CAS Projects

Overview and Purpose:

A CAS project is a collaborative, well-considered series of sequential CAS experiences, engaging students in one or more of the CAS strands of creativity, activity, and service. CAS students must be involved in at least one CAS project during their CAS programme.

The primary purpose of the CAS project is to ensure participation in sustained collaboration. Through this level of engagement, students may discover the benefits of teamwork and of achievements realized through an exchange of ideas and abilities. A CAS project challenges students to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, and develop skills such as cooperation, problem-solving, and decision-making.

A CAS project involves collaboration between a group of students or with members of the wider community. Students work as part of a team, with all members being contributors. A CAS project offers students the opportunity to be responsible for, or to initiate, a part of or the entire CAS project. Working collaboratively also provides opportunities for individual students to enhance and integrate their personal interests, skills, and talents into the planning and implementation of CAS projects.

Examples:

A CAS project can address any single strand of CAS, or combine two or all three strands. The following examples are provided to help generate further ideas without limiting the scope and direction of a CAS project.

• Creativity and Service: A student group plans, designs, and paints a mural at a local non-profit organization.

• Activity and Service: Students create new training activities and exercises. They host six weeks of free Saturday morning soccer workshops for younger students.

• Service: Students set up and conduct semester-long tutoring for students in need.

• Creativity and Activity: Students choreograph a routine for their marching band and perform at the WAISAL tournament.

• Service and Activity: Students plan and participate in the planting and maintenance of a garden with members of the local community.

• Service and Creativity: Students identify that children at a local school need backpacks and subsequently design and make the backpacks out of recycled materials.

• Creativity, Activity, and Service: Students rehearse and perform a dance production for a community retirement home.

Guidelines:

CAS Projects must...

• Be designed with a defined purpose and goals

• Be collaborative (working with students at AISL, other schools, or members of the community)

• Work towards meeting 3-4 Learning Outcomes

• Fall under one or more of the 3 strands - Creativity, Activity, and/or Service

• Last for a minimum of one month, from planning to completion. Projects longer than one month are encouraged

• Allow you to demonstrate leadership skills

• Follow the Five Stages