40Minute

S.T.E.A.M.

**Introductory Letter for Parents and Students**

Providing engaged students a chance to SHINE and SHOW OFF what they know and what they love - using collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication.

Once a week for 40 minutes we will have a 40Minute Class to develop this project.

Amplify your Curiosity
Love it and believe in its importance. - dream big, work hard, believe in yourself - get up, get out, find your purpose and your passion

Student Inquiry

40Minute Project

Passion follows purpose

-Keep it simple- Stay focused-Use the gifts you already have- Patience

From the Students of 215 (Aija, Damian, Dimitri, Kuo, Lyla...)

-change the plan but not the goal-what do you have?-think outside the box-whatever you feel like-(no) limits-creativity-interesting-'failing' is OK (things don't always work out...what can you learn from the failure?)

A video game to combat Functional Fixedness -

Limbo

(How will he cross the water?)

Possible tools to present with...

1. prezi

2. google presentation

3. google sites (to create a website)

4. glogster (online interactive poster - thanks Matthew)

5. poster (e.g., using Bristol board, cork board, bulletin board)

6, Bring in your 'STUFF' (e.g., Karate - belt, weapons) (Hockey - stick, gloves, pads, jerseys...)

7. Music (to listen to or to play)

8. script writing

9. Pic Collage APP on the ipad (see Elyse for more info, she is really good at using this...it's kind of like glogster)

Previous 40 Minute Projects

2019 Some activities to do when you are bored or need a break from screen time...Designing a car...Finger Sports

Embedded image permalink
Manuela and Vittoria raised $130 for TAS at fun fest at Hillcrest Community School.
Jevon and Max - Insanity Comics (the power of pencil and paper)-drawings created during their presentation

Some 40 Minute Project Websites:

Adam's YouTube Channel

EMCAgaming WEB - Gaming (with Scratch) - Mackenzie, Emerson, Adam and Callum

Solar Disorder - Ian and Mackenzie

Kai - Nerf guns

Emerson - Skiing

Callum - video games

Felix - Lego

Olivia - her dog

Jack - reading

Fiona - swimming

Adam - his pet dog

Madison - dance

Max - football

Justen and WIlliam - hockey

Arjun - paintball

Alex - making sushi

Jamar - basketball

David - the Simpsons


ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION


HOW:

1. CHOOSE A TOPIC – ANY TOPIC

This topic might be something you’ve always wanted to explore, an area where you are an expert, or even something that you’ve already worked on, but would like to look at again. The important thing is that it is a topic that interests you and you are passionate about! If you start with a passion the purpose will follow.

Once you’ve decided on a topic, discuss it with your teacher. Some angles you can take with your project is to explain:

  • how your topic might make the world a better place
  • why everyone/anyone should try your passion
  • what makes your passion so important to you

Remember, keeping your passion in mind, identify a problem that can be 'solved', 'adjusted'.

Examples:

  1. How can snow shoveling help your community and raise funds for something important?
  2. A public service announcement (PSA) on the importance of helmets in your favourite sport...skiing
  3. Do you love video games...create one that others might enjoy playing and in turn understand with it takes to build a video game
  4. If you live music, perform a show using your special talent to raise awareness for a cause that you also care about
  5. Think about the world you live in...are you passionate about the environment...how might that turn into a not only a project, but a lifestyle?

2. PREPARE A HARD-COPY

You need to prepare something to show the class or do with the class:

  • poster
  • chart
  • small book
  • photo-album
  • model
  • slide show in google drive
  • painting
  • website
  • etc

The sky is the limit (and your teacher can give you some suggestions). For example, if you decide to research an artist to share his importance, you may want to paint a picture in the style of that artist and then teach the class how to paint in that style)!

Your Hard-Copy will illustrate the passion you have for your topic...then use that in your final presentation.

3. PREPARE A SHORT PRESENTATION

You will prepare a brief presentation to show your 40Minute Project to the class. This can be informal (e.g., talk about your Hard-Copy, skit, song, etc.) OR formal (e.g., power-point presentation, prezi, google presentation, create a website, etc.). Keep your audience in mind while creating/thinking about sharing your ideas/project.

You could also bring your passion to life in our classroom/school (e.g., If your passion is cooking you could cook in the class -food always gets the audience excited. If your passion is soccer, you could teach the class some soccer skills).

Your presentation should be informative for the class. Think like an audience member when you are deciding on a presentation format. Will your presentation be informative, persuasive, humorous?

Presentations will take place during the last month/weeks of school. The more passionate you are about your topic. the better the presentation will be.

You will be given time to work on your project in class throughout the year. This is not a homework assignment, but you can work on it at home.

If you are truly passionate about your topic then 'working' on it will not feel like homework. Please be sure to always have something you can work on in school during Project Class. At least once a week we will have a chunk of time set aside to work on our 40Minute Project.

Please let your teacher know what materials you need! Below is some criteria for evaluation and some pictures and websites of Projects done in years past.