Brainstormed ALPPs Topics

Some thigs to consider when choosing a topic:

Students are more than welcome to select a project above or below from their grade level indications, these are solely recommendations based on an age's average skill level and abilities.

Students are allowed to choose a topic entirely apart from these recommended topics below, as long as it is includes something to research & create, and is approved by teacher.

Students are also welcome to choose one of the below topics, and then alter it to better fit their interests and abilities. I can help them modify one of the suggested topics to thier liking/abilities.

Adaptable topics to any age:

Extreme Weather: Choose one, or multiple, weather events to research and analyze how they form/occur, where they often occur, damage they cause, and how the severity is measured. Then develop a plan/device to prevent or lessen the amount of possible destruction. (I.E: volcanoes, hurricanes, wild fires, tornadoes, tsunamis, dust storms).

Wildlife Protection Program: Choose an endangered animal to become an expert on by researching them. Analyze the causes of their endangerment, the severity of their endangerment, and then create/develop an action plan in hopes of helping save them.

Put it to the Test: Choose almost any two things that have a cause and affect relationship to create a 'testable question'. One factor will be the constant and one will be the variable (changing factor). Research the scientific process and important factors / considerations relating to your chosen factors. Test the affect that changing the variable has on the constant. Report on a conclusion telling the best or create a better/new product that would be better. (Examples: Does the type of shoe affect the speed I run? Does the brand of gun affect the size of bubble I can blow? Temperature of water affect how long it takes to freeze. The temperature of a tennis ball affect how far it will bounce. Brand of laundry detergent affect length of freshness. Stain remover affects removing the stain. Brand of glue affects consistency of the slime. Brand of popcorn affect the number of unpopped kernels. 

1st Grade project ideas:

Holiday Proposal: Explore the symbols, traditions, and history of national holidays and plan a celebration for an imaginary holiday.

What Kind of Pet?: Conduct research on usual and unusual pets, what requirements they require to care for, explore characteristics of suitable pets, research pet-owner responsibilities. Compare components to rate the pet on a scale of low-maintenance to high-maintenance or create a pro/con list for each.

Animal Nation: Investigate basic needs of different animals and requirements of their ecosystems, and analyze physical and behavioral attributes. Taking the collected information to present your own predictions about the animals’ future.

Family Affair: Discover the origins and evolution of different family traditions, customs, and beliefs across a variety of cultures.

2nd Grade project ideas:

On the Move: Analyze personal physical and mental fitness to evaluate daily activities and their impacts on physical fitness.

Animal Adaptations: Observe and research physical traits of animals to determine how physical adaptations over time relate to animal survival.

Good Citizenship: Explore the meaning of citizenship and demonstrate characteristics that define good citizenship in personal, public, and digital environments. Create a list, or record a video showing, of ways someone could positively contribute to personal, public, and digital environments.

How does your garden grow?: Study region-specific plants and vegetables to design a garden considering planting space needed, soil type, bug deterrents, and water requirement. Completed with a budget, harvesting and watering calendar calendar, and needed materials.

Ripple Effect: Investigate the properties, quality, usage, and sources of water to then identify ways to promote conservation and reduce pollution.

Who's Who?: Compare and contrast famous people to identify common traits, challenges, and ways they overcame obstacles.

Behind the Scenes of Public Spaces: Explore the necessities of public spaces required for basic human needs then plan/create your own public space (I.E. park)

3rd Grade project ideas:

Design a Garden: Design a garden space with specific plants and growing requirements, connecting research to careers in horticulture and botany.

Feed the community: Analyze and develop self-sustaining models and practices for food production that aim to offset demands on farmers.

Create a Health Club: Discover health behaviors that influence well-being and identify strategies for maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health.

News Show Production: Analyze format, production aspects, and the various types of text used to deliver content of a news show.

Mathematics in Nature: Study patterns found in nature and use critical thinking skills to generate new ideas illustrating mathematical concepts.

Math Around Town: 

4th Grade project ideas:

Innovation Celebration: Discover contributions of various individuals who displayed innovative thinking and study the societal impacts of inventions over time.

The Gift of Age: Research the aging process through elderly persons in communities, and promote mutual understanding between the young and the elderly.

We are Texans: Study population groups of Texas and create a museum display highlighting the contributions of immigrants in Texas history.

Bridges: Extend knowledge of bridges, exploring structural considerations and math concepts to construct and test an original bridge design.

Enigmas: Students will investigate a naturally occurring enigma, an unsolved mystery. Each student will have an opportunity to explore in depth an enigma and hypothesize possible solutions. In their explorations, students will use scientific research processes.

Texas Getaway: Research and plan a family getaway with a travel budget and itinerary featuring historical landmarks and theme parks.

Energy Efficiency: Identify ways to reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency in everyday life.

5th Grade project ideas:

A World of Uncertainty: Research the usage of natural resources and analyze how human actions could affect the Earth as the availability decreases.

Story Quilt: Unfold the history of quilting and design a quilt that tells a story and incorporates geometric principles.

If the Shoe Fits:

Toys that 'Matter': Identify the physical properties of matter in toys and determine attributes of successful toys that also meet industry safety standards.

Designing Spaces: Examine the role of mathematics in architecture and create a design that reflects human needs and environmental considerations.

Surviving to Thriving on Mars: Explore survival on Mars based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and design a product for future Mars colonists.

Impacting Ecological Stability through Sustainability: Observe exotic and invasive species in Texas, exploring environmental sustainability, changes over time, and balance within ecosystems. Based on research a a sustainability capabilities, make positive/negative claims and create plans to improve.

6th Grade project ideas:

Culture Shock: Discover the culture, geography, and landmarks of a selected country and document findings in a guidebook/travel blog.

Terrestrial Real Estate: Become solar system real estate agents by becoming the space export and identify characteristics that allow life to exist in outer space.

Everyone’s a Winner: A Study of Conflict and Mediation. Examine historical and contemporary conflicts, developing logical thinking skills, techniques for mediation, and brainstorm conflict resolution strategies, implementing a suggestion flow chart.