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REMOTE LEARNING WITH STUDYSYNCPassion Projects for Grades 6-12

Now that the close of the school year is approaching, you may be searching for ways for your students to demonstrate their learning through an independent, self-selected project in a remote learning setting. StudySync has developed a “Passion Project Choice Board” that provides ideas for creative projects aligned with carefully selected Blasts, found in the StudySync Library. The Choice Board will provide opportunities for further inquiry and exploration with the vetted research links in these assignments.

The suggested Passion Projects are designed for your students to work independently and showcase their unique learning styles. They can be delivered digitally or in print. Our hope is that you and your students can wrap-up the year in a meaningful way.

• View instructions on how to print materials for a packet in this video: “Printing for the 5-day Mini Units” and PDF “Printing or Creating PDFs from the Library.”

• Share completed Passion Projects with us on social media @studysync or #studysync. See the TEACHER TIPS below, for ways you can turn these Passion Projects into units of study.

Let the StudySync community know how you are doing via social media channels using #SyncUpChat or email us at syncup@studysync.com with tips that you would like to share with your StudySync peers. Questions? Please reach out to our Implementation Team at implementation@studysync.com

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TEACHER PASSION PROJECT PREPARATIONPLAN ONLINE OFFLINE

Introduce the concept of a Passion Project with one or more of the Blasts listed below.

• PASSION PROJECT: How can you turn your hobbies into a business?

• PASSION PROJECT: How can your mindset affect your life?

• PRIMING PASSION: What shapes your passion?

Assign one or more of the Passion Project Blasts to students. When assigning each blast, be sure to activate the “Research Links”.Decide when you want students to submit their responses and complete peer reviews.

TECH OPTIONS: Learning can be demonstrated in multiple ways ranging from blogs, slideshows, videos, and podcasts, to photo essays.

Print and distribute a packet containing the Blast, and print material from a selection of the Blast’s research links.

Decide how and if you want to collect responses from students.

NO TECH OPTIONS: Learning can be demonstrated in multiple ways ranging from poster boards, collages, and essays, to journals.

Share the StudySync Passion Project Choice Board with students. Instruct students to communicate their project choice to the teacher by the determined deadline.

For the “Student Self-Selected Passion Project,” teachers will search the Blast Library and assign a Blast to students based on this search. If a Blast cannot be located on this self-selected topic, teachers can still allow students to work on this topic. Consider a plan for how students will locate and provide related research.

Maintain communication or video conferencing with students through the course of the project to assess progress and to provide planning assistance.

Create Blast assignments from the StudySync Passion Project Choice Board.

Blasts can be assigned to all students or “target” each student individually, as determined by individual project choice.

If all Blasts are assigned to all students, instruct students to choose and complete the Blast that aligns with their chosen Passion Project.

Decide when you want students to submit their responses and peer reviews.

Create due dates and check-in dates with students for conferencing.

Print and distribute a packet containing the appropriate Blast and materials from a selection of the Blast’s research links. Decide how and if you want to collect responses from students.

TEACHER TIP: These Passion Projects can be enhanced and extended into full units of study by adding skills and selecting texts from the Library. Students can also do a search on the topic of their choice and do a self-selected, independent read with a text they discover in the Library. View the PDF “Using the StudySync Unit Creator” for instructions on how to create your own unit.

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STUDYSYNC PASSION PROJECT CHOICE BOARD

TOPIC DETAILS

Social Media

BLAST: TikTok Teens

PROMPT: How could TikTok influence the 2020 election?

PROJECT IDEA: Are you a TikTok teen? Many teachers have been gathering together and sending messages to their students using TikTok. Think of a message you could spread through social media to promote an idea, send a message, or advocate for public service. What is your message? Why is it important? Who is the audience? Create this message on a social media platform, if you can, or simply document that message and what it would look like in a blog, poster board, slideshow, or video.

Environmental

BLAST: No Time to Waste OR Overpowering Plastic

PROMPT: How can you reduce your plastic use? OR What will the future of recycling look like?

PROJECT IDEA: Does it sound like a challenge to live without disposable materials? Can you do it? Develop a plan to live a “Zero Waste Life” and, if you can, try to implement it for one week. Continue your inquiry into reducing your carbon footprint and document your journey adjusting to this lifestyle change in a blog, photo essay, collage, poster board, slideshow or video. What needs to be eliminated from your current habits? How can you use recycled materials in your life? What are the challenges of living this way? Why stop at one week? Keep going if you can.

Fashion

BLAST: Going Out of Style

PROMPT: How are young people changing the fashion industry?

PROJECT IDEA: Are you a fashionista, trendsetter, style icon? If you could create your own fashion statement what would it be? What would your fashion line look like? What materials would you use? How would you sell and market it? Continue your inquiry into fashion trends and youth and depict your fashion statement through a photo essay, slideshow, sketchbook or actually sew and create your fashion trend.

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TOPIC DETAILS

Health

BLAST: Future Phys Ed

PROMPT: How is technology changing Phys Ed?

PROJECT IDEA: Now that you are home, how is Phys Ed class working out, if you have it? Design an online physical education course or exercise program that you can use remotely with others. Consider arranging a remote competition playing a favorite sport. Document your learning with videos, a photo essay, collage, poster board or a recording of your final project. How can technology enhance your workout experience?

Sports

BLAST: Special Relationship

PROMPT: What are the advantages and disadvantages of specializing in a skill?

PROJECT IDEA: What skill would you like to improve? An athletic skill? A musical talent? An artistic skill? A gaming skill? Make a plan for how you can practice and improve that skill. Is there an expert in this field that you will look to for guidance? Document your before/after progress on improving that skill through a photo essay, slideshow, collage, or video. Make notes of the challenges and benefits throughout your development.

Community

BLAST: Neighborhood Needs

PROMPT: In what ways can you best help your community?

PROJECT IDEA: We have all been spending a significant amount of time in our homes and in our communities in recent weeks. Perhaps this time has helped you see what the challenges are in your community. Develop a plan that can involve you, your family or close friends to do something to help your community during this time of social isolation. What will be the purpose of this movement? Why is it necessary? Is it sustainable? How can you get it started? What do you need? Document your learning in a blog post, a photo essay, collage, poster board, video or slideshow from the planning phase to implementation (if possible) of your vision.

Music

BLAST: Making Music OR The Case for Poetry

PROMPT: What makes a song or lyric catchy? OR Why read poetry?

PROJECT IDEA: Music and poetry have been used to document much of our culture and history. Write your own song with lyrics and an original score about this moment in history. Record it for all to hear and enjoy or create a music video that accompanies the song.

OR

Create a collection of poetry with sketches or photos that help document this current moment in history.

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TOPIC DETAILS

Entertainment

BLAST: Road to the Stars

PROMPT: How have popular artists changed how you view the world?

PROJECT IDEA: Investigate the life and works of one of your favorite artists - a musician, a painter, a writer, or anyone creative who has impacted your life. Explain why this artist is influential and demonstrate how he/she has impacted you. What is the long term influence this may continue to have on your future and/or the future in general? Document your learning through an essay, journal entries, or slideshow.

Student Self-Selected

Passion Topic

BLAST: Ask your teacher to search the Blast Library based on a topic of your choice. You will be assigned a Blast with a prompt and research links in your StudySync account.

PROMPT: T B D by the selected Blast

PROJECT IDEA: Design your own project and decide how you will document your learning based on this topic. You will need approval from your teacher.

NEED ASSISTANCE?Don’t hesitate to contact your implementation specialist at implementation@studysync.com, or visit our website at www.studysync.com to sign up for our monthly newsletter or view the current webinar schedule.