About Timberlane Middle School's Capstone Project

Course Overview:

This course is required for all 8th graders in Timberlane Middle School and represents a culmination of the core literacy skills that were learned in previous grades, with a particular emphasis on local civic engagement. Students will have the opportunity to choose from interest areas based on subjects that align with content areas, district initiatives and global sustainable development goals. It aligns with the NJ Student Learning Standards English Language Arts Companion Standards as well as addressing 21st Century Standards & Technology Standards, ISTE Standards, Career Education & Readiness Standards, Interdisciplinary Connections & Companion Standards, Climate Change Standards, and LGBTQIA+ Standards for NJ. Over the course of 66 class periods (1 semester), students will explore a global topic that has a local impact, research its origins, current state and steps that have been taken to resolve this problem as well as create an action plan to address the issue. Students will present their findings in both written and oral presentations.

Rationale:

This semester-length course is designed to increase literacy across disciplines through an actionable culminating project. This engaging, real-world application of literacy is necessary to:

• Encourage students’ greater understanding of advocacy for civil engagement and strengthen their ethical understanding and awareness for others

• Further develop 21st century skills such as accountability, adaptability, communication skills, creative and intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, information and media literacy skills, problem identification, formulation, and solution, self-direction, social responsibility.

• Navigate and comprehend informative nonfiction text as part of the research process.

• Address NJ Student Learning Standards English Language Arts Companion Standards as well as 21st Century Standards & Technology Standards, Career Education & Readiness Standards, ISTE Digital Citizenship in Education Standards, Interdisciplinary Connections & Companion Standards, Climate Change Standards, and LGBTQIA+ Standards.