Topic suggestions in this document were taken from the “North Carolina Graduation Project Implementation Guide,” published by the State Board of Public Instruction and is available online at
Career and
Technical
Education
(Sample)
Topics
Topic: Comparison of Growth Rates of Common Fescue Varieties
Project: Develop a variety of trials to compare growth rates
Topic: Use of garlic as an alternative method of fly control in cattle
Project: Develop a trial to compare use of garlic vs. traditional fly
control projects
Topic: Comparison of Alternative Energy Source Engines
Project: Develop an alternative energy engine prototype
Topic: A Study of Marketing Strategies for Alternative Crops
Project: Develop a student activity for Alternative Crop Growers
Business
Education
Topic: Emerging Technology
Project: Analyze and test the capabilities of using a virtual reality
browser
Topic: Computers and Security
Project: Compare/contrast two websites dedicated to identifying
viruses and hoaxes. Example: McAfee and Symantec
Topic: Comparison of Small Business Accounting Systems
Project: Customize an accounting system for a small business
Topic: Comparison of Computer Network Systems
Project: Customize a network system for a small business
Family and
Consumer
Sciences
Education
Topic: Comparison of history of fashion in relationship to changes
in the economy
Project: Make five different garments representing different time
frames in history and our economy
Topic: Comparison of the Dietary Needs of the Elderly
Project: Develop a student activity on dietary needs of the elderly
Topic: Comparison of CommunityAfter-School Care Programs
Project: Develop an after-school care business plan
Health
Occupations
Education
Topic: Neurosurgery
Project: Engage in work based learning – job-shadowing neurosurgery
Topic: Mammography
Project: Engage in work based learning – job-shadowing
mammography technician
Topic: Dentistry/Orthodontics
Project: Engage in work based learning – job-shadowing with a
dentist/orthodontist
Topic: Play Therapy
Project: Develop a toy individualized for specific disability
Topic: Organ Transplants
Project: Create a public relations campaign on being an organ donor
Marketing
Education
Topic: International Marketing
Project: Write a proposal for an international business venture
Topic: Entrepreneurship Written Project
Project: Develop a business plan to include financing
Topic: Promotion
Project: Create a pre-opening/promotion plan for a new business
Technology
Education
Topic: Comparison of Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Methods
Project: Develop a prototype/simulation of an integrated
manufacturing system
Topic: Advanced Communication Technologies
Project: Create a video projection using advanced communication
technology
Topic: Biotechnologies: Problems regarding human health,
agricultural and Zoo technic projection, and environmental
protection
Project: Design a package that will prevent the misuse or accidental
poisoning by pesticides
Topic: The use of microorganisms or biological substances to
perform specific industrial or manufacturing processes
Project: Design a system that will prevent the accidental release of
genetically modified fish into the environment
Trade and
Industrial
Education
Topic: A Study of Heating and Cooling Effects on the Weld Zone
Project: Design an employee training program on heat treatment
of metals
Topic: Feasibility Study on Upgrading Computers
Project: Develop a small business/school computer program
upgrade initiative
Topic: Student Online Teaching
Project: Create a multimedia presentation on cleaning computers
Topic: Architectural Drafting
Project: Develop two story residential plans to be submitted to county
planning board
Social Studies
Project Topic
Ideas
Examples of topics and projects related to social studies:
• Lobby for a local initiative such as a park or teen center.
• Explore similarities and differences in world religions.
• Investigate crime prevention.
• Work with Habitat for Humanity.
• Investigate global warming.
• Investigate controversy in presidential polices.
• Research the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
• Investigate nursing home care.
• Explore alternative fuels.
• Serve as an intern at a television station.
• Interview credible sources to record historical events or
personal messages.
• Volunteer at a museum.
• Examine financial planning for the future.
• Examine urban growth and its effect on the economy.
• Investigate the rights of students who are arrested.
• Explore youth voter campaigns.
• Record oral histories of veterans.
Science Project
Topic Ideas
Examples of topics and projects related to science:
• Research the psychological and physiological effects of sleep
deprivation and caffeine on teenagers.
• Study the human biological and social need for laughter.
• Investigate crocodilian conservation in coastal North Carolina.
• Explore flight.
• Study recycling and world impact for energy conservation and
global warming.
• Investigate wildlife management.
• Look into the commercial uses of algae and methods of
production.
• Conduct a study of territoriality in mice.
• Examine the effects of electrical fields on plants.
• Observe and research conditioned responses in different
animals.
• Investigate stem cell research and DNA mapping.
• Make various inquiries into the medical field’s use of robotics.
• Study the energy/fuel crisis. Look into the production of hybrid
vehicles and the use of alternative fuels as more effective
methods for mass transportation.
• Study conservation methods for home fuel, solar energy, and
wind energy.
• Explore eco-building in the construction of environmentally
friendly buildings and reusable buildings.
• Examine the effectiveness of straw, bamboo floors, energy-star
ratings for appliances in the construction of new structures.
• Examine the use of hand tools versus mechanical tools.
Physical
Education
Project Topic
Ideas
Examples of topics and projects related to physical education include:
• Study Healthy Active Children Policy in increasing physical
activity among youth.
• Conduct an analysis of quality physical education in improving
lifetime health behaviors.
• Write a monthly physical activity and nutrition or weight
management article in the school and/or school district newsletter.
• Create a social marketing campaign around tobacco awareness.
• After training, become a peer educator on health topics at local
middle schools.
• Become a School Health Advisory Council member.
• Shadow a health club professional and develop strategies for
incorporating health promotion into a profession.
• Work with the district’s central office risk managers to develop
an employee wellness program.
• Participate in a university-based physical activity research project.
• Develop flashcards, brochures, PowerPoint presentations,
posters and screen savers to educate students about behaviors
that result in physical fitness.
• Research the effect of media messages on health behavior and
create health-promotion messages for students.
• Research the scope and practices of local and state fitness-related
agencies and promote their fitness services on school campuses.
• Research professions to investigate and rank jobs based on
wellness opportunities for employees.
Mathematics
Project Topic
Ideas
The following list provides ideas for projects that can incorporate
mathematical skills and content knowledge. This is not an allinclusive
list, but it is intended to be thought-provoking as students
begin the topic selection process.
• Analyze the impact of tourism on the local economy.
• Build a greenhouse.
• Create an architectural design/plan for a structure.
• Create and prepare a landscape design for a house.
• Create a record-keeping program for a business.
• Design and implement a math demonstration for a
mathematics class.
• Design and maintain a web page for your school or a
community organization.
• Draw blueprints and make a model.
• Support and assist in the building of a house with Habitat
for Humanity.
• Construct a model of a roller coaster.
• Create a quilt representative of a selected math-related theme
or message.
• Organize a dance team, choreograph dance routines, and
prepare a program to present at a senior citizens’ center or
during half time at a sporting event.
• Paint a mural representative of a selected math-related theme
or message.
• Plan, produce, and perform a musical concert.
• Plant a new crop and measure yield results.
• Prepare and market a cookbook with recipes for nutritious foods.
• Remodel a room in a public building or family dwelling for a
physically challenged child or adult.
• Research fashion design of a specific era; then create a
dress/suit representative of that particular period.
• Research, restore, and test drive an antique car. Prepare a
journal documenting the process.
• Start a small business which markets or produces a product or
service. Chronicle the process in a journal.
• Start a tutorial group for students needing assistance in a math
class. Define the selection process for identifying students.
Design an action plan for working with the students.
Examples of
Topics and
Projects Using
Information
Skills
• Assess the causes and effects of adult literacy in North Carolina.
• Compare the plight of migrant workers past and present.
• Explore the influence of the Internet on the print or music
publishing industry.
• Develop a guide for elementary students to use the Internet
safely and responsibly.
• Investigate the influence of print and/or electronic media on
public opinion on a topic (e. g., isolationism, immigration,
global warming, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Cuba).
• Explore careers by job-shadowing (e. g., journalist, writer,
educator, and business/industry consultants).
• Research the role of education and/or libraries in the American
democratic process.
• Conduct research on a current news story and job-shadow the
reporter.
• Research the effects of age discrimination in one of the
following areas (white collar jobs, blue collar jobs, and
broadcast media).
• Investigate commercials movies, and/or video games marketed
to preteens; develop a survey tool to collect and report findings.
• Explore the use of online game development as a tool for
learning.
• Explore the influence of conservatism on American politics
from 1990-2000.
• Research how Russia has changed since the break-up of the
Soviet Union.
• Investigate the cause and effect of out-sourcing in
manufacturing and information technology sectors.
Health
Education
Project
Topic Ideas
Examples of topics and projects related to health education:
• Study Healthy Active Children Policy in increasing physical
activity among youth.
• Analyze abstinence until marriage programs in improving
health behaviors.
• Write a monthly health article in school and/or district newsletter.
• Create a social marketing campaign around tobacco awareness.
• After training, become a peer educator on health topics at local
middle schools.
• Become a School Health Advisory Council member.
• Shadow a clinical health professional and develop strategies for
incorporating health promotion into the profession.
• Work with central office risk managers to develop an employee
wellness program.
• Participate in a university-based health research project.
• Develop bus placards, brochures, and screen savers to educate
students about behaviors that result in suspensions and expulsions.
• Research the effect of media messages on health behavior and
create health-promotion messages for students.
• Research local community health agencies and promote
services on school campuses.
Second (Foreign)
Language
Project Topic
Ideas
Examples of topics and projects related to second language include:
• Provide a community service requiring the use of a target
language.
• Teach language for a purpose (elementary conversational use or
use on a trip).
• Investigate jobs requiring language use at a required
proficiency level.
• Examine the role of language.
• Create a school or class newspaper in a language other than
English.
• Develop a service for students who speak a language other than
English at school.
• Research and report on the cultural impact of famous people,
literature, and historical events on student’s own culture.
• Research the effects of traumatic events in the media, such as
9/11, from the point of view of people from other
countries/speakers of a language other than English.
• Research advertising, movies, and other media forms from
countries of a language other than English and compare to
student’s own culture
English as
a Second
Language
Project
Topic Ideas
Examples of topics and projects completed by Limited English
Proficient students:
• Produce an annotated portfolio of local historic churches
featuring architectural techniques related to the target language.
• Create pottery representative of the Aztec style.
• Plan a menu. Prepare and serve a traditional Mexican meal that
is formally evaluated by adults. (student from non-
Hispanic/Mexican culture)
• Coordinate and create all props for the high school Latin
classes to play some traditional Roman sports.
• Create an educational website particularly designed for language
learners and share the website with an elementary school.
• Create blueprints and build a scale model of a home utilizing
Frank Lloyd Wright techniques.
• Create a business plan for a Chinese restaurant.
English
Language Arts
Project
Topic Ideas
Examples of topics and projects related to English language arts include:
• Teach adults to read.
• Teach young children to read.
• Investigate the publishing industry and write a guide for
potential writers.
• Investigate the broadcasting industry and create a public service
announcement-PSA.
• Job-shadow a journalist/reporter and create a school or class
newspaper.
• Research the role of libraries in literacy and develop a reading
center or some other project at a library.
• Research a poet or other author and create a poetry or short
story collection.
• Research the effect of major tragic events on the media, such as 9/11.
• Research a current news story and job-shadow the reporter.
• Research sex or violence in the media and design a brochure or
some other school publicity project that summarizes the results.
• Research the impact of advertising, movies, and other media on
children and create a survey on the effects of that medium.
• Research information to develop brochures on child abuse,
substance abuse, teen pregnancy, spina bifida, and eating
disorders that can be distributed by local agencies.
Examples of
Topics and
Projects Using
Computer/
Technology
Skills
• Investigate the development and use of nanotechnologies.
• Investigate the plight of migrant workers past and present.
• Explore the influence of the Internet on the print or music
publishing industry.
• Develop a guide for elementary students on how to use the
Internet and online tools safely and responsibly.
• Investigate the role of the Internet and information access in
destabilizing the Soviet Union.
• Explore the use of robotics in a particular science or industry
using a timeline and then develop a multimedia presentation
(e.g., wiki, podcast, web page).
• Investigate the influence of print and/or electronic media on
public opinion related to a specific topic (e.g., isolationism,
immigration, global warming, World War I, World War II,
Vietnam, Cuba, Gulf War, War in Iraq).
• Explore careers by job-shadowing (e.g., journalist, writer,
educator, scientist, law enforcement, and business/industry).
• Research the role of education and/or libraries in the American
democratic process.
• Trace significant events in the Civil Rights Movement in North
Carolina and develop a podcast or wiki about one pivotal event.
• Conduct research on a current news story and job-shadow a
reporter.
• Research the effects of age discrimination in one of the
following areas: white-collar jobs, blue-collar jobs, and
broadcast media.
• Investigate commercials, movies, and/or video games marketed
to preteens and develop a survey tool to collect and report
findings.
• Explore use of online game development as a tool for learning.
• Explore the influence of conservatism on American politics
from 1990-2000.
• Trace events that show how Russia has changed since the
break-up of the Soviet Union, focusing on a specific sector
of Russian life. Use a timeline to present findings in a wiki,
podcast, multimedia, or web page production.
• Investigate the cause and effect of out-sourcing in
manufacturing and information technology sectors and present
findings.
Arts
Education
Project
Topic Ideas
Examples of topics and projects related to arts education and the arts
may include the following:
• Investigate the Arts as the first language of children.
• Teach young children literacy skills using an art form.
• Job-shadow an arts therapist and explore the field of art
therapy.
• Research a performer, composer, artist, choreographer,
playwright, etc.; then create an original work.
• Conduct a study of art reflecting historical events
(e.g., eras, politics, cultures, ceremonies, rituals, etc