Freshmen Year - 2022/2023
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English
Ellianna Spears
Tracking Skating Jumps Website
February-April, 2023
Mrs. DePriest - JAGS English 9
Investigate the World
This Freshmen English class was focused on teaching us that our creativity could create amazing new things that could change how we view our lives. This project embodied this idea. This project was focused on creating something that would benefit ourselves, and was solely based on the individual. I am a figure skater, and so I chose to track my progress by creating a website that showed the percentage of the jumps that I had landed. In order to track this, I compiled all of my data into a spreadsheet and then transferred that data into a website. Or at least that was the plan.
The bump in the road for this project was that I broke my foot in the middle of this endeavor. This caused me to change my project to how I could remain active while in a cast. This project was very difficult for me because I had a specific plan for it, however, my plans got entirely changed. This forced me to investigate the world in a whole new way in order to continue with this project. I was forced to adapt to facts that were uncontrollable, and had to learn the hard way that the world does not in fact take my orders. Despite the pain that I received during this project, it did teach me how to be adaptable when faced with unexpected challenges.
History
Ellianna Spears
Haiti Infographic
November, 2022
Mr. Marlett - JAGS World History
Investigate the World
The freshmen world history class taught me to look at the world through a critical lens and examine how the past impacts the present. This project was focused on this objective. Me and my partner looked at the then current instability of the Haitian government, and used history to explain how the government ended up this situation. We were able to also research the environment, economy, and culture of Haiti in order to fully achieve this goal.
While doing this project, I was fully able to be immersed into a country that was not the United States, and understand the difficulties that they were going through. This reflects the "Investigate the World" goal as it allows one to look past one's own country into a completely different one. Haitian culture is extremely different from American culture, which allowed me to grow in my knowledge and understanding of how people all across the world live, allowing me to appreciate different areas of the world in a much better way.
Science
Ellianna Spears
Albania Infographic
May, 2023
Mr. Preston - JAGS Biology
Investigate the World
The freshmen biology class taught me how to see the world and think of solutions on how to make it better. This was the first time that the United Nations Sustainable Goals had been taught to me, and this project was the first time that I had implemented them into a project. For this project, me and my partner were able to research the country of Albania, and looked at the current events that were happening there. We found that the Adriatic Sturgeon were becoming endangered, and found the reason that this was happening. Then, we were able to come up with solutions to solve this.
This way of teaching, and this project, allowed me to start thinking critically about the world around me. It taught me to start solving my own problems in a way that would work for the future, instead of only for the present. This project represented the idea, "Take Action" as it forced me to come up with solutions in order to mitigate the problems that are already occurring.
World Language
Ellianna Spears
Hotel Reservation Skit
April, 2023
Madame Krulock - French II
Communicate Ideas
This was my second year taking French, so I was only starting to understand the language in a useful way. For this assignment, me and my groupmates were tasked with making a skit between a receptionist and two guests. I posed as the receptionist. We had to successful implement the lesson's vocabulary into correct sentence structures. This was the first videos that we had to take of our speaking, with us doing the best with only two years of French.
video Natalie C 4_11_2023 11_05_18 AM.mp4This assignment allowed me to start communicating my ideas with others around me in a different language. While small, this first step was instrumental for me to realize that taking a language was a way for me to problem solve with people who take a different language. These skills of talking with others, even when I am not sure exactly what I am saying is correct, helped my French skills to start progressing even more.
Extra-Curricular: Heifer
Ellianna Spears
Heifer
May, 2023
JAGS Class of 2026
Investigate the World / Recognize Perspectives
The Freshmen JAGS field trip was to a third-world simulator in Maryland called Heifer. On this trip we were sorted into different countries that had different cultures and food, and we were not given cooked food, beds, or access to the outside world. In order for everybody to be successful in this endeavor, we were forced to work together and use the different strengths that we were all gifted. These strengths included starting fires, negotiating for food, and telling jokes in order for everyone to have a good time.
This trip was extremely fun and created many lasting memories, however, it was also very beneficial and educational for all involved. For starters, each country had one type of food, and had to trade with the other countries in order for everyone to achieve the food they needed for their meals. This was only successful if everyone recognized the perspectives of others and realized where the other countries were coming from. This was only successful once everyone started working together. This trip also helped me to investigate the world, as I specifically was put into the role of Thailand. This caused me to have to act like I was from that country, and realize how different it is in the United States compared to Thailand. This trip overall helped me to come out of my shell, as not talking was not an option there. I was also able to build good communication skills and know when bartering is important or not.
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