Project Objective:  Students will research a famous individual who has had a positive influence on our world.  Students will then create a poster of this person which includes  those Habits of Mind which helped to make this person a success.

Directions: 

Step 1:  Choose a famous person to research.

Step 2:  Get your individual approved by Mrs. Daye

Step 3:  We will have 2 class periods in the computer lab for you to do research on your individual.  Please use this time in addition to time at home to find out information on your person’s early life, education, accomplishments and Habits of Mind.

Step 4:  Create a poster of this person including pictures, background information and the Habits of Mind that were influential in this person’s success.  We will use part of one class period (Friday, September 25) as a workshop if you bring materials to class to work on this.

Step 5:  Prepare a presentation of your person to the class

Poster Requirements:  You will need a large piece of poster board on which to mount your pictures and information.  If you can’t get this on your own, please see me and I will help.  Please include at least one large picture of your person  (which can be printed at school) on your board.  Surrounding your person should be background information, accomplishments and at least four Habits of Mind that you have discovered about this person.  Your Habits of Mind should be clearly labeled and explained.  You may have more than four if you choose.  Your poster should be neat, creative and visually pleasing.  In other words, please do your very best work.

Class Presentation:  You will have 3 minutes to show your beautiful work and describe how your individual exhibits at least 4 Habits of Mind.  Be prepared to tell how those qualities made him or her successful.

Due Date:  Tuesday, September 29

Notes:  (Remember, this section if for you to use as we discuss the project in class.  Try not to leave class with a bunch of unanswered questions!!)

Directions:  Each week you will be responsible for finding one current event to share with our class on Fridays.  The current event must be from the current week’s news stories.  You may cut the article out of the newspaper or print out a story from an online news sources (such as CNN, MSNBC, FOXNews, etc).  Either way, your current event must be brought to class on Friday on paper, not just in your head.  To accompany your current event, you must also write down and bring to class the information listed on this page.  Do not write your current events information on this page since this in your copy of the directions to keep.  I will show you how to label your paper in class, so you may use this sheet to take notes.

Sections for Your Current Events Article

Summary:  In a well written paragraph with good grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization, summarize the article.  Be sure to tell who, what, when, where and how about your story.  

Reasons for Choosing this Event:  In complete sentences, share why you chose this article.  Why was it interesting to you?  What do you think makes this article important enough to share with the class?  Why did it make local or national news?

How This Event Affects Our World:  What will the effects of this news story be on our world around us?  Can you see this as a positive or negative event?  Be sure to explain why for each.

Be ready to present this article in a 2 minute (no longer) class talk. Although this is not a written part of your presentation, you may want to use an index card for a few notes.  DO NOT stand up and read your entire article or your paper for your 2 minute talk.  You should understand the story well enough to discuss it and answer questions.  Please do not pick stories that you do not understand.  That will not benefit you or our class.  

Very Important!!!!  This should either be your best handwriting or typed.  Remember, you always have a week to complete this.  No sloppy or messy papers will be accepted.

Finally, have fun with this.  Knowledge is power!!!  The more we know about our world, the better prepared we are to be a part of it and someday be leaders in our community.