enriched Exploration projects

Mr. Parsons – 7th grade world history

Every grading period, you will have nine weeks to complete 1 extra exploration project worth 30 points. This IS NOT extra credit. It is REQUIRED WORK! The purpose of extra exploration is to encourage class participation in modeling, individual research, to reward excellence, to encourage appreciation of history, to allow individuals to deepen their knowledge of materials from class they find interesting, and to show off their artistic ability. Extra exploration assignments are due by the last day of each grading period, though you are encouraged not to wait until the last moment to hand in your material. At any time during the grading period, you can hand in extra exploration work or accumulate your points, so there is no reason to be swamped with this work during the ninth week of the grading period! Possible Extra Exploration assignments include:

Description

  • Design a hand-drawn/colored cartoon about a specific person, place or event from any time period we have studied up to that point. Your cartoon must depict something that actually happened!!! Creativity counts towards this big-time!!!
  • Pick any important figure from any time period we have studied up to that point and develop a ten slide power-point with pictures and facts. Must also include a title page! Save to a flash-drive and bring in to Mr. P or send to him as a message on Schoology!
  • Visit any one of the local museums (Cleveland Museum of Art, Natural History Museum, Western Reserve Historical Society), bring back a map/brochure and do a write up of your visit. You must write a 1 page summary and reaction to your visit. Talk about one exhibit that you particularly enjoyed; what did you like about it, what did you learn and describe it. Turn in your write-up (complete sentences, 12 pt. font, spell-checked) with your brochure for maximum credit!
  • 1 Page movie summary and a ½ page reaction (explain whether you liked or disliked the movie in your reaction and why you feel this way. Did you feel this movie was worth viewing and what did you learn from it?) (Always check first with Mr. Parsons with your suggestion before you watch, and ALWAYS check with mom or dad before you view a movie!) You may also do a show/episode from a show on the History Channel. Include what show it was and what channel it was on.
  • Posters. They can include collages, bio-sketches, hand-drawn and colored info posters. (Choose an important person, figure, idea, invention or other-related item from any time period we have studied up to that point and develop a hand-illustrated/colored poster for it. Include facts, pictures and other info. Be creative, and fill up a full sized poster for maximum points!)
  • A tri-fold display of a person, place, event or object from a specific time period. See Mr. Parsons before you attempt this to discuss requirements.
  • Build a smaller, but detailed scale model of a building/place/event with labels. You can be creative with this, using various materials (no food!). The more detailed, the more points! For full points, it had better be a very good job!
  • If you have an idea in mind for a project not listed here, see Mr. Parsons to discuss possibilities!

Each grading period, Mr. Parsons will add to this list and suggest other things you might wish to look into, such as games that ancient peoples played, arts and crafts from specific civilizations and more. Stay tuned!

Remember:These projects are meant to help you investigate beyond what we talk about in class. If something that we talk about is of interest to you and you want to find out more, by all means do so! It is expected that you will put some serious time and effort into these projects. Anything less than what is required (neatness, effort, on time, etc.) will not bring you the desired points. Take your time, be neat, ask questions if needed and above all, HAVE SOME FUN WITH THESE!

-Mr. Parsons