Types of Projects

Types of Projects

The senior selects the topic for the project and creates an essential question with the guidance of the advisor. The essential question guides the project. Projects must be completed within the health and safety guidelines that students follow in their every day classes. Some projects might include virtual environments and remote activities. All projects, whether online or in person, must abide by the same guidelines that the Lower Merion’s School District requires for attendance in school and at any extra curricular activity. Speak to your advisor about any issue that you feel might require special attention or allowances.

Options and Examples:

Below are the broad options available to each senior. The examples are just that:  examples. Use your imagination to plug your own passion into one of the examples.

Internship

Identify a business or industry that interests you. Seek out a placement with a local company.

Example project: Explore the inside of the business that attracts you by working as an intern in support of a company team.

Example essential question: How does a successful business person work on a team to advance the cause of a company’s strategic plan?

Example placement and activity: Find a placement with a local company who will allow you to work directly for one or more of their teams (within the guidelines of safety). Ask if some work can be completed independently. 

Service Learning

Connect a service experience to an academic subject of your choice.

Example 1 project: Connect what you have learned about the importance of indigenous flora in environmental science class to a service project for a local non-profit environmental organization.

Example 1 essential question: What is the importance of protecting indigenous flora and fauna?

Example 1 placement and activity: Participate in a service project at Riverbend Environmental Education Center that clears non-indigenous flora and learn why this is important (within the guidelines of safety). Ask if some work can be completed independently.

Example 2 project: Connect what you have learned in social studies class about food insecurity and discover that it is a real issue on the Main Line.

Example 2 essential question: What resources are needed to solve the problem of food insecurity on the Main Line and what can I do to help meet that need?

Example 2 placement and activity: Volunteer at a local food bank (within the guidelines of safety). Ask if some work can be completed independently.

Service Project

Identify a need in our community and volunteer at a non-profit that meets that need.

Example project: Discover that elementary school students can sometimes struggle with online learning.

Example essential question: How can I take my experience with online learning and make a difference in the life of younger students who struggle during the pandemic?

Example placement and activity: Reach out to an LMSD elementary school principal with a plan to offer in person or Zoom tutoring to identified students in that school.

Individual Research Option

Create a project that is independent in nature. Build a small business; research a scientific problem or other academic subject; write and direct a short film; put on a concert; put on an art show; create and produce an open-mic night; organize a youth basketball league; become an artist who creates and sells their art; get involved in local politics; use your imagination because these are only a few of the many possibilities.

Example project: Find a mentor who will help you explore your passion. Together create a project to learn more deeply about that passion. Perhaps your passion is in the field of sports and you want to create a basketball tournament.

Example essential question: How do I create a basketball tournament that allows for athletes to continue to train for that sport?

Example placement and activity: With the help of your mentor, develop a basketball tournament that requires athletes to participate in physical activity and improve their performance. Ask if some work can be completed independently.

Example 2 project: Find a mentor who will help you explore a topic of interest to research. 

Example 2 essential question: How can the United States lessen the dependence on fossil fuels and still be the leading economic power in the world? 

Example 2 placement and activity: With assistance from your mentor, develop research and essay development plans for the experiential phase.