1. MYP Personal Project Narrowing Things Down
School Year - Taft High School

2. At this point… You have been introduced to the Personal Project
Reviewed (and signed) the entire Personal Project Student Handbook

3. Moving Forward Personal Project Topic Notification Form
DUE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th (or sooner) to Ms. Varney and Mrs. Greenblatt via Homeroom or dropped off in 263
You CANNOT choose a completely different topic after submitting this form!
Your supervisor, Mrs. Greenblatt, and I will be reviewing, providing feedback, and giving you FINAL approval.

4. Proposed Topic Why did you select this topic? Personal connection?
Something you want to study in college?
Something you want to try or experience at some point your life?

5. Sample Topics Developing a marketing campaign to address a teen issue
Building something – a guitar, a canoe, furniture
Developing a plan for a solar powered car
Learning how to play an instrument
Writing a book, script, or composing a song
Using physics to perfect a sport (a pool shot, a hockey shot, a free-throw)
Developing a new strategy for chess, poker, or another game

6. Sample Topics Designing and making jewelry or clothes
Producing and directing a movie, music video, PSA, exercise video
Doing a research/lab report for an original scientific idea
Drawing a mural or providing a photo essay
Researching your genealogy
Inventing something
Developing your own video game

7. Global Context
Starting point for inquiry! Provides the real world connections.
Consider the following before making this selection:
What do you want to achieve through your project?
What do you want others to understand through your project?
What impact do you want your project to have?
* Take some time to look through all of the Global Contexts (p. 14), SELECT ONE, and explain the connection.

8. Global Context Example
Rap as a music genre
Global Context
Examples
Identity and relationships
Examine the question, “Why does rap speak to me?
Orientation of space and time
Explore the development of rap as a style of music across continents
Personal and cultural expression
Perform a rap song for peers and have a question-and-answer session

9. Global Context Example
Solar energy devices
Global Context
Examples
Scientific and technical innovation
Design a 3D model of a solar device with instructions for construction
Orientation of space and time
Investigate how, in history, different cultures have made use of energy for different needs
Globalization and sustainability
Debate Herve’ Kempf’s ideas about “how the rich are destroying the Earth”

10. Statement of Purpose: I want to learn about…
To write a statement of purpose, think about and answer a couple of these questions as best you can:
What is my real interest in the topic?
What knowledge do I hope to acquire?
What skills I you want to develop?
What do I specifically want to learn about my topic?

11. Statement of Purpose: I want to learn about…
Too general… “I want to learn more about recycling and earth friendly materials.” Much better… “I want to learn about how earth friendly materials are used in surfboards.”

12. Purpose Driving Question
“I want to learn about how earth friendly materials are used in surfboards.”
Driving question:
What materials can surfboard designers use to ensure that the future surfboards are friendly to the environment?

13. Therefore… Product: A newly designed surf-board Report:
What materials can surfboard designers use to ensure that the future surfboards are friendly to the environment?

14. Another example… Statement of Purpose
Too general…
“I want to learn about AIDS.”
Much better…
“I want to know how close we are to a cure for AIDS.”

15. Purpose Driving Question
“I want to know how close we are to a cure for AIDS.”
Driving question:
How close are we to the cure for AIDS?

16. Therefore… Possible Product:
An information packet on AIDS and strategies people can use to lower their chances of getting the disease.
Report:
How close are we to the cure for AIDS?

17. Personal Project Products

18. So now what??? Complete the Brainstorm Sheet
Start/keep using your Process Journals!
Start doing background research
Week of October 6 – MangageBac Training
October 8 – Supervisor Meet & Greet at 2:15pm
October 15 – Topic Notification Form Due

19. How are you feeling?
Please put your name on a post it note and place it on traffic light to indicate how you are feeling at this point.
Remember…