2009-10 Skyscraper Project

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The Skyscraper Project The Skyscraper Project will be an ongoing project worked on throughout our Chicago Unit of Study. As usual, we plan to travel to Chicago as a part of this unit, which tremendously aids our students understanding of their building and its construction. More details will be forthcoming, as they become official. Students have 4 weeks to work on this project. It is expected that students will meet outside of school if necessary, do some outside research, be it a trip to the library, using web resources, or even a trip to the city to visit the building. I do, however, understand it is difficult to do this. To accommodate busy students and families, the following days will be in-class workdays (a total of 440 minutes of in-class work time): Tuesday – Friday, September 1-4: Planning, design, measurements, and blueprints. Tuesday, September 8: Group Plan finalization and completion. Wednesday, September 16: Group rendezvous and checkpoint assessment. Wednesday, September 23: Group rendezvous and checkpoint assessment. Wednesday – Friday, September 30 – October 2: Final project assembly and written summary. To assure that all students are productive, they will be held accountable on 2 separate due dates: 9/16 and 9/23. The initial project planning (week of 8/31) will include several mechanisms to assure students are productive. Students uncooperative will be removed from their group and given an alternative assignment, in addition to the point penalty received for failing to meet a project deadline. Due Dates: Tuesday, September 1 – List of 10 details and characteristics that every building should have done. This is your input on the grading of these projects. (10 points) Friday, September 4 – Detailed blueprints for each of your 3 buildings. Directions and details were given in class on Tuesday, September 1. (30 points each) Wednesday, September 9 – “Group Plan” to be submitted. Individual assignments and goals will be listed. (20 points) Wednesday, September 16 – Group Plan Checkpoint #1 – Assess each group member’s progress by evaluating completion of Goal #1. (25 points) Wednesday, September 23 – Group Plan Checkpoint #2 – Assess each group member’s progress by evaluating completion of Goal #2. (25 points) Friday, October 2 – Final Project Due. (100 points) All point values subject to change, with notice from Mr. Little. To avoid overwhelming the students, I will distribute relevant rubrics and worksheets to aid in planning as this unit develops. These checkpoints, rubrics, and methods of planning have proven to facilitate efficient group work in the past. Since this is a project students enjoy, I have only twice had to remove a student from a group due to lack of

participation. I don’t predict that being a problem again, given that the alternative isn’t so enjoyable!