. Jacobs?

Action plan/next steps: Take a moment in the space below to reflect upon the next several steps that you and your partner will be taking. In addition to your action plan, please create a timeline by month. Our goal is to have your projects wrapped up by mid-May.

January
 * Time Line:**

February

March (we are on vacation the last 2 weeks of March)

April

May (DC Trip for 8th Graders)


 * Project Possibilities:**


 * Paper quartering
 * Snipping Six Pack Rings
 * Plastic Grocery Bag Reduction Program-[|Recycling Plastic Grocery Bags], [|trash in our oceans and waterways], [|Oceans turning into plastics], Patagonia's [|Synthetic Seas] YouTube
 * Water Issues-[|See JB Dill's video file] on his water purification project in Africa.
 * Manage worm bins
 * [| Create a solar charging station]
 * Worming w/a Lower School classroom
 * Stormwater runoff-[|impervious and previous pavement] and what it does to the eco-system, rain barrels and their impact on storm water runoff, rain gardens, etc. [|Stormwater issues] in Victoria, BC
 * Research rain gardens-design a plan for installing a rain garden at your home. Perhaps even install the rain garden with your family! More on rain gardens and Milwaukee Metro Sewage District's Rain Garden Grant Program [|here]. MMSD even has a grant program that will pay for some of the plants!
 * Something from //[|50 Simple Things]...//
 * Team up and create a USM Environmental Science Newsletter
 * Create a documentary about a positive initiative here at USM (eg-the composting project, the recycling program, etc) [|Click here] to see some excellent student created documentaries on environmental issues.
 * Read a book that you are interested in and present upon it
 * [|Develop an energy reduction plan for your home]. Try implementing the plan!
 * Create a wiki that raises environmental awareness about an issue.
 * [|Create a PSA] on an environmental issue...another [|example] and [|another PSA] Example!.
 * [|Documentary] on an environmental issue
 * Help USM learn about the [|safe routes to schools] program. The program helps schools consider and implement a program that makes the school and neighborhood safer for bike traffic and pedestrians.

1. Document your experience with photos, videos, and reflections in the form of a wiki 2. Create some type of culminating presentation (a video
 * Throughout your project, you must do the following:**


 * Upon completion of your project**, you must present your project. The manner in which you present is completely up to you.


 * Project Planning Resource Guide**
 * Your Names**:
 * Date**:

Surf through the web links and print resources with your partner to get a little background information on some potential projects. After you have spent a good amount of time perusing these resources, begin your brainstorming activity using this project planning resource guide.

>Cut and Paste this the following text into a wiki page called, "Project Planning."

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
 * Project Ideas**-Brainstorm at least 5 different projects that you and your partner could work on-do not evaluate ideas at this point, just get them down:


 * Idea Evaluation**-Evaluate each of your ideas on the following criteria:

Rate each idea on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest and 1 the lowest
 * Project Ideas || Impact on USM/local community || How achievable or realistic is the idea? || How "Global" is your topic? || How fun and interesting is the idea? || Totals ||
 * 1 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 2 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 3 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 4 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 5 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 5 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||

Tally up totals in the final column on the chart and make your topic selection
 * Topic Selection** (must be approved by Mr. J and Mr. M)

__**Identify Potential Resources**:__


 * Human** **Resources** (interviews, assistance, etc):


 * Community Resources** (identify a few resources in the community that you could visit):


 * Web Resources** (website links, videos, etc):


 * Print Resources** (reference books, magazines, etc)

What kind of potential for global connections does your project offer? Could you collect data from folks abroad about the issue?
 * Global Connections:**

How will you use technology to collaborate and pull this information together?
 * Technology Resources:**

PSA Video, website to share knowledge, a VoiceThread, a series of blog postings about your experience, etc. Brainstorm out a few ideas for your
 * Culminating Project Idea Possibilities:**