culture research project middle school

The Center for Global Studies

Middle school level (6-8), curricular materials for middle school educators.

The Center for Global Studies is pleased to offer this page of resources for practicing K-12 teachers. The page is an extension of our workshops and outreach events. We invite you to review the pages and to use and adapt any parts for your use in the classroom.

Middle School Level [6-8] Curricular Materials Developed for the CGS

Cultural ceramic game boards.

In this unit, students research and reflect upon where their ancestors descended from and the culture of their country. Students create a ceramic game board that reflects a specific aspect of their culture.

Objectives:

• Students will be able to sculpt a ceramic game board that reflects their ancestors’ heritage/country’s culture
• Students will be able to apply the following ceramic techniques to create the game board: wedging, slab building, coil building, additive process, subtractive process and surface texture
• Game Board Project Rubric
• Culture Intake Handout

World On Trial [Developed for Social Studies in Grades 7-12]

Developed by Dustin Yenser, Middle Social Studies, Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School

This lesson plan is intended for use in conjunction with the World on Trial: Headscarf Law Episode. In 2004, the French government banned the conspicuous display of religious symbols in public schools. This most notably affected the right of young Muslim women to wear traditional headscarves or other forms of cover. Students will research the practice of covering and the motivation for the ban. They will then view a trial-format debate between experts in the World on Trial episode. Finally, they will analyze the arguments presented by both sides and register their own opinion in the ongoing debate. More info can also be found at  World on Trial  website.

• World on Trial – Episode 1
• Lesson Plan
• World on Trial: Muslim Headscarf Episode Research Guide

Cultural Exploration of Japan and Bookmaking using PLN Literacy [Developed for Grade 7]

Developed by Rebecca Smith, Williamsburg High School

Impact Award Submission from  Teaching World Culture Through the Visual Arts  workshop

This unit explores the art and culture of Japan. The original focus of this unit was to incorporate reading strategies into the unit to increase studentsʼ reading and writing aptitude. The culmination of this unit is a handmade book, which is a succinct and apt symbol for the tenets of this project.

• Unit Overview
• Lesson 2, 3, 4
• Lesson 6, 7
• Lesson 9, 10
• Work Sheet Lesson 2
• Work Sheet Lesson 6
• Work Sheet Lesson 11

(Re)Present and (Dis)Placed: Visually Documenting the Experience of Movement and Internment Due to War [Developed for Grades 6-8]

Developed by Susan Uhlig, Doctoral Student in Art Education, Penn State

Impact Award Submission from  The Teaching Japan Workshop

Objective: 

Students will come to understand the struggle of displaced individuals due to war through the visual analysis of art and illustrations that document the experiences of these displaced individuals. Students will also create works that document their own experiences in movement and (dis)placement.

• Overview and Lesson Plan
• Immigration Slides –  PPT   PDF

Gaining Cultural Familiarity: Understanding Differences and Similarities [Developed for Lanuage Arts/Social Studies in Grades 3-6]

Developed by David Fuentes, Penn State Graduate Student, College of Education

Based on a presentation by Turan Balik, Young Scholars at Central Pennsylvania at the  Teaching the Globe  workshop

Students will be able to recognize differences and similarities between their own lives and the lives of other children living in a different country.  Students will also be able to value the differences that may seem strange to them by allowing themselves to walk in the shoes of other children, and to think about similarities as well as differences.

Defining Culture: Moving Beyond Foods, Clothes, and Art [Developed for Social Studies in Grades 6-8]

Based on a presentation by Corey Whitesell, Global Connections at the  Teaching the Globe  workshop

Students will be able to recognize cultural attributes beyond typical definitions including how people dress, what they eat, and the holidays they celebrate.  Students will understand culture as something that is complex, non-static, and evolving.  Students will encounter a definition of culture closer to the way the term is used by anthropologists to represent the totality of learned human behavior.  Students will also be able to define how subcultures emerge within cultural groups. 

How is Drinking Water Different in Other Areas of the World? [Developed for General Science in Grades 7]

Developed by Abby Dreibelis, Middle School Teacher, State College Area School District

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Appreciate water shortages in other regions of the world
• List solutions or consequences of water shortages
• Name countries and regions that have water shortages
• Identify why different regions have water shortages
• Identify problems of sharing water sources
• List solutions to water shortages
• Identify ways politics affects water resources
• Lesson Plan and Question Sheets

How Does Peer-Reviewed Scientific Literature Affect Policy Decisions? [Developed for Science in Grades 7-12]

Developed by Knut Christianson, Penn State Graduate Student, Department of Geosciences

• Identify popular vs. peer-reviewed literature
• List steps in the peer-review process
• Describe what type of source is used to construct reports used by governments to create policy
• Discuss difficulties in monitoring glacier health.
• Identify the largest source of uncertainty in future glacier health and what steps are being taken to remedy this uncertainty
• Describe why climate change is a political contentious issue
• Describe the ramifications of statting unverified opions as scientific facts
• Discuss the utility of assessment reports such as the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report

Japan: Sustainability and Home Lifestyle

Developed by Beth Buglio, High School Teacher, Downington Area School District

This unit connects everyday customs of Japanese life with steps toward sustainability. In an island country with urban population density seventeen times greater than American cities, efforts to live sustainably are a necessity. Japanese face challenges similar to ours as an urbanized, consumer culture, but the need to change lifestyle is more acutely felt.  The Japanese people bring to bear a highly cooperative sense of community, traditional values that deplore wastefulness, and new technological innovation. By studying how Japan faces the challenge of conserving water, energy, and material resources – including how to dispose of its waste – we may build concepts that will be useful in discussing our own issues of consumption and environmental impact. Interested teachers are encouraged to pick and choose among the activities in this unit, as there are resources that could be used to achieve learning outcomes at various levels.

• Day 1 – Resource Consumption – Disposable Chopsticks
• Day 2 – Trash and Recycling – Sorting Chart and Pick-up Schedule
• Day 3 – Water Use – Bathrooms, Dishes, and Laundry
• Day 4 – Home Energy Use – The Net Zero Energy Home
• Day 5 – Cultural Values Extension – The Meaning of “Mottainai”

Teach with Holly Rachel

a primary teaching blog

How to Teach a Country Research Project

February 17, 2022 By Holly Rachel

I love teaching a research project on a country. They are so much fun and students gain so much from studying them in your social studies curriculum. I have found that students find them fascinating and love learning interesting facts and recognising the similarities and differences between the country they are learning about and their own way of life.

What is a country research project?

In simple terms, as part of social studies, students create a report on a country by researching facts about it. Their country report could be a wide range of presentation mediums such as a written project, an oral presentation, a poster, worksheets, a performance or even a video, you can be as creative as you like! Student can use a range of methods to research their chosen country. This could be through books, the internet, interviews or from teaching presentations and information sheets.

Why are country research projects important?

It is so important that we teach students about different cultures to their own and to accept and respect differences, as well as to look for the similarities between us all. This is especially important in the interconnected world we live in today.

There are so many benefits to teaching a research project on a country. These include:

-Gaining knowledge about new places and different culture

-Sparking curiosity and a love of learning

-Understanding and accepting differences

-Recognising that even though cultures may have differences, we all share similarities

-Gaining a deeper understanding of their own culture as they learn about others

-Because they are so much fun!

How to do a country research project

A research project on a country may be part of your curriculum, or you may teach the project as part of a whole school cultural week. Alternatively you could set the project as homework for your class. It’s also a great idea to use the project to support learning across other subject areas. For example, students could use the knowledge they gain from their country study and use it in their writing, such as a story setting or an information text. Students could recreate art from the country or develop map skills.

What to include in a country research project

This is the fun part! You may wish your students to lead their own research and report on the areas that interested them, or you may wish to give some guidance. Some great ideas for your research project on a country could include:

Identify the particular country on a map of the word. Where is it located? What continent is the country in? What is the capital city? You could look for physical geographical features such as mountains and rivers. Does the country border any seas? What are the neighbouring countries?

Research the country’s flag. What does the flag tell us about the country? What is the population? What sort of climate does the country have? Students could use graphic organizers to help them record the information they find.

Food is such a great way to learn about a country. It really tells us a lot about the sort of flora and fauna that can be found the country. It can also tell us a lot about the climate of the country. Is it common to preserve food in a particular way? For example through pickling or using spices? Why might this be?

This is such an important skill. As we become more globally connected, learning an additional language is such a valuable skill. You could start with some key phrases and greetings.  Maybe choose certain activities where you could speak in language, such as greeting each other first thing in the morning, or asking. ‘How are you?’ after lunch.

Sight seeing

Learn about the iconic landmarks of the country. When, how and why where they built? What do they tell us about the country and the people who live there?

Recreate art from the country. This could be a study of a particular artist or art movement. Students could recreate a particular painting. What does the painting capture? What can we learn from it? Or perhaps use a painting from the country as inspiration for students’ own work, this could even span different subjects. Create a bulletin board of the students’ own work!

Teach students songs from the country. This is also a great way to learn a language. Listening to and singing songs can really help students gain a valuable insight into the culture.

Sweden Country Study

If you’d like to get started with a country research project, check out my FREE Sweden country study when you subscribe to my email list. These are perfect for your Social Studies 2nd Grade curriculum.

Included is a PowerPoint presentation with 10 slides packed full of information to teach your students all about Sweden. Slides include a map of Sweden, the Swedish flag, basic Swedish phrases, Swedish foods, Swedish landmarks, the Northern Lights and Dala horses, a traditional Swedish craft. That’s right, I have done all the research for you, so it is NO-PREP and ready to go!

Teach the topics as part of your social studies weekly lesson. Alternatively, allow students to complete the project at their own pace or assign out as homework.

Along with PowerPoint slide is an associated social studies worksheet for 2nd Grade students to complete with the information they have learned from the slide show. So this means no trawling the internet finding a worksheet to match a PowerPoint and spending hours making your own. It is all done for you!

Not only that, the activities are differentiated on two levels to support a range of ability levels in your class.

Do you spend hours prepping work for early finishers? Well, I’ve got you covered with a wordsearch all about Sweden!

Also include are summary activities about the project. This includes a worksheet for students to record their favorite facts and a postcard template. Students imagine they have visited Sweden and write postcard home about their travels!

Finally it comes with a super cute cover sheet so your students can make their own booklet with the worksheets. Did I mention this is all FREE? Grab your FREE Sweden Country Study today!

If you’d like to check out my other country studies, I have a whole range of countries available:

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Exciting Research Topics for Middle Schoolers to Fuel Curiosity

Working on the phonological skills by teaching phonemic awareness to the advanced level

What is the goal when de escalating crisis behavior at school ?

Middle school is a time of burgeoning curiosity and the perfect opportunity for students to engage in research that not only educates them academically but also cultivates skills for the future. By encouraging young learners to explore topics they are passionate about, educators and parents play a pivotal role in their intellectual development and the growth of their intrinsic motivation. This blog post outlines a diverse range of research topics suited to the inquiring minds of middle school students, giving them the freedom to deepen their understanding of various subjects while honing critical thinking and independent study skills.

Uncovering the Mysteries of History

Middle schoolers often find history fascinating, particularly when learning about the past from distinct perspectives. Here are some intriguing historical research topics to consider:

• The Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement: Apart from the well-known leaders, students can explore the contributions of lesser-known figures who played a significant role in the struggle for equality.
• The Impact of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Society: Researching the ways in which the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, or other ancient societies have influenced contemporary culture, politics, and technology offers a broad canvas for exploration.
• Everyday Life in Different Historical Periods: Focusing on the routines, customs, and technologies that shaped people’s daily lives in times gone by can provide valuable insights into societal norms and individual experiences.

Science and the Natural World

The sciences are a playground of wonder, with an infinity of topics waiting to be explored. Here are some research ideas that can nurture a love for discovery and experimentation:

• Climate Change: Effects and Solutions: Investigating the causes and potential solutions to this global challenge can make students aware of their role in protecting the planet.
• The Wonders of the Solar System: Encouraging a study of the planets, their moons, and the vast expanse of space they inhabit can ignite dreams of interstellar exploration.
• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation: Researching the variety of life on Earth and strategies to protect and sustain ecosystems can foster a sense of environmental stewardship.

Literature, Language, and Creative Expression

Language and literature are potent forms of human expression, allowing students to explore complex ideas and emotions. Here are some topics that bridge the gap between art and academia:

• Interpreting Classic Literature for Modern Relevance: Encouraging the study of timeless works can lead to discussions on their contemporary significance and the evolution of societal values.
• The Structure and Evolution of Language: Investigating the origins and changes in language over time can be a rich area of study, especially when paired with the examination of cultural shifts.
• The Intersection of Art and Literature: Exploring how visual arts and writing intersect to convey messages and emotions can be a fertile ground for interdisciplinary research.

Mathematics and Logic Puzzles

The precision and patterns found in mathematics can be both satisfying and thought-provoking. Middle school students often enjoy the thrill of solving problems and unraveling puzzles. Here are some mathematical research topics that can engage students’ analytical minds:

• Famous Mathematical Conjectures: Researching unsolved problems, such as the Goldbach conjecture or the Riemann hypothesis, can introduce students to the excitement of open questions in mathematics.
• The Application of Math in Various Industries: Investigating how mathematical principles underpin fields like music, art, sports, and technology can illuminate the subject’s real-world utility.
• The History of Mathematical Discoveries: Tracing the lineage of mathematical concepts through different cultures and periods can showcase the universality and timelessness of mathematics.

Social Sciences and Human Interaction

Studying human behavior and society can help students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Here are some social science research ideas to explore:

• The Impact of Social Media on Friendships and Relationships: Research could focus on positive and negative effects, trends, and the future of social interaction.
• Cultural Traditions and Their Meanings: Investigating the origins and contemporary significance of customs from various cultures can foster respect for diversity and a global perspective.
• The Psychology of Decision Making: Exploring the factors that influence human choices, from cognitive biases to social pressures, can provide insights into individual and collective behavior.

Technology and Innovation

Middle schoolers are often tech-savvy and interested in the latest gadgets and advancements. Here are some technology and innovation research topics to tap into that curiosity:

• The Impact of Gaming on Society: Research could examine how video games influence education, social issues, or even career choices.
• Emerging Technologies and Their Ethical Implications: Encouraging students to study technologies like artificial intelligence, gene editing, or wearable tech can lead to discussions on the ethical considerations of their use and development.
• Inventions That Changed the World: Chronicling the history and influence of significant inventions, from the wheel to the internet, can provide a lens through which to view human progress.

By providing middle schoolers with the opportunity to conduct meaningful research in a topic of their choosing, we not only deepen their education but also equip them with the skills and passion for a lifetime of learning. This list is just the beginning; the key is to foster curiosity and guide young minds toward engaging, challenging, and diverse research experiences. Through such explorations, we empower the next generation to think critically, communicate effectively, and, most importantly, to nurture their innate curiosity about the world.

Implementing Research Projects in the Classroom

Encouraging middle school students to undertake research projects requires a strategic approach to ensure sustained interest and meaningful outcomes. Here are some methods educators can employ:

• Mentorship and Support: Pairing students with teacher mentors who can guide them through the research process, provide feedback, and encourage critical thinking is essential for a fruitful research experience.
• Cross-Curricular Integration: Linking research topics to content from different subjects helps students appreciate the interconnectedness of knowledge and develop versatile learning skills.
• Use of Technology and Media: Incorporating digital tools for research, presentation, and collaboration can enhance engagement and teach essential 21st-century skills.
• Presentation and Reflection: Allocating time for students to present their findings nurtures communication skills and confidence, while self-reflection activities help them internalize their learning journey.

These strategies can create a robust framework within which students can pursue their curiosities, leading to a more personalized and impactful educational experience.

What is a good topic to research for middle school?

A good topic for middle school research could delve into the Role of Robotics in the Future of Society . Students can explore how robotics may transform jobs, healthcare, and everyday life. They can examine the balance between automation and human work, predict how robots could augment human abilities, and discuss the ethical dimensions of a robotic future. This inquiry not only captivates the imagination but also encourages critical thinking about technology’s impact on tomorrow’s world.

What are the 10 research titles examples?

• The Evolution of Renewable Energy and Its Future Prospects
• Investigating the Effects of Microplastics on Marine Ecosystems
• The Influence of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Democracy
• Understanding Black Holes: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Cosmos
• The Impact of Augmented Reality on Education and Training
• Climate Change and Its Consequences on Coastal Cities
• The Psychological Effects of Social Media on Teenagers
• Genetic Engineering: The Possibilities and Pitfalls
• Smart Cities: How Technology is Shaping Urban Living
• The Role of Nanotechnology in Medicine: Current Applications and Future Potential

Fascinating Facts About Middle School Research Topics

• Interdisciplinary Impact : Research projects in middle school often blend subjects, such as the integration of art and mathematics when exploring patterns and symmetry, which helps students discover the interconnectivity of different fields of knowledge.
• Skill Building : Engaging in research equips middle schoolers with advanced skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management, which are beneficial across their academic journey and beyond.
• Diversity in Content : Middle school research topics are notably diverse, ranging from examining the role of robotics in society to exploring the psychological effects of social media, catering to a wide array of student interests and strengths.
• Tech Savvy Learning : Technology-based research topics, such as the influence of smart cities or the impact of augmented reality in education, are deeply relevant to tech-savvy middle school students, making learning more engaging and relatable.
• Cultural Relevance : Researching topics like cultural traditions and their meanings encourages middle schoolers to develop a global perspective and fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diversity within their own school community and the world at large.

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20 Cultural Diversity Activities for Middle School Students

• Multicultural Education

Introduction:

Cultural diversity is an important aspect of modern society, and it is essential for middle school students to understand its significance. By engaging in cultural diversity activities, students can develop their awareness and appreciation of different cultures, ideas, and ways of life. The following 20 cultural diversity activities are designed to help middle school students expand their worldviews while also fostering relationships and mutual respect among peers.

1. Multicultural Potluck: Organize a multicultural potluck where each student brings a dish that represents their culture or a culture they are interested in learning about.

2. World Music Day: Encourage students to explore music from various cultures by hosting a World Music Day event at your school.

3. International Film Festival: Host a film festival showcasing movies from different countries and cultures.

4. Cultural Storytelling: Invite guest speakers from diverse backgrounds to share stories or folktales from their cultures.

5. Diversity Collage: Have students create a collage that represents their understanding of cultural diversity using images and words.

6. Food Tasting Activity: Provide samples of various foods from different cultures for the students to taste and learn about.

7. Cultural Holidays Calendar: Create a calendar with all the culturally significant holidays celebrated by students in your class or school.

8. Global Map Project: Assign each student a country to research, then have them present their findings on a large world map displayed in the classroom.

9. International Fashion Show: Organize a fashion show where students wear traditional outfits representing various cultures.

10. Museum Field Trip: Arrange a visit to a multicultural art exhibit at your local museum.

11. Cultural Dance Workshop: Invite a dance instructor to teach the class dances from different countries and cultures.

12. Foreign Language Lessons: Introduce basic words and phrases from various languages spoken by students in your class or community.

13. Global Game Day: Teach students how to play games from different countries and cultures.

14. World’s Fair Event: Students can create displays about various countries and host an event where they showcase their cultural knowledge and learn from each other.

15. Cultural Pen Pals: Pair students with pen pals from other countries, encouraging them to exchange letters, learning more about each other’s customs and way of life.

16. Origami Workshop: Invite a local artist to teach students the art of origami whilst discussing its history and significance to Japanese culture.

17. Global Cuisine Cooking Class: Arrange a cooking class where students can learn how to make dishes from different cultures.

18. Cultural Field Day: Organize a day of competitive outdoor games inspired by various traditional games from around the world.

19. Multicultural Book Club: Start a book club that explores literature written by authors from diverse cultural backgrounds.

20. Human Rights Activism: Educate students on global human rights issues, encouraging them to discuss how these concerns affect people from different cultures and devise ways they can contribute positively to these causes.

Conclusion:

These 20 cultural diversity activities for middle school students are designed to foster an inclusive learning environment that celebrates the unique qualities of every student. By engaging in these activities, middle schoolers will develop a deeper understanding and respect for various cultures while making connections with their peers across cultural divides.

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15 Arts and Humanities Research and Passion Project Ideas For Middle and High School Students

By Alex Yang

Graduate student at Southern Methodist University

8 minute read

The arts and humanities are extremely diverse fields that offer a lot of opportunities for creative passion projects. Through these projects, middle and high school students can share their unique stories and experiences with the world. Students can also dive into the richness of human history, traditions, and cultures, and begin to develop an appreciation for the diversity of human experiences.

In this article, we’ll dive into 15 arts and humanities passion project ideas that you can either try to execute on your own or use as inspiration for a project you design. We’ll also cover how you can decide which project or topic to focus on, and navigate the diverse range of ideas in the arts and humanities.

Finding Your Arts and Humanities Project Focus

There are a million different directions you can take with your arts and humanities research or passion project, so first it’s important to sit down with yourself and think through what personal interests you have. Maybe there’s a specific kind of art, music, dance, author, or culture that you’re already interested in. If you find yourself in that position, great! You can choose to dive deeper into any of those interests. If you’re not entirely sure what you’re interested in, do some exploring to find inspiration (e.g., go to museums or exhibitions in your area and see if anything catches your eye, utilize brainstorming steps and methods to generate project ideas).

After you’ve found some initial passion project ideas , the easiest step from there is just to Google or YouTube those topics and start learning more about them. You’ll find that as you start to conduct preliminary research into a few ideas, one will probably start to stand out to you more than the others.

As you explore different ideas, also be open to the possibility of pursuing a project that combines the arts or humanities with other disciplines. For example, maybe you start to learn interesting concepts about philosophy and ethics, and you’re simultaneously interested in genetic engineering. Those two concepts combined could make for a pretty compelling project, so always think outside of the box!

Also remember that the end product of your project is totally up to you as well. Don’t feel like the end product always has to be a research paper or presentation. You could create a website to share your learnings, do a TED Talk or podcast, and try many other ways to present your work .

15 Creative Arts and Humanities Project Ideas

1. how does aristotle inform decision-making at the end of life in the u.s. healthcare system .

All medical decisions are grounded in moral values, and clinicians should have an ethical framework to guide their decision-making process when people are near the end of their lives. This project can apply principles of Aristotle's seminal work, Nicomachean Ethics, to topics of end-of-life decision-making such as artificial nutrition, code status changes, and brain death.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Avery

2. Music Evolution Through The Decades: Analyzing The History of Your Favorite Music Genre 

Middle or high school students can pick their favorite genre of music and research the history of this genre, including key artists who influenced the genre, cities where the genre was developed, and different styles and phases the genre went through. You could also analyze different societal factors, like political climate, racial tension and community structures that impacted music production during each time period.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Mimi

3. Riots, Parties, and Protests

How can theater and performance help us understand the politics of protest? You can use theater performance as a lens for digging into the strategies of political and social movements. Analyze how groups and individuals articulate their goals and use their bodies to disrupt and reimagine everyday spaces.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Kelly

4. Is a Portrait of the King Propaganda? 

In 16th century Europe, artists like Hans Holbein the Younger worked for royal courts, creating portraits for wealthy and affluent citizens. A student could do a research project about how the art created by painters like Hans Holbein relates to propaganda as we now understand it, and how the portraits actually may have served a political purpose.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Sarah

5. Scoring a Film Scene

If you’re a teen who’s into music making and also have a passion for movies, this project is perfect for you! Select a sample scene from a film (preferably one that doesn’t already have a score in the background) and come up with an initial idea for a score for that scene. Think about how you want the audience to feel in the moment and how it complements the visual aspects of the scene.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Cody

6. Poetry and Social Media 

The rise of social media networks, particularly Instagram, have created a boom in the poetry world because of the quick and widespread way these short, imagistic poems can circulate. How has social media impacted the study of poetry as we know it? Have more people been interested in poetry because of these " instapoets "?

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Leela

7. Segregation and Colonialism in an East African City 

For this project, middle or high school students can write a research paper, visual essay, or interactive blog post about the history of segregation and colonialism in an East African city of their choice, for example Kampala or Nairobi. Drawing on colonial archives, newspapers, urban town plans, research papers, and more, students will examine how, under colonialism, East Africa's cities were designed to segregate communities along racial lines. Analyze the construction of neighborhoods, laws, and urban infrastructure to understand how and why the city was segregated.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Kristen

8. Studying Peace and Violence 

Research topics about peace and violence from a theoretical standpoint and try to develop an understanding of why different types of wars and conflicts continue to happen around the world? Depending on your individual interests, this could culminate in a traditional research paper or op-ed, or, alternatively, an educational video or podcast.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Shauna

9. Photo Ethnography of a Place 

In this middle or high school student project, you will be able to tell the story of a place in your own city or town - a museum, a zoo, a park, a cafe, a music store, a forest, a library, etc, relying only on the pictures you take of that place. You will try to tell others about why this location is important for you or your community.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Magdalena

10. Curate an Exhibition

This project will enable you to research a specific art historical topic while also learning the skills involved in curating a museum-based exhibition. You can start by selecting a general topic in art history. This could be an artistic movement (e.gImpressionism, Abstract Expressionism, The Harlem Renaissance), a specific artist (e.g., Claude Monet, Helen Frankenthaler, James Van Der Zee), or another theme of your choosing. After some preliminary research, you will decide on a title and thesis for your exhibition, then generate three “deliverables”: You will create a “checklist” of artworks to include, “wall labels” for each of these objects (i.e., a very short paragraph that explains the artwork to a viewer), and then a short brochure for potential museum visitors!

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Izabel

11. Why is America So Polarized?

Why does political polarization matter ? And can we do anything about it? This project could involve reviewing scholarly literature, gathering and analyzing data, and presenting results in the form of a scientific research paper, blog, social media account, or other platform of your choosing. You might identify potential interventions that could help decrease polarization in your school or local community. If interested, you could use research methods such as data visualization, text analysis, questionnaire design, or interviews.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Alexandra

12. Literary Magazine Concept Design

In this project, you will design an idea for a new literary magazine. First, learn about the variety of literary magazines that exist today, what their creative and practical models are, what their aesthetic is, and how they are run and funded. You will then apply this knowledge to creating a custom idea for your own literary magazine! If you are passionate about great writing and literary publishing, this is a great project for you.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Margarita

13. How to Write an Argument

Throughout our lives, we encounter arguments. They are designed to provide reasons for us to come to conclusions about the world, and are necessary to convince anyone of anything. However, arguments are often difficult to articulate and complex. The goal of this project is to learn how to become better at making arguments . Learn more about the logical structure of arguments, common fallacies, examples of strong arguments, and examples of bad arguments.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Will

14. History is Written by The Victors

Choose one event in history that you are interested in. Research three different memorials, monuments, or museums dedicated to this event. This is a good opportunity to examine bias in historical records and public memory—what gets remembered and what is lost over time? Which aspects of the event are emphasized and which are not mentioned? What is important to people now versus what was important to people in the past? 

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Rebecca

15. Costume Design Research & Sketching For Period Accuracy 

With shows like The Queen's Gambit, Downton Abbey, Mad Men, The Crown, Outlander, and Stranger Things, we are given the gift of time travel. We almost feel like we are in those times with the details and idiosyncrasies some shows and movies bring to us. But how do costume designers, production designers and fashion historians do their research? Learn more about historical fashion research and see if you can gain an understanding of how it works. If you want to take the project a step further, brainstorm your own idea for a TV show or movie set in a certain time period and think through what costumes your characters would wear to reflect that era.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Desira

Examples of Arts and Humanities Passion Projects Completed by Polygence Students

At Polygence, we’ve had numerous students explore arts and humanities projects with the help of a Polygence research mentor .

For example, Israel’s project focused on studying Leonardo Da Vinci and his legacy, before creating his own conceptual drawing that incorporated different facets of Da Vinci.

Hannah’s project was a five-act play that she created after studying 16th century Haarlem, a city in the Netherlands. The play incorporates accurate historical details and explores the roles of men and women in and out of wartime.

In this article, we covered how to find an arts and humanities project that interests you and shared 15 different passion project ideas from our extensive network of research mentors. Of course, these are just a few of many different potential project ideas, and we encourage you to be curious and explore arts and humanities project ideas beyond this list.

If you’re interested in pursuing an arts and humanities passion project, Polygence’s programs are a great place to start and offer excellent mentorship along the way.

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Your passion can be your college admissions edge! Polygence provides high schoolers a personalized, flexible research experience proven to boost your admission odds. Get matched to a mentor now!"

Cultural Diversity Activities for Middle School

Lesson Plans for Preschoolers That Teach Diversity

Cultural diversity activities help foster attitudes of acceptance in middle school students that can lead to more inclusive communities. Providing awareness of other cultures to middle school students is the first step toward teaching them to respect people from all backgrounds and nationalities. Cultural diversity activities can be entertaining for middle school students, as well as educational.

What’s in a Name?

Cultural diversity doesn’t have to start with the study of exotic people or places. The Diversity Council of Rochester, Minnesota, suggests the simple activity for middle school students of exchanging information about their own names in small groups. Children grow up hearing stories about the meaning and origin of their given names or nicknames. By encouraging students to share this information with classmates, they can start a dialogue about the diverse backgrounds they come from within the comfort zone of a small, familiar group.

Create a Culture

A hands-on approach to understanding the components of different cultures is to have middle school students create a culture of their own. This activity can be done individually or in small groups. Created by a middle school teacher for the Missouri Department of Education, this activity allows students to be creative while learning about all aspects of a culture and how these pieces are related.

Teachers can begin this activity by discussing the various components of a culture, using America as an example. What is the primary language in America? What foods do people eat here? How do people dress? What symbols represent America? How does America differ from other countries? The class discussion should help students develop an overall concept for what makes up a culture.

Next, students should brainstorm about creating a culture. To do this, they will use a poster board to demonstrate aspects of their culture, including language, food, clothing, architecture, sports, religion, entertainment, flags and other symbols of nationality. Students should create a map of where all of these things take place and how they intersect, and incorporate as many of these factors as possible into the presentation.

Multicultural Fair

The multicultural fair, suggested by the Educator’s Reference Desk, is informative and entertaining. Middle school students each choose a country to represent at a multicultural fair. After choosing a country, a student will research all aspects of its culture and create a display highlighting cultural factors such as language, food, clothing and so forth. On the day of the fair, encourage students to dress in clothing representative of his or her country and provide food or other tangible components of the culture.

Chain of Diversity

The chain of diversity encourages middle school students to recognize the diverse aspects of their own classmates. Penn State recommends this activity to help students understand that not only people’s similarities but also their differences bring them together.

Within the context of a middle school classroom, the chain of diversity is conducted by giving each of the students four to five strips of construction paper. On each, the student should write down one way he or she is similar to other people in the class and one way he or she is different from other people in the class. After completing this, students should be encouraged to share what they have written and then use each strip to be a link in a chain. Afterward, they should loop the paper strips together and then hang them around the classroom to remind students that they are bound by both their similarities and differences.

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• Penn State: Diversity Activities for Youth and Adults

Beth Griesmer’s writing career started at a small weekly newspaper in Georgetown, Texas, in 1990. Her work has appeared in the “Austin-American Statesman,” “Inkwell” literary magazine and on numerous websites. Griesmer teaches middle school language arts and science in Austin, Texas.

Summer II 2024 Application Deadline is June 26, 2024.  

Click here to apply.

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10 Great Research Topics for Middle School Students

Middle school is the perfect time to start exploring the fascinating world of research, especially if you're passionate about STEM and the humanities. Engaging in research projects now not only feeds your curiosity but also develops critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a love for learning. Whether you're intrigued by the secrets of the universe, the beauty of numbers, or the complexity of robotics, there's a research project that you can pursue to help you build your knowledge. Let's dive into some advanced yet accessible research topics that will challenge you and enhance your academic journey.

1. Program your own robot

What to do:  Start by defining the purpose of your robot. Will it be a pet robot that follows you around, or perhaps a robot that can help carry small items from one room to another? Sketch your design on paper, focusing on what sensors and motors you'll need. For instance, a robot that follows light might need light sensors, while a robot that avoids obstacles will require ultrasonic sensors. Use an Arduino or Raspberry Pi as the brain. You'll need to learn basic programming in Python (for Raspberry Pi) or C++ (for Arduino) to code your robot's behavior.

Tips to get started:  The official websites for Arduino  and Raspberry Pi  offer tutorials for beginners. For more specific projects, such as building a pet robot, search for guides on Instructables  that detail each step from hardware assembly to software programming.

2. Design a solar-powered oven

What to do:  Investigate how solar ovens work and the science behind solar cooking. Your oven can be as simple as a pizza box solar oven or more complex, like a parabolic solar cooker. Key materials include reflective surfaces (aluminum foil), clear plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect, and black construction paper to absorb heat. Experiment with different shapes and angles to maximize the heat capture and cooking efficiency. Test your oven by trying to cook different foods and measure the temperature achieved and cooking time required.

Tips to get started:  The Solar Cooking  wiki is an excellent resource for finding different solar cooker designs and construction plans. YouTube also has numerous DIY solar oven tutorials. Document your process and results in a project journal, noting any changes in design that lead to improvements in efficiency.

3. Assess the health of a local ecosystem

What to do:  Choose a local natural area, such as a stream, pond, or forest, and plan a series of observations and tests to assess its health. Key activities could include water quality testing (for pH, nitrates, and phosphates), soil testing (for composition and contaminants), and biodiversity surveys (identifying species of plants and animals present). Compile your data to evaluate the ecosystem's health, looking for signs of pollution, habitat destruction, or invasive species.

Tips to get started:  For a comprehensive approach, NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory  provides information on atmospheric and environmental monitoring techniques. Tools like iNaturalist  can assist in species identification, and water and soil testing kits are available from science education suppliers.

4. Develop an educational app

What to do:  Identify a gap in educational resources that your app could fill. Perhaps you noticed that students struggle with a particular math concept, or there's a lack of engaging resources for learning a foreign language. Outline your app’s features, design the user interface, and plan the content it will deliver. Use MIT App Inventor  for a drag-and-drop development experience, or Scratch  for a game-like educational app. Test your app with classmates or family members, and use their feedback for improvements.

Tips to get started:  Both MIT App Inventor  and Scratch  provide tutorials and community forums where you can learn from others’ projects. Begin with a simple prototype, focusing on one core feature, and expand from there.

5. Model rocketry: design, build, and launch!

What to do:  Dive into the basics of rocket science by designing your own model rocket. Understand the principles of thrust, aerodynamics, and stability as you plan your rocket. Materials can range from simple kits available online to homemade components for the body, fins, and nose cone. Educate yourself on the proper engine selection for your design and the recovery system to ensure your rocket returns safely. Conduct a launch in a safe, open area, following all safety guidelines.

Tips to get started:  The National Association of Rocketry  is a treasure trove of information on model rocket safety, design, and launch procedures. For beginners, consider starting with a kit from Estes Rockets , which includes all necessary components and instructions.

6. Create a wearable electronic device

What to do:  Envision a wearable device that solves a problem or enhances an aspect of daily life. It could be a smart bracelet that reminds you to stay hydrated or a hat with integrated LEDs for nighttime visibility. Sketch your design, listing the components you'll need, such as LEDs, sensors, a power source, and a microcontroller like the Adafruit Flora or Gemma. Plan your circuit, sew or assemble your device, and program it to function as intended.

Tips to get started:   Adafruit’s Wearables  section offers guides and tutorials for numerous wearable projects, including coding and circuit design. Start with a simple project to familiarize yourself with electronics and sewing conductive thread before moving on to more complex designs.

7. Explore the science of slime and non-Newtonian fluids

What to do:  Conduct experiments to understand how the composition of slime affects its properties. Create a standard slime recipe using glue, borax (or contact lens solution as a safer alternative), and water. Alter the recipe by varying the amounts of each ingredient or adding additives like cornstarch, shaving cream, or thermochromic pigment. Test how each variation affects the slime’s viscosity, stretchiness, and reaction to pressure.

Tips to get started:  The Science Bob  website offers a basic slime recipe and the science behind it. Document each experiment carefully, noting the recipe used and the observed properties. This will help you understand the science behind non-Newtonian fluids.

8. Extract DNA at home

What to do:  Use common household items to extract DNA from fruits or vegetables, like strawberries or onions. The basic process involves mashing the fruit, adding a mixture of water, salt, and dish soap to break down cell membranes, and then using cold alcohol to precipitate the DNA out of the solution. Observe and analyze the DNA strands.

Tips to get started:  Detailed instructions and the science explanation are available at the Genetic Science Learning Center . This project offers a tangible glimpse into the molecular basis of life and can be a springboard to more complex biotechnology experiments.

9. Investigate the efficiency of different types of solar cells

What to do:  Compare the efficiency of various solar panels, such as monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Design an experiment to measure the electrical output of each type under identical lighting conditions, using a multimeter to record voltage and current. Analyze how factors like angle of incidence, light intensity, and temperature affect their performance.

Tips to get started:  Introductory resources on solar energy and experiments can be found at the Energy.gov  website. Consider purchasing small solar panels of different types from electronics stores or online suppliers. Ensure that all tests are conducted under controlled conditions for accurate comparisons.

10. Study ocean acidification and its effects on marine life

What to do:  Simulate the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms in a controlled experiment. Use vinegar to lower the pH of water in a tank and observe its impact on calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as seashells or coral fragments. Monitor and record changes over time, researching how acidification affects the ability of these organisms to maintain their shells and skeletons.

Tips to get started:   NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program  offers educational materials and experiment ideas. For a simpler version of this experiment, see instructions for observing the effects of acidified water on eggshells, which are similar in composition to marine shells, at educational websites like Science Buddies .

By pursuing these projects, you will not only gain a deeper understanding of STEM principles but also develop invaluable skills in research, design, and critical analysis. These projects will teach you how to question, experiment, and innovate, laying the groundwork for future scientific inquiries and discoveries.

One other option – Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about .  Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke and LSE.

The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure ! 

To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Growth, Khushi Malde, at [email protected] or go to our website .

Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link ! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

• middle school students

• Have a Story Idea?

Taking steps & building blocks: W&M and K-12 collaborations teach untold stories

Area elementary and middle school students engage in history-making with the william & mary bray school lab.

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In March 2024, W&M Bray School Lab Genealogist Elizabeth Drembus travelled to Norfolk to deliver a genealogy workshop on the Williamsburg Bray School students to members of the ADL Dance Company. (Photo by Grace Helmick ’22)

The William & Mary Bray School Lab and Strategic Cultural Partnerships recently completed two year-long creative research projects with K-12 students in the Hampton Roads area: a choreographed dance event titled “The Williamsburg Bray School: A Story Worth Telling” led by Kristen Hill and the students at the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood and a project called “Turning Points in History” with Christine McBee and fourth grade students at Matthew Whaley Elementary School.

Both projects advanced the lab’s goals to uncover, document, preserve and share broadly the history and legacies of the Williamsburg Bray School; both projects also aligned with William & Mary’s on-going Year of the Arts celebration.

“In Strategic Cultural Partnerships, we seek to connect a broad range of learners and communities to our research and work,” said Ann Marie Stock, presidential liaison for strategic cultural partnerships at William & Mary.

“By engaging K-12 students and teachers with the exciting discoveries being made about the Bray School scholars and their world, we develop together a more nuanced understanding of our nation’s past and a fuller appreciation for the process of research and discovery.”

The Williamsburg Bray School: A story worth telling

It all started with a Facebook message.

The ADL Dance Company, a program for students at the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood (ADL), a Norfolk Public Schools middle school, took center stage at the Norfolk Public Schools Fine Arts Festival at the Chrysler Museum of Art on Saturday, May 4, following a year of research, reflection and rehearsal.

Under the leadership of ADL French teacher Kristen Hill, the students of the ADL Dance Company embarked on a journey through history, creating and delivering a performance titled “The Williamsburg Bray School: A Story Worth Telling,” paying homage to the enslaved and free Black children, known and unknown, who passed through the doors of the Williamsburg Bray School.

When Hill envisioned a year-long project centered on choreographing a recital recounting the narrative of the Williamsburg Bray School, she knew a traditional approach wouldn’t suffice.

Hence, the Facebook message: “I am the faculty sponsor of ADL Dance Company, a small but wonderful group of scholar-dancers who plan to research, create and perform a dance concert to educate our community about the Bray School,” she wrote. “Is there any possibility of arranging a visit to your facility this fall?”

She did not know it would initiate a powerful collaboration.

Hill’s request was met with great enthusiasm by the team at the W&M Bray School Lab and Strategic Cultural Partnerships. Strategic Cultural Partnerships facilitated the field trip and curated a rich educational experience; ADL dancers embarked on a day of learning and discovery at William & Mary under the tutelage of W&M Bray School Lab Director Maureen Elgersman Lee, Oral Historian Tonia Merideth and Genealogist Elizabeth Drembus.

“Making materials about the history and legacies of the Williamsburg Bray School available and accessible to K-12 students and educators allows them to engage in an intellectually creative partnership that produces original works of expression and reflection,” said Elgersman Lee.

The day culminated in a pizza picnic and a lunch-and-learn session led by W&M Bray School Lab Graduate Assistant Nicole Brown ’13, M.A. ’22 held on the lawn in between Travis and Barrett houses.

That might have been enough — more than enough — but the W&M team continued to play a pivotal role throughout the project, from capturing on video their preview performance last November to conducting on-site genealogy workshops for the ADL students to learn more about the scholars they were to embody. The team provided invaluable historical insights whenever Hill sought guidance.

“I could never have imagined how special this experience would turn out to be. Everyone on the Bray School Lab team has been a source of insight, inspiration and knowledge,” Hill said.

The ADL Dance Company’s performance demonstrated the power of artistic expression to not only entertain but also educate; the partnership between the ADL Dance Company and the W&M Bray School Lab demonstrated the power of collaboration to make great, unexpected things happen — even from a simple Facebook message.  

“The Bray School discovery has become a personal thing for us,” Hill reflected. “In a special way, the Bray School scholars have become our friends.”

Other friends were made, too, reported ADL Dance Company member and seventh-grader Anabelle Castillo: “It was challenging but also fun and interesting. I made friends with people that I might not have gotten to know through my regular classes. I feel like I’m less quiet now. …we put so much work into it, and to see the final product felt very good.”

Turning points in history

At the same time, William & Mary Bray School Lab and Strategic Cultural Partnerships staff were engaged in a collaborative project with students from Matthew Whaley Elementary School in Williamsburg. The initiative, aligning with the 2024 National History Day theme, focused on “Turning Points in History.”  

Over the course of several months, Matthew Whaley Elementary School fourth grade teachers and students explored the process of historical research, guided by a team drawn from Bray School Lab and SCP staff, W&M faculty and students, and external partners, including including Nansemond Indian Nation Assistant Chief Dave Hennaman, who discussed the legacy of the Brafferton Indian School in Virginia Indigenous history during the final class presentation.

The team met monthly with Matthew Whaley’s fourth grade teachers and students and dove deep into the histories of the Williamsburg Bray School, the Brafferton Indian School and the namesake of their own school, Matthew Whaley.

“Focusing on the Bray, Brafferton and Matthew Whaley schools was an incredible way for students to become engaged in learning that was relative to their own life experiences,” Matthew Whaley teacher Christine McBee explained. “It connected them through historical empathy to students who lived where they live and had the same hopes and dreams they do.”

The students produced content-rich, creative projects that they showcased to a Matthew Whaley gymnasium packed with students, parents, teachers and WJCC administrators on April 24 at the school’s first History Night showcase.

Each student’s presentation focused on a “turning point” in the history of the Williamsburg Bray School, the Brafferton Indian School or young Matthew Whaley, using media that included paint, cardboard, Legos and Minecraft and demonstrating the students’ newfound knowledge and appreciation for those who helped build the Williamsburg community over centuries.

“Giving students opportunities to become civically involved in their community creates a population that can critically assess their role not just in Williamsburg, but also in Virginia and the United States,” McBee said. “Isn’t that the purpose of public education after all?”

The Williamsburg Bray School will open as an interpreted building at Colonial Williamsburg this fall, informed by the oral histories and genealogical research taking place at the William & Mary Bray School Lab. 

“When we embarked on the journey with the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood and Matthew Whaley Elementary School, we thought that we were helping teachers and students ‘see’ the Williamsburg Bray School and its students. It is safe to say that they helped us see the history and legacies of the Williamsburg Bray School and its students with fresh eyes,” said Elgersman Lee.

Danny Devlin, Strategic Cultural Partnerships

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Students work independently, with a partner, or in a small group to research Australia using classroom books and websites (including ours !).  They complete a variety of activities to create a fun, interactive final presentation –  making a wonderful artifact to share and keep.

Activities include

• Maps:  practice basic map skills using a world map and a continent/country map
• Country stats: record the country’s population, area, products, climate, and currency on a fact wheel
• Flag: color a sample flag and write a description of what the colors and symbols mean
• Language: learn common words and phrases in the country’s official language
• Food: plan a menu for a day
• Sports: name popular sports/activities
• Animals: identify and classify, creating a pocket chart
• Clothing: illustrate (or construct) traditional clothing on paper dolls
• Famous People: identify individuals and their achievement(s)
• Holidays & Celebrations: describe the traditions of several holidays

Australia Learning Resources for Kids Explore the Land Down Under using a variety of suggested resources.

Srta Spanish

Support for Spanish Teachers

7 Fun and Engaging Spanish Project Ideas

January 19, 2023

Learning a language is more than just memorizing verbs and vocabulary words – it’s about connecting the language with real-life experiences. Spice up your middle school and high school classes with these Spanish project ideas that will make the language come alive for your students.

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Why use research projects with students?

Research projects are an amazing way to engage students with the language and give them an opportunity to explore the culture, history, geography, and important figures. These projects allow for creativity, critical thinking, research skills, and (if you want) collaboration. Research projects also help build self-confidence as students practice their Spanish, discover new things about the culture, and develop a deeper understanding of a given topic.

How to get started with research projects

Research projects involve a lot of planning and clear directions. Start by giving your students an overview of the project and outlining the expectations. Be sure to select an appropriate level of difficulty with respect to language, content, resources, and length. Once your students know the general outline of the project, they can begin searching for information to create their final presentation. Finally, you should provide check-in points throughout the project so that you can observe student progress and offer feedback as needed.

I personally like to reach out to the school’s media specialist and ask for help with research. In some schools I’ve been in, the media specialist will come into my classes on the research day(s) to help support students and for another pair of eyes on screens while students are working. As a bonus, most media specialists will know if your school district pays for any sites or resources to help your students in their research!

Spanish Project Ideas

Whether students are working in a printable or digital format, there are great options for your students!

• Holidays and celebrations
• Spanish-Speaking Countries (poster)
• Create a tour of the Spanish-speaking countries (digital)
• Explore a Spanish-speaking country (digital)
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Afro Latinos Famosos
• Famous Women throughout history

I hope these ideas are helpful for you! I have always found that having such a clear cut, print and go templates have really helped students to organize their thoughts and create a beautiful project to share their research with classmates and peers. Check out all of my digital and research Spanish project ideas in one bundle here !

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• OER Project Grants

2024 OER Grantee Showcase

Discover free resources developed by OSPI OER Project grantees.

May 23, 3:30 – 4:30 pm

2023-24 OER Project Grantee Showcase

Register on pdEnroller

Watch the 2023 OER Grantee Resource Showcase

2024-25 OER Project Grants

Proposals are currently being accepted in  EGMS  (FP 730)

Register  for the grant walkthrough and Q&A on May 21, 3:30 pm.

Review the opportunity details and questions 2024 OER Project Grant

• Contact Information
• Open Educational Resources

Barbara Soots

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are free to use, adapt, and share in order to better serve all students.

As more districts develop or adapt OER, we have a tremendous opportunity to share resources across districts via our OER Commons Washington Hub, promoting equitable access to standards-aligned, quality instructional materials. This grant opportunity is in support of that goal.

In choosing our grantees for this year, priority consideration was given to projects that integrated content or addressed areas currently lacking in standards-aligned OER. Additionally, consideration was given to projects developing resources that could be delivered remotely or in a blending learning environment.

2023-2024 OER Project Grant Awards

Mount Vernon School District

This project aims to develop a comprehensive set of K-12 lessons centered around calendar events requested by local tribes, fostering cultural awareness, understanding, and respect among students. The project will involve a collaborative effort between educators, local tribes, and community stakeholders to ensure the lessons align with the cultural significance of these events. The curriculum will be self-contained, providing teachers with ready-to-use materials, resources, and guidelines to effectively engage students across different grade levels.

The lessons will incorporate various educational approaches, such as historical narratives, interactive activities, art projects, storytelling, and guest speakers from tribal communities. By exploring the historical context, cultural traditions, and contemporary issues related to each event, students will gain a deeper understanding of the significance of these occasions and the contributions of indigenous peoples to their community and the nation.

World Affairs Council - Seattle

As the world has become increasingly interconnected and interdependent, it is essential that teachers and students have access to relevant, interdisciplinary global education resources that are standards based. Building upon work from previous OSPI grant funding that created a series of multi-day lessons on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the project team will develop another series of lessons (and translated materials) on six additional SDG. These lessons will supplement the other lessons we have created and are easily adaptable for grade-levels and context. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (or "Global Goals") can be effectively integrated into many different contents areas that provide students with a more holistic and meaningful learning experience.

This OER curriculum and professional development will help educators deepen student understanding of local and global issues, support standards-based, interdisciplinary learning, and provide high quality resources in an under-represented content area.

Lake Washington School District

Teacher teams that have received professional learning on curriculum design for language instruction aligned to WA State World Language Standards will continue to build out four units for Level 3 curriculum in Japanese and Spanish and refine previously created units.

Units are thematic, aligned to the AP Language and Culture Themes, and incorporate authentic resources. They are organized by the three modes of communication and require teachers to leverage research-based high-impact instructional strategies for language acquisition. Units include essential questions, performance targets, intercultural focus, unit goals, performance assessments, activity guides, and additional suggested resources and methods and will be shared with districts around the state

Special Education Technology Center - Central Washington University

In this project, we plan to develop, adapt, and implement accessible online modules for teachers and teacher prep programs to enhance instructional practices and expand learning opportunities for diverse learners.

Previously, this project created six modules in the Unlocking Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities suite, focused on K-2. This project will build on that work to create an introductory module to set the stage and an additional two modules to extend literacy instruction to older kids using age-appropriate content and grade level standards.

The project team will implement, adapt, and add teachers’ artifacts to existing modules in collaboration with teachers across Washington state.

Project-based Washington State Civics Curriculum

With support from OSPI, Educurious has spent two years collaborating with teachers from six Washington districts to codesign a comprehensive OER Washington State History course for middle school, and a corresponding guide for making localized adaptations (in development). This PBL course presents critical issues in an anti-biased way, is interdisciplinary, integrates Since Time Immemorial resources, and aligns with the Washington State Standards for Social Studies. This project builds on that foundation to design a unit in the course that directly addresses the civics strand of the Washington State Standards for Social Studies, including the state constitution and tribal sovereignty and effectively support the entire civics strand for the Washington State-focused social studies standards.

After an implementation field test, the unit will be published to the OER Hub. We anticipate this project will have impacts on 1) the availability of high-quality standards-aligned Washington State history and civics materials for teachers and students to access; 2) student learning, civic engagement, and identification with content.

Explore grantee efforts on the Washington OER Hub and Washington Hub Highlights .

Past Grant Awards

2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23  | 2023-24

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Using Projects to Build Community

Starting the year with a fun small-group project helps middle and high school students get to know and trust one another.

The start of the school year, with its fresh energy and shuffling of students into new classes, is the perfect time to build connections and ignite creative thinking.

By beginning the year with a fun but challenging small-group project, teachers can build strong communities of learners, emphasize how each individual fits into that community, and establish norms for group work and classroom discussions.

3 Fun Project Ideas for Fall

1. Story slam. This is a great project to start the year with because it gives students a chance to share something unique about themselves. It also involves public speaking, which is downright terrifying for most of us but is also a powerful way to create a culture of support and encouragement. The key to making this project a success is careful planning followed by practice, practice, practice!

A story slam is a competition or just a sharing session in which each participant tells a 3-to-5-minute story. These are usually true stories from the speaker’s life.

You can begin by telling your own story, making use of tone of voice, dramatic pauses, and other speaking skills, or showing snippets from other young storytellers . You could then provide students with opportunities to try on different story ideas through journal entries or this storytelling tic-tac-toe , which doubles as an icebreaker.

Students can then select one topic and complete a planning page . Students might next practice telling their stories in groups of two, switching partners with every telling.

Not only will students become more comfortable with storytelling, but also they will get to chat one-on-one with several of their new classmates. Students will then practice in groups of four, then eight, and finally in front of the whole class. Along the way, students should truncate their notes to a few lines on an index card with the goal of ultimately telling their story from memory.

A class story slam can be the culminating event, or you might have students work in small groups to create short plays from their stories. When we did this project at my school, we invited a retired theater instructor to work with story slam finalists before performing their stories to our judge, a community theater director, who used a rubric to select a winner.

We then worked as a school over an entire semester to create a play around the winning story slam with students contributing as scriptwriters, set designers, and marketing specialists. It taught students so much about collaboration and how the individual contributes to the whole. As a bonus, it also fostered community involvement in our school.

2. Paper bag innovations. This project, in which students research the history of paper bag design and then create their own paper bag design, is another great place to start because it encourages students to share their own individual selves while working toward a common goal: How can we make such an everyday, practical object even better?

A K-W-L chart , which asks students to write down what they know, want to know, and have learned, works well for launching research on the history of the paper bag. You could then direct students to work in small groups to research the answer to one of the questions.

As you move into the designing phase, you may choose to keep students in their original groups to deepen those connections or create new groups. This is also an opportunity to build in content-specific objectives, such as calculating volume in math, evaluating how a simple invention can change society in social studies, or exploring the impact of innovation on the environment in science.

It’s useful to supply students with different sizes and shapes of paper bags to examine and discuss: How can we adapt this invention to meet the needs of the modern world? How can we create an environmentally friendly paper bag that is also fashionable?

Students now begin creating their designs, working through the engineering cycle . This is a great way to introduce reflective thinking. You could also use exit tickets to help students think about how they are contributing to their groups.

Finally, each student in each group will place an object that represents them inside their group’s paper bag. When the groups present their creations to the class, each individual will share something unique and special about themselves.

3. The Museum of Good Ideas. In this project, students work in small groups to first brainstorm, then research some of the most impactful inventions, innovations , and moments throughout history. You might start by putting students in small groups to complete a like/dislike chart . They could then begin with their own interests—sports, art, video games, etc.—and trace them back to their beginnings.

They will then work in small groups to create museum pieces that represent these ideas, complete with written explanations and multimedia components. You could add a peer-feedback step where students provide “ Austin’s Butterfly ”–style feedback for other groups on sticky notes.

An alternative project or extension is the Museum of Mistakes. For this, students are offered a list of mistakes throughout history and create multimedia displays on how one of these so-called mistakes benefited humanity. An added bonus to this project is creating a mistake-friendly culture, crucial in encouraging independent thinking and risk-taking.

With any of these projects, periodic whole-class debriefing sessions will help create procedures and expectations for the rest of the year. Upon completion of the project, you might use a plus-delta board to determine how things are going, first in small groups and then as a class, as a reflection tool.

However you decide to implement these projects, what’s important here is building relationships, encouraging creative thinking, and having fun.

• Clinical Trials

Summer 2023 STEM Enrichment Experience for Middle School Youth of Diverse Backgrounds

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Tab Title Description

• Observational study — observes people and measures outcomes without affecting results.
• Interventional study (clinical trial) — studies new tests, treatments, drugs, surgical procedures or devices.
• Medical records research — uses historical information collected from medical records of large groups of people to study how diseases progress and which treatments and surgeries work best.
• Rochester, Minnesota: 22-013452

About this study

The purpose of this study is to increase STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math career) identity, career knowledge, and engagement in middle school aged youth of diverse backgrounds.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• John Adams Middle School Summer of Discovery student participants.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-Participants in Summer of Discovery at John Adams Middle School.

Note: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria may apply.

Eligibility last updated 6/6/23. Questions regarding updates should be directed to the study team contact.

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

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Daily Southtown | Middle School students unite to host culture…

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Daily Southtown

Daily southtown | middle school students unite to host culture celebration in palos park.

The eighth graders—three of Lithuanian descent and one of Japanese/Mexican–are gearing up for the school’s first culture night May 14. The event at the Palos Park school will feature information tables hosted by district families showcasing their cultural backgrounds, as well as dance performances, ethnic foods and craft making.

The idea came out of the school’s Capstone Program, a voluntary endeavor in which the four students gathered at school before class once or twice a week to brainstorm ways they could help improve their community.

They decided an opportunity for people to share about themselves would be a good way to bring people together.

“Everyone should have a chance to educate others about their own culture, but do it in a fun way so they remember it,” said Indre Luksys, who, like two of her peers in the project, has parents from Lithuania and speaks Lithuanian with them at home. “If they appreciate the different foods they’re going to try, they’re going to remember it.”

Indre, who attends a Lithuanian school on Saturdays, has been planning her presentation.

“We’ll have a chance to do some cultural performances, so they’ll be impressed by the beauty of what they see,” she said.

By sharing their cultures, the students hope to foster a wider sense of community at Palos South.

“The thing I like best is I knew we were going to be helping people come together with all their cultures and have a chance to share the different things their cultures have to bring, because every culture is special,” Indre said.

Renata Stapcinskaite, Indre’s mom, said her daughter had worked hard and put “lots of passion” into the project.

“She wanted to solve the problem of cultural discrimination and embrace an open mind with other cultures,” Stapcinskaite said. “I’m most proud that Indre had a very great understanding of her culture from the very early years of her childhood. It is wonderful that she has made such an effort to encourage others to appreciate their own culture.”

Ann Marie Ruprecht, who facilitates the Capstone Program at Palos South and teaches sixth grade language arts, said the girls spent lots of time researching their idea. They met with Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters and her staff and interviewed Palos South principal Stuart Wrzesinski and Huwaida Hamed, who oversees English language learning programs at the school.

“Our two major things are acceptance for all and to have fun,” Ruprecht said. “It just gives them a great opportunity for everyone to learn about different cultures. With everything going on in the world, we’re one in the same.”

Kamile Juzenas, whose parents also are from Lithuania, learned 34 languages are spoken in her school district.

“I’m excited this is happening and hope everyone enjoys it,” she said.

Student Meda Kameza, also of Lithuanian descent, said she and her fellow project students were “passionate about different cultures.”

“I wanted everybody to learn that everybody is one person,” Meda said.

Meda’s family was planning to bring cepelinai (potato dumplings) and Tinginys (Lithuanian cookies), as well as souvenirs and books.

Mileta Kameza, Meda’s mom, said her daughter has done presentations before.

“She is open minded and understands that people from different cultures can act and think differently, and you should accept people as they are with no judgment,” Kameza said. “It’s important to be mindful and understand other people from different cultures. It will help other students to understand and accept friends from different cultural backgrounds.

“That will make school culture more positive, less bullying and everyone will be happier.”

Penny Ocampo, whose parents are of Japanese and Mexican descent, said the effort is a great way to learn about their classmates and others in the community.

“It was fun for all of us to learn about different cultures,” said Penny. “The project is a good idea because it’s going to help children learn diversity.” She and her sister will likely wear Kimonos to the event.

Franco Ocampo, her dad, said the students worked hard and the school staff “did an amazing job of facilitating the students and making something they imagined into a reality.”

“Cultural acceptance and appreciation is something we need now more than ever,” he said.

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

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