Ninth-Grade PROJECtS
Bring your Best Self Forward
What could the best version of myself look like?
Did you ever ask yourself why you have trouble paying attention when you don't get as much sleep? Have you ever wondered why you feel more productive after doing sports activities? Do you know what are some ways in which you can boost your memory?
These are some of the questions we ask as we take a closer look at the brain. This project is built on the notion that students don't always get to make the most out of their learning because they don't really know how the brain works. While reading Brain Rules, which breaks down the basic principles, you will learn how to be a more effective learner. And you will get to pay it forward by teaching mini-lessons about the brain to students in middle school.
Emotions Matter
How do I make sense of how I'm feeling?
You will start this project by reading Romeo and Juliet and looking closely at the effects of the choices the main characters make.
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This project will allow you to do art therapy with a psychologist. This, along with your Romeo and Juliet reflection, will be the best transition for the most important stage of the project: you will create a piece of art that conveys one root emotion that you're going through–a way to illustrate where it might be coming from and how it's affecting you.
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In the end, we are all wrestling with our own feelings and this exercise will be a beautiful reminder that we are more similar to each other than we think.
Stories Waiting to be Told
What can we gain when we create meaningful connections with the world around us?
In this project, you will consolidate the skills necessary to craft compelling podcasts.
You will do so by reaching out to members of the community to learn more about their perspectives and narrative. As you go through the process, you will need to find a fine balance between using first-hand testimonials and third-person narration.
The main takeaway of this experience is that when you are attuned to the people around you, you will be able to make sense of the world around you and, in that process, understand yourself better.