October 1, 2012

Dear 4th -5th Grade Explorers:

We are excited to be working on our Independent Study Projects!  At Odyssey Community School all students are given the opportunity to follow their bliss as a pathway for inquiry-based learning.  Each 4th-5th Grade Explorer will soon select a topic for research.  Independent Study Projects work best if the child is truly passionate about that field of study, and about creating a final product through which he or she can share what has been learned or experienced.  In the first phase of this project, each child will generate a list of known facts about a select topic.  The next step is to narrow down the research focus by using CURIOSITY.  Please help your child write down the specific things he or she would like to learn about the topic of choice.

To assist in this project, I’ve created a template for independent research.  It is intended to organize the information and keep track of the process progress, not to limit the options or list of resources.  (Older students may wish to expand the list space to include more resources or questions.)  We begin with the known, move into the unknown, and use detective skills to find out what we want to learn.  Sometimes we will uncover the unexpected and revise our research questions, or even the final project idea.

The research will help sort out what type of project to create.  A HOW TO project, with sequential steps (for example), would be great to demonstrate the stages of a craft or process.  A 3-D model would be a terrific way to show an animal or some aspect of its habitat.

Please use the local library, the Internet, friends, and family members to help your child find resources.  We will demonstrate how to conduct an online search via the Asheville-Buncombe Library system to generate books for most of the topics selected in class.  Students will be learning how to document their sources of information by citing author, title, publication information, and page references.  Explorers will also practice the writing process, from planning and drafting through editing and publishing.  Each stage of this process is integral to the Independent Research Project.  Therefore, all phases of the research and writing will be recorded in our PassPortFolios for further reflection and learning. Self-reflection progress reports will help ensure optimal progress and organization in the process of completing the projects.  A timeline is attached below with important dates and deadlines.

Thanks for helping in this exciting project!  The final products will be shared with the entire Odyssey Community on Friday, November 30, 2012.

Sincerely,
Edie

4th-5th Grade IRP Requirements

Written Report with Bibliography

1.  At least 5 resources (including books, Internet, primary sources,   people, places, films)

2.   12 facts for 4th Graders

3.   15 facts for 5th Graders

4.   Note cards

5.  Annotated Bibliography

6.  Two Visual or Interactive Projects Designed to share information

Students will create 3-D models, masks, books, quilts, demonstrations, collections, mini-museums, experiments, costumes, dramas, etc. best suited to communicate knowledge with our school community audience.

Oral Presentation to 4th-5th Explorer Class and Parents

1.       Living Museum in the cafe

2.     2-5 minute oral presentation

Important Dates

Monday, October 1st- Project introduced to students and parents; brainstorming begins.
Monday, October 8th  - Topic narrowed to 2 choices; KWL chart started in class for both topics.  All students should have a library card for online research by this date!
Monday, October 15th- Topic finalized and project ideas presented to teachers; Thursday, October 18th - resource hunt begins; class library trip Thursday, Oct. 18 (take #11 bus to Pack Library downtown for research and borrowing books)
Bring resources to school daily from this date on; remember 5 different types of resources!
Thursday, October 25th- First SEVEN facts due.  Progress report and self-reflections.
Tuesday, November 6th- All research should be completed, including note cards, bibliography…12 facts for 4th 1 and 15 facts for 5th graders)
Monday, November 12th -  First draft of written report due.
Monday November 19-Tuesday, November 20 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 21-Friday, November 23 - Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, November 22nd -  Final draft of written report and annotated bibiliography due. Progress report and self-reflections, part 2.
Friday,  November 30th: 4-5 Explorers Independent Research Project Exhibitions:
I. “Living Museum” Gallery Presentations in the cafe from 1:00-2:00 for K-8 & HS
II. Class Presentations to parents in Café/Promethean Board Area from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm