Suggested Activities - Own Your Own Future A LONG-TERM PROJECT Suggested Activities 3. After the discussion, give a copy of the long-term project planning checklist to each student

PLANNING A LONG-TERM PROJECT

The skills students learn in middle school will help them later in high school and throughout postsecondary education when they are required to work on projects

over a period of several weeks, or even months. The video Planning a Long-Term Project focuses on the need to develop a timeline and plan for assignments that

require several steps and longer periods of time to complete.

Suggested Activities

1. Start the lesson by introducing the video Planning a Long-Term Project, in which Will and Ali, two 8th-grade students, compare their strategies for completing their science fair projects. As they are watching the video, ask the students to make mental notes about these topics:

timeline requirements/rubric research finalpresentation confidence

2. After the video, engage in a discussion about the topics as they relate to Will and Ali. Ask students to share their experiences with projects, too. Observations might include:

Timeline • Will did not develop one; Ali did and checked it often. • Ali worked on the project a little at a time, revising it as needed.• Will thought he had a lot of time and put off working on his project

until the last minute.Requirements/Rubric • Will lost his rubric that listed requirements.• Ali checked hers often to see if she was still on track.• Ali tried to make the project and presentation interesting.

Research• Will wrote down page numbers, but did not have a system for doing

research.• Ali developed some questions to help guide her research and asked

for advice.

Final Presentation• Will created his at the last minute and had little time to practice or

review his presentation.• Alifinishedherprojectaheadofscheduleandhadtimetopractice

her presentation.

Confidence• Alifeltconfidentaboutherprojectandpresentationbecauseshehad

time to review and practice beforehand.• Will was not prepared, having just completed it the night before.

ownyourownfuture.com || Texas GEAR UP Planning a Long-Term Project


Suggested Activities

3. After the discussion, give a copy of the long-term project planning checklist to each student and ask them to work in assigned pairs to review it.

After 5-7 minutes, allow them to ask questions or ask for more information. Ask how they might use the checklist. Ask them if they currently have any long-term projects. Allow students to volunteer additional ideas that could be added to the checklist.

4. Students can keep the checklist and complete the journal-writing assignment for their portfolios.

5. EXTENDED ACTIVITY: If time permits, assign students a project that allows them to research colleges they are interested in attending. Develop a rubric jointly with students, and then ask them to use the planning checklist to complete the project.

Allow time for presentations and Q&A from the class.


JournalI need to work on these things to

improve my project planning:

I plan to use this checklist in

the following classes:

(continued)


After watching the video Planning a Long-Term Project, you learned from Will and Ali that planning ahead is the key to success. That applies to projects you do now,

as well as later in high school and college (and even beyond). Need some help? Review this checklist and use it to develop a plan for completing projects on time

and with confidence—a job well done!


Name: __________________________________________________ Date: ________________

LONG-TERM PROJECT PLANNING CHECKLISTTarget Date

for Completion

STEP 1Title of project:Date due:

STEP 2 I have read the rubric or requirements for the project.

STEP 3

Here is the topic, issue, problem, or experiment I am planning to research and present: (List here)

STEP 4

I have developed ideas or guiding questions to help my research and planning: (List here)1.

2.

3.

4.

STEP 5

I plan to use the following sources of information: (List types of resources, books, interviews, experts, internet sources, surveys, etc.)1.

2.

3.

4.


LONG-TERM PROJECT PLANNING CHECKLISTTarget Date

for Completion

STEP 6

I have a plan for taking notes and organizing information: (Describe it here)

STEP 7

I plan to compile the information and produce these products: (Check the rubric and then list them here. Example: written report, video, spoken presentation, experiment, etc.)1.

2.

3.

4.

STEP 8

I plan to add the following creative ideas to make this more interesting:1.

2.

3.

STEP 9After checking the requirements again, I have completed all parts of the project, checked for accuracy and neatness, and rehearsed my presentation.

STEP 10

I made the following changes after I rehearsed. 1.

2.

I FEEL CONFIDENT AND READY TO REPORT!

Writethedatehere→

Own It!

I see how planning ahead can help me in the following ways:


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Suggested Activities - Own Your Own Future A LONG-TERM PROJECT Suggested Activities 3. After the discussion, give a copy of the long-term project planning checklist to each student