Thinking About Science Fair Projects

English/Science Collaboration

I know! You all are probably wondering, what does English POSSIBLY have to do with science fair? Well, it just so happens that English is everywhere in your science fair, in your communication skills, in your writing, and even in your presentations! This year Ms. Mehta has asked me to partner with her as an English and a psychology teacher to help mentor you with your projects. Nurse Jill and I will be working together to help you brainstorm possible topics about the brain and its mental and physical processes

Because of my background in psychology and Nurse Jill’s expertise in brain anatomy, we will be working together to offer some mentorship in your science fair on March 1^st. Possible topics include:

What is the structure and function of the nervous system?

How do optical illusions make our brain work?

How do the five sense help us to survive daily life?

How do alcohol and other drugs influence the brain and nervous system?

Do right and left brained people really exist?

How does our brain process and interpret color vision?

How does our brain change and develop over the life span?

What does it mean to have multiple intelligences?

…and many more!

If you are interested in working with any of these topics, or if you are not sure, but know that you would like to do your project about the brain in general, post your interest on the blog, or email me at cmathews@tasok.net. You ARE NOT required to do your science fair project on the brain, but I wanted to let you all know that it is an available option if you would like to explore it.

Note: When posting on the blog or writing me an email, make sure that you write your name and the topic that you would be interested in learning about with brains. It can be something that I have already written or it can be something you create. If you are not sure what you would like to do, but know that you are interested in presenting your project about the brain, you may write “I am not sure” for your topic.

Please feel free to email or post if you have any questions.

Ms. Mathews

Scrapbook Project for Hitler Youth and The Boy with the Striped Pyjamas

Hello Class,

This is just a reposting of the project that I discussed before we went on our week long break. For those of you who will not be returning to school this week, we will be working on drafts of the R.A.F.T.S letter of this project, which will be graded and returned upon our return in January. Please submit ONE draft of your letter (which is point number 3) to cmathews@tasok.net by Friday, December 16th @ 3p.m. It is okay that your draft is not perfect...all I am looking for you to do is to have 3 complete paragraphs and that you are trying your best with the assignment. We will go over them in detail when we return in January.

I am aware that the due date reads for tomorrow, but I will have to extend this date due to the fact that we did not have school this past week. 

If you have any questions feel free to email me at cmathews@tasok.net or comment on this post.

Ms. Mathews



Project 1: Scrapbook
Scrapbooks are a type of album composed of photographs, printed media, letters, etc. that are a way of preserving memory. They are useful for recording important historic events in and individual's life. Using the books The Boy with the Striped Pyjamas and/or Hitler Youth, choose a character for whom you would like to create a scrapbook. In that scrapbook, you must include the following:

1. A photograph/drawing of the person with a short biography (at least 1 paragraph)
2. Explanations of two major events that occurred historically in the person's life, including photographs of the time.
3. R.A. F.T.S. letter from your character to another character OR a journal entry/diary entry from the perspective of your character/person
4. A photograph, piece of artwork, or drawing that represents your person, character in some way. You must be able to explain the connection (1 paragraph)

You will be graded on having all required materials and creativity with your work. You will also be given a rubric for scoring. Your scrapbook should appear as a book, but it is not required that you buy a notebook to complete the project. See/email Ms. Mathews if you need ideas as to how to bind your book.