2016-2017 Plan for Culminating Project
Step 1 - Week of November 28 - December 2
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Topics introduced
Deadline for submitting
your ownCULMINATING
topic: Friday, DecemberPROJECT
2, 8:00 a.m.
8TH GRADE
Step 2 - Week of December 5 - 9
Topics chosen during TA
BACKGROUND:
Student assessment has become a focal point of state accredited schools in Kansas. In the spirit
Step
3 - Week
of January 9 - 13 performance accreditation, and as part of authentic assessment,
of
school
improvement-quality
th First research day Wednesday, January 11
the 8 grade culminating project at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School is the last phase of the
student
Step 4 - portfolio.
January 9 - Wednesday, March 15
Continuous note taking at home. Some class time will be given.
The project was implemented during the 1991-1992 school year. The administration and faculty
collaborated
developed
project3as seen today. Over the past years the project remains
Step 5 - Weekand
of January
30 –this
February
strong and
continues
today
evolve.
Second
research
and topic clusters during Spanish class
Step 6 - Week of February 13 - 17
RATIONALE:
a working outline,
to English
teacher real-life skills
The 8th Submit
grade culminating
projectthesis
wasstatement,
developedand
to works
allow cited
students
to demonstrate
Development
of
religious
aspect
during
religion
class
they have acquired during their academic career at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.
Students demonstrate these skills in what was once considered a non-traditional
Step 7 - Tuesday, February 21
approach. Educational research tells us, in order to assess student learning you must
Write rough draft
use multiple types of assessment.
Step 8 - February 23 - 24
PROJECT
OUTLINE:
Conferences
In line Discussion
with national,
state
and diocesan
curricular
standards
students
must demonstrate
to include
progress
on paper, artistic
presentation,
speech
and PowerPoint/Prezi
a comprehensive
of several core content areas. Students are required to
Interview willunderstanding
also be discussed
demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their kindergarten through
Step 9 -grade
Thursday,
March 16
eighth
experience.
Students receive assistance with their projects through the teachFinal
paper
due
Thursday,
March
16 research
at 8:00 a.m.
er advisory/team program and the
library
class.
4 copies of the paper ar e r equir ed
The paper
The students
willincludes:
go through a lottery to choose project topics. Once the student has their topic
Body of the paper
they will meet
with
several of their teachers to prepare the organization of the topic. Students
Works cited page
will have the
opportunity to visit the Wichita Public Library to gain a working knowledge of the
Outline
researchNote
concept.
It is
recommended
that
cards and
source
cards are also
duestudents make several trips to the larger libraries
available and that they take advantage of the experience and expertise of any person or group of
persons
have
relative
Step 10 –who
Weeks
ofinformation
March 27 - April
26 to their project topic.
Development of PowerPoint/Prezi during science class
of presentation
during
literature and
class present evidence, which documents
StudentsDevelopment
must gather,
organize,
evaluate,
Development of
an understanding
ofgraph
a during
“real math
life class
issue.” They must use information from assigned curricular areas, establish clear explanation of choices potentially open to them in solvStepthe
11 problem.
- Thursday,Students
April 27 must also have an understanding of ethical conduct and be
ing
Practice
presentations
able to demonstrate that they have developed a value system necessary to live in accordance
Finished art project
with that system.
Step 12 - Friday, May 5
As stated
earlier, teachers
have an active role in the planning and preparation of the project.
Presentation
of final projects
Parents are expected to take an active role in guiding their student thru the process. Teachers
meet during team time to discuss student progress. Teachers not only consult with the students;
they also communicate with the parents several times throughout the planning stages.
The project will include the following:
1