Summer Olympics
Bronze-You must complete one bronze project
Silver-You must complete one silver project
Gold-You must complete one silver project and one bronze project from a different academic area
Reading Bronze Projects
- Pick an author. Read two books by that author and look for similarities in the writing style. What author’s craft techniques does that author favor? Write a brief explanation of the techniques and provide examples to prove it.
- Read two books from different genres. Compare and contrast the different genres. Write a brief essay outlining the similarities and differences between the genres.
- Read two books from a genre you are uncomfortable with. For example, maybe you love fantasy books and don’t often read nonfiction. Write a brief essay explaining why you were uncomfortable with that genre and what you have learned about it.
- Read a book and then read the graphic novel representation of it. Write a brief essay explaining the similarities and differences between the two formats.
Reading Silver Projects
- Complete an author study. Read at least two books (not from the same series) by an author. Read a biography about that author OR conduct extensive research on their life. Find examples of people or events from their life that impacted their writing. Present your findings.
- Read a book from each of these genres: historical fiction, mystery, adventure, and fantasy. Make a chart to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the different genres. Present your findings.
Math Bronze Projects
- If your math facts are not currently fluent, practice your math facts until they are. Go to 12 by 12 for multiplication. You may also choose to use addition, subtraction, and division facts if you have already mastered multiplication.
- Personal finance vocabulary! Focus on your personal finance and make Frayer’s for our depth words. Generate examples for each of the depth words.
- Figure out a way to model/teach next year’s fourth grade students about the multiplication and/or division strategies we use. You can use any format you choose-Prezi, Powerpoint, videos, posters, books, etc.
Math Silver Projects
- Complete ALL the 4th grade math on Think Through Math or Khan Academy and master all the learning goals. OR complete all of your Motivation Math book.
- Write 2-3 level 3 problem solving problems for each math learning goal for fourth grade. In addition, write at least 1 level 4 problem for each learning goal. Include an answer key that includes all the steps and work you would need to complete the problem correctly (you don’t have to show every possible strategy).
Science Bronze Projects
- Animals: Pick an animal that you do not have a lot of schema for. Learn about its diet, habitat, ecosystem, adaptations, interdependence, life cycle, and threats/dangers. Create a brochure about your animal that includes text features (such as food web, food chain, life cycle, map of where it lives, diagram of adaptations, etc.).
- Space: Pick a planet to thoroughly research. Find out its makeup, how many satellites it has, what missions have flown by/visited, important information, etc. Decide how you want to present your research and findings.
- Cycles: Keep a moon journal. Track the phases of the moon every night for 3 weeks. Record any days that the moon is visible during the day. Research why this happens and write a brief essay explaining it.
Silver Science Projects
- Cycles: Complete the cycles bronze project. In addition, learn about sundials and how they work. Make your own sundial and experiment with it to check how accurate it is. If it is not accurate, adjust it. Take photos or video to share with the class.
- Complete all of the science experiments, complete with journal entries. Before you begin each experiment, check the science depth words and try to use as many of the applicable words as possible.
Writing Bronze Projects
- Keep a journal over the summer, chronicling your adventures and thoughts. You must have AT LEAST 15 daily entries (quality entries).
- Pick a genre to focus on-expository or narrative. Write AT LEAST five pieces that you use the whole writing process for (prewrite, rough draft, revise, edit, and publish). Be prepared to explain what techniques or skills you focused on and show evidence of your growth.
- Cursive! Complete the cursive writing (IN ORDER). You will show me your entire, completed packet as well as demonstrate your new cursive mastery!
Writing Silver Projects
- Complete a themed writing unit. Pick a topic and write 2 expository essays, 2 narratives, 2 poems, a journal entry, and a letter that all relate to that topic. For example-if you chose cats you might write an expository about different breeds of cats, an expository explaining why cats make great pets, a narrative about your pet cat, a narrative from your pet’s point of view, a letter from your cat to you, a poem from your cat to their bowl of food, and a poem describing how much you love your cat. Bonus-present it in a themed format (for example, cat shaped paper).
- Complete the cursive writing packet and then do either of the other bronze projects IN CURSIVE.
History Bronze Projects
- Learn your states by memory. Be able to completely fill out a U.S. map from memory, including neighboring countries and ocean names.
- Make a timeline of Texas History. Make sure to include pictures and text boxes explaining what the events are and why you feel they are important.
- Pick 3 people or events from Texas History to research. These may NOT be someone/something you have already researched. Write expository essays, newspaper articles, biographies, comic strips, etc. to present the information you have learned!
History Silver Projects
- Create a mini museum exhibit for Texas History. You can use shoe boxes, dolls, make movies, etc. to showcase what you feel are the most important events and people in Texas history.
- Research Native American tribes of the United States. Pick one tribe to thoroughly research. You will need to learn (and decide on a way to teach the class) where they lived, famous leaders, important events in their history, folktales, etc. Your teaching should include text features such as maps, diagrams, and pictures and graphic organizers or foldables to help the class organize their learning.
Life Skills Silver Projects
- Read 7 Habits of Happy Kids OR 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Pick one habit and prepare a full unit for it. Include picture books, questions, activities, presentations, community circle activities, etc.
- Research teambuilding activities (Discovery, Tribes, etc.) and choose ones that you feel address our class’ needs or your needs. Plan a series of activities to pre-assess, practice, and assess. Make sure you make a tracking sheet!