The 21st Century
 
Community Schoolhouse
 

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Brave New Future

An Adventure Through Time


 Preserving the Past While Adventuring into the Future

 

 The 21st Century Community Schoolhouse

Integrated Final Project 

Spring Term 2001


 

As we draw toward the end of our first year as a school, it is time to stop and reflect on who we are, where we have been, and where we are going.  In order to preserve a bit of ourselves this year, we will be putting together a time capsule that will hold a collection of our work, our memories, and our hopes and predictions for the future. 

 

The first-ever Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule will be filled and sealed at an evening celebration being planned by the student council for students, parents, and community members on Monday, July 2, 2001.  This project will provide the guidelines of what will be placed into the Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule.


 Part I:  All The News That’s Fit To Print  (English Credit)  

You can’t have a future without a past.  Looking back over a school year can be an awesome adventure.  It lets you know where you have been and gives you a good idea about where you are going.  Growth often takes place in subtle and small ways, and we have a tendency to not notice what really happens to us in one year.  If you don’t believe this, just have a look at your school picture from the beginning of the year and compare it to what you look like now!

 To document the year, we will be producing a school newspaper, The 21st Centurion, to hand out to students, parents, and the community and to place in the Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule, so we can learn, laugh and enjoy this year in the future!   

A.     After taking a personality test, participating in some group dynamics activities, and conducting a brainstorm session, you will be placed into a news team.  Each news team will have a job to collect information, write and produce articles for various sections of The 21st Centurion.  The newspaper can have a number of sections such as: 

  • Headline News

  • Community

  • Sports

  • Entertainment

  • Editorials

  • Lifestyles

  • Business

  • Personal

Each section should focus on today as well as predictions for the future.  Groups can brainstorm and decide what articles to put into each section. 

Art and graphics editors, writing editors, photographers, and writers will be approved and placed into groups.  All students are expected to contribute to the production of the paper.       

 

 B.   The 21st Centurion will follow the following writing, editing, and formatting guidelines: 

o       A news writing template will be selected from a variety of styles to match the article and the writing ability of the student.

o       A rough draft of each article and a draft of the overall newspaper must be presented for editing before starting on final drafts.

o       Final drafts will be done on PageMaker.


Part II:  A First Class Community – An Anthology (English Credit)

An anthology is a collection of literary selections.  Our anthology, A First Class Community will be put into the time capsule along with The 21st Centurion and will display our best work.

         A.  Each student will go back and review all their past work this year from each class and select the piece they think is their best.  The criteria for selection is as follows:

1.      The work must be the student’s original work.

2.      The work must be corrected into a “clean copy”.

3.      The work can be new (not from something already turned in  for a grade).

        4.      The work can be from any class as long as it meets criteria 1-3

B.  Our graphics and arts team will design a cover, an afterword and a dedication page.  The final collection will be bound and placed in the Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule at our year-end celebration.

 


Part III: Memorias de la Vida en el Mundo de Hispanohablantes

Memories of Life in the Spanish Speaking World (Spanish Credit)

  

     They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  For many of us, a single picture can bring to surface several memories.  In teams, you will “travel” to 3 different Spanish Speaking countries: 

  • Spain 

  • Mexico

  • a country of your choice in South America

In order to keep your memories alive, you must construct a photo album that contains information on the “travels” you have made with your excursion team. In each country you “visit” you will collect a variety of materials to put in your album, including: 

q       Journal entries on what you saw

q       Pictures of the natural environment, cities from each region you explored

q       Samples of the places, art and history you encountered through your excursions

q       Information on the area’s culture

q       Pictures of authentic clothing

q       Recipes/pictures of your favorite traditional foods for each area

q       An agenda of a typical day for someone of that region as you experienced it when you followed/interacted with the natives of the area

q       Descriptions of the celebrations each culture had

q       Predictions of what each country will be like in 10 years.

q       A list of vocabulary that was encountered in your excursions with its translation, including:

o       Phrases used when introducing yourself to someone

o       Phrases used when meeting someone

o       Phrases used when explaining where you are from

o       Phrases used when giving people information about yourself, what you like, dislike, etc.

Pictures of your photo album will be included in the Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule.  Years down the road, you will once again be able to stroll down memory lane and see where life has taken you and what you have learned from your journeys.  Only time will tell what changes the future will bring for some of these areas you visit!


Part IV:  Creating a Geometric Keepsake  (Math Credit)

 

   A.     The Three Geometric Quilts:

     On a coordinate plane, you will create a geometric design using several different geometric figures to create a quilt that is visually appealing and reflects who you are.  Within the geometric figures in the design, you can include photos and other memorabilia to personalize the quilt.  You and three other students will share a poster board to display your quilts.  If you desire, you may coordinate with each other so the design of your quilt pieces match each other’s.  Each group of four will then be pieced together to form three full-sized quilts.  One of the quilts will be chosen to be placed in the Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule, while the other two will be hung for display in the school.

B.  Math Requirements:

Each student must write a report to accompany the quilt that will demonstrate a working knowledge of geometry and the coordinate plane.  Also, you can demonstrate knowledge of linear algebra by describing the slopes and coordinates of the endpoints of the shapes.  For your report you will:

         1.      Label the coordinates of the vertices of each geometric figure in the quilt;

2.      Describe the shapes in their quilt with precise math vocabulary;

Example:  This quilt includes Isosceles Right Triangles, Regular Hexagons and Parallelogram

   3.      Describe the rotations, reflections, translations, and dilations of the shapes,  labeling the coordinates of the vertices, and writing the rules that produced the images   

Example 1:  The triangle ABC was reflected over the x-axis and also over the y-axis
Example 2:  The hexagon DEFGHI  as rotated 90,  180,                   and 270 degrees clockwise. 
Example 3:  The square WXYZ was shifted 2 units right and 5 units down.

4.      Find the areas of at least 3 different types of shapes on their quilts.  You must demonstrate knowledge of the formulas.

5.      Find the distances between certain points on their quilt.  You may choose these points, and must demonstrate knowledge of the distance formula. 

6.      Find the slopes of at least 3 different line segments on the quilt.   

7.      Discuss which shapes are congruent and which are similar.

 C.     Each quilt piece will be judged on creativity of the geometric shapes used and the corresponding math explanation will be judged on its clarity and creativity.  The top three math explanations will be included in the time capsule and will be awarded prizes.


Part V:  Into the Future (Science and Society Credit)  

Over the course of the term, you have seen how a diminishing resource base has inluenced our global economy.  As the world’s resources become increasingly scarce, pressure is placed upon people and nations to discover alternatives that will allow us to maintain a sustainable lifestyle well in to the future.

As population and demand for resources grow, many look toward the future with lack of hope and strong sense of pessimism.  You, on the other hand, know that humans have proven to be innovative and they possess the scientific, technological and reasoning skills that will allow them to create a new world that not provides for a healthy standard of living, but also results in a society that is economically efficient and ecologically sound.
As young futurists, you will examine a current energy issue and propose a specific solution(s).  The results of your work will be presented to a Young Futurist Symposium and community representatives and will then be placed in to the Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule to be opened in 2011.  Those opening the time capsule will be able to see how your selected energy issue and your suggested solution(s) impacted the world in 2001.  They will also be able to evaluate the progress and impact of your proposed solution(s).

  

The Symposium 

You will present your findings to the Young Futurist Symposium on Energy and then place examples of your work in to The 21st Century Community Schoolhouse Time Capsule.  The symposium will be based on the following energy issues:    

    1 How has energy use changed over time and how will it look in the future?
    2 Is coal a resource for the future?
    3 Is petroleum a resource for the future?
    4 Is Natural Gas a resource for the future?
    5 Is Hydropower a resource for the future?
    6 Can waste solve the energy crisis?
    7 Can nuclear power solve the energy crisis?
    8 Can solar power solve the energy crisis?
    9 Can wind power solve the energy crisis?
    10 Can geothermal power solve the energy crisis?
    11 Can tidal generators help solve the energy crisis?
    12 Can conservation solve the energy crisis?
    13 Are oceans a future energy resource?
    14 What are the best methods for coal mining?
    15 What are the best methods for oil drilling?
    16 What is the car of the future?
    17 What are the alternatives to private transportation?
    18 Is there a "green"  house?
    19 Is there a best method for disposing of radioactive waste?

  A.  Directions:

After being assigned one of the above issues, your group will be in charge of communicating your research and findings through one or more forms of media.  You could consider using one or a combination of the following: displays, models, website, video, art, photographs, role-play, etc.  Regardless of you selected mode(s) of communication, your presentation must include the following:

Historical Background:

        This section could include but is not limited to:

       q       General Description of the Issue

q       Important Events/Discoveries

q       Important Dates

q       Important People

q       Important Geographic Information

 

Causes:          

       This section could include but is not limited to:

q       Detailed information explaining how natural, geographic and/or scientific changes has caused the                       problem/challenge.

q       Detailed information explaining how changes in human behavior have caused the problem/challenge.

q       Detailed information explaining how economic factors and/or changes have caused the problem/challenge.

q       Detailed information explaining how political factors and/or changes have caused the problem/challenge.

 

Effects:

       This section could include but is not limited to:

      q       Detailed explanation that describes the impact your issue has on the natural environment.

q       Detailed explanation that describes the impact your issue has on humans and/or human settlements.

q       Detailed explanation that describes the impact your issue has on the economy.

q       Detailed explanation that describes the impact your issue has on the political system.

 

Solutions:

       This section could include but is not limited to:

      q       A clear demonstration of your group’s solution(s) addressing your assigned problem/challenge.

q       A description of what will need to be done to transform your solution(s) from an idea to a reality.  You may want to consider the roles of individuals, community leaders, government, interest groups, business, etc.

q       An explanation that shows how your solution(s) is ecologically, economically, and politically sound.

 

B.  Timeline for Completion 

In order to complete a quality project, it is critical that you monitor your progress based on the following timeline:

  

Wednesday, June 13:           

q       Distribute and discuss project

q       Pass out start-up resources.

 

 

Thursday, June 14:   

q       Meet with staff members to discuss start up resource and possible research ideas.

 

 

Thursday, June 14-Wedneday June 20:

q       Complete Research Phase. 

q       Submit Blueprint/Product Plan Proposal to Molly and Andrew for approval.

 

 

Thursday, June 21- Friday June 29:

q       Build your final product based on your approved blueprint/product plan.

 

 

Monday, July 2:

q       Present your project to the Young Futurist Symposium on Energy. 

q       Prepare to present the highlights of the symposium at The First 21st Century Community Schoolhouse Celebration Evening. 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


contact: school@communityschoolhouse.org