Life/Earth Cycles:
A Middle School Independent Study Project
Fall 97

Summary:
Students will explore one or more life/earth cycles.

Connection to the Curriculum:
Students will understand that many life and earth processes are cyclic nature and will conduct research and create a product or products to illustrate natural cyclic events.

Time:
This project will take from three to six weeks.

Objectives:
1. The student will be able to describe a cycle.

2. The student will be able to describe how cycles are integral to life on the planet.

3. The student will be able to produce a logically written, grammatically correct report explaining a life/earth cycle.

4. The student will be able to orally present a life/earth cycle in a professional manner.

5. The student will be able to answer questions about his/her life/earth cycle.

TEKS
7.3A thru F    7.9A,B

Suggested Topics:

1. Earth Cycles:

• Water Cycle
• Rock Cycle
• Nitrogen Cycle
• Phosphorus Cycle

2. Life Cycles:

• Circulation
• Respiration
• Digestion
• Photosynthesis

Suggested Products:

In addition to the written component, suggested products might include:

• 3-D Models
• Puppet Shows
• Skits
• Diarama
• Brochure
• Slide Show
• Video
• Poster
• Demonstration
• Transparencies

Suggested Guidelines For Single- and Multiple-Topic Independent Study Projects:

Sample Project With Written Component and Transparencies and Flow Chart

1. Single Topic

INDEPENDENT STUDY GUIDELINES

Your teacher must sign off after completion of each step

before you may move on to the next step.

TEACHER O.K._____1. Choose a topic.

_______________________________________

TEACHER O.K._____2. Do research. Write a report about what you have learned. Make notecards and a bibliography. Use at least five

resources.

TEACHER O.K._____3. Choose four products to tell about the most interesting

aspects of your topic.

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

TEACHER O.K._____4. Create a timeline for project completion.

TEACHER O.K._____5. Satisfactory completion of first product.

TEACHER O.K._____6. Satisfactory completion of second product.

TEACHER O.K._____7. Satisfactory completion of third product.

TEACHER O.K._____8. Satisfactory completion of fourth product.

TEACHER O.K._____9. Written summary of what you learned.

TEACHER O.K._____10. Evaluation

2. Multiple Topic

INDEPENDENT STUDY GUIDELINES

Your teacher must sign off after completion of each step

before you may move on to the next step.

TEACHER O.K._____1. Choose topics (no more than three).

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

TEACHER O.K._____2. Create a timeline for completion of your projects.

TEACHER O.K._____3. Do research on first topic. Write a report about what

you have learned. Make notecards and a bibliography. Use at least five resources.

TEACHER O.K._____4. Choose a product to tell about the most interesting

aspects of your first topic.

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

TEACHER O.K._____5. Satisfactory completion of first product.

TEACHER O.K._____6. Written summary of what you learned.

TEACHER O.K._____7. Evaluation

TEACHER O.K._____8. Do research on second topic. Write a report about what

you have learned. Make notecards and a bibliography. Use at least five resources.

TEACHER O.K._____9. Choose a product to tell about the most interesting

aspects of your second topic.

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

TEACHER O.K._____10. Satisfactory completion of second product.

TEACHER O.K._____11. Written summary of what you learned.

TEACHER O.K._____12. Evaluation

TEACHER O.K._____13. Do research on third topic. Write a report about what

you have learned. Make notecards and a bibliography. Use at least five resources.

TEACHER O.K._____14. Choose a product to tell about the most interesting

aspects of your second topic.

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

TEACHER O.K._____15. Satisfactory completion of second product.

TEACHER O.K._____16. Written summary of what you learned.

TEACHER O.K._____17. Evaluation

INDEPENDENT STUDY RUBRIC

Written Report #1 (20 points)

Complete 1 2 3 4 5

Logical 1 2 3 4 5

Grammar 1 2 3 4 5

Spelling 1 2 3 4 5

Product #1 (10 points)

Quality 1 2 3 4 5

Effective 1 2 3 4 5

Written Report #2 (20 points)

Complete 1 2 3 4 5

Logical 1 2 3 4 5

Grammar 1 2 3 4 5

Spelling 1 2 3 4 5

Product #2 (10 points)

Quality 1 2 3 4 5

Effective 1 2 3 4 5

Written Report #3 (20 points)

Complete 1 2 3 4 5

Logical 1 2 3 4 5

Grammar 1 2 3 4 5

Spelling 1 2 3 4 5

Product #3 (10 points)

Quality 1 2 3 4 5

Effective 1 2 3 4 5

Notecards (5 points)

Sources 1 2 3 4 5

Complete 1 2 3 4 5

Timeline (5 points)

Goals 1 2 3 4 5

Dates 1 2 3 4 5

Final Grade: ___________/100 pointsSingle Topic

INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECT RUBRIC

Written Report (30 points)

Complete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Logical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Grammar 1 2 3 4 5

Spelling 1 2 3 4 5

Product #1 (10 points)

Quality 1 2 3 4 5

Effective 1 2 3 4 5

Product #2 (10 points)

Quality 1 2 3 4 5

Effective 1 2 3 4 5

Product #3 (10 points)

Quality 1 2 3 4 5

Effective 1 2 3 4 5

Product #4 (10 points)

Quality 1 2 3 4 5

Effective 1 2 3 4 5

Notecards (10 points)

Sources Noted 1 2 3 4 5

Complete 1 2 3 4 5

Bibliography (10 points)

Format 1 2 3 4 5

Five Sources 1 2 3 4 5

Timeline (10 points)

Specific Goals 1 2 3 4 5

Dates 1 2 3 4 5

Final Grade: ___________/100 points

Back to Science Intermediate

© BellNET, 1997
BellNET Webmaster
Revised: August 24, 2000