Students can create a project board (a tri-fold board, self standing) to represent the information that they have gathered regarding their topic of choice. For example, one student is doing a research project on Pablo Picasso. This student will come to the event as an “expert” on Picasso, the person and the art. The student could dress as Picasso, but does not have to. Per the activity guide (below), each student’s project must contain a visual, written and oral component. Projects will NOT be graded and there is not going to be a competition. However, we do want to ensure that this is the student’s best work. Each student will have the opportunity to present the project to passers-by, and answer questions. All participants will receive acknowledgement from SCS for their efforts. This event is designed to provide students with the opportunity to share a project that they are proud of, and to receive recognition for their hard work. It is also a time for families to meet, chat, and share in the efforts of their students. Students do not need to recreate a project if they have already done one for a student center course; they can submit a project done earlier in the 2013-14 school year, but may need to add whichever component(s) might be missing (visual, oral, written). Please see the Activity Checklist (below) for specific expectations. Your ES will need to review the project and submit the checklist for final approval.
Choosing a Topic
Students should choose a topic that…
Is narrow enough to tackle. Broad topics are easily researched, but difficult to master.
Is broad enough to easily locate information about. Narrow topics are easily mastered but very difficult to research.
They are interested in. If it is boring, you picked the wrong topic!
They already have a little knowledge about (This way you don’t have to start from scratch).
| Sample Topics | ||
| A human body part (heart, ear, teeth, eyes, hand) | …. | Wind Energy |
| An animal (gorilla, skunk, rattle snake, etc.) | An insect (black widow, snail, tarantula, bee, etc.) | |
| One of the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter) |
Dog Training and Handling | |
| A weather phenomenon (tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning and thunder, etc.) |
A Country | |
| Volcanoes | An artist or artistic style | |
| A surgery (knee, open heart, etc.) | Horseback Riding/Trainer | |
| Electric drill |
Speaking with an Expert
Part of the fun of this event is to talk with a true expert on your topic of choice. This is not required, but strongly recommended. Consider the benefit of talking to a surgeon and getting her perspective on the human heart, or an astronaut to hear about the differences between flying in a plane versus a rocket. This experience could be very valuable to your student and his/her enthusiasm about the topic!
Presentation Guidelines
Each presentation or project should include three components: written, visual, and oral. Because there are many grade levels participating, the projects will all vary in skill and overall look. Remember this is not a graded project, but should reflect the student’s best work. Parents can support students by ensuring that written documents are edited and revised, oral presentations are timed and rehearsed, and visual presentation are clean and mounted securely on the project board. ESs will provide support and complete the checklist for final approval. No live animals or models are allowed for the presentations.
Visual Aid
The visual aid can be: a drawing, a printed picture, a developed picture, or any type of graph or chart to display information regarding the topic. For example, if my topic is showing horses, I might develop pictures of myself at a horse show and create a flow chart for proper grooming of my horse before a show. The objects should be neat, mounted securely to the project board and be large and easy to see, dark bold writing on a light background, relevant to the topic, and the quantity should not be cluttered or sparse. No live animals or models are allowed for the presentations.
Oral Presentation
Students should be prepared to discuss their topics with the expo participants and spectators. Remember, the goal of this event is to provide your students with the opportunity to become a true expert on a subject. They do not need to stand in front of an audience and give a speech. The presentation will be informal and more like a conversation with interested persons. Students should be able to answer questions and expound on their answers, within reason and age appropriately.
Written Presentation
The written research report should follow grade-level guidelines and be the final product. For example, a kindergarten student could draw a picture and write a sentence to support his/her topic, but a middle school student should have a well developed research paper with a thesis statement, and following the MLA guidelines. The written component can be typed, printed, or handwritten.
Click here for your Project Checklist
