Themes for Term Two!

So we're off and running with yet another round of themes based on our students' passionate interests! This time around, the process was much more streamlined - as the girls knew how to proceed and we didn't insist that they boil their selections down to one, huge over-arching theme. (à la Anthropology.) Instead, we allowed the girls to formulate several different themes that they'll delve into in the seven weeks that remain of term two. As you might expect, they came up with a list of riveting topics: Aspects of Outer Space, Creative Writing, Food and Nutrition, The Truth Behind Urban Myths (based on a favorite television show called Myth Busters) and America's Cultural History from 1950 to the present. Teams of three to six students are now in the process of developing their Theme Learning Contracts. Below I've included the details, to give you an idea of what we will be looking for. Feel free to grill your 8th grader for more specifics!

Guidelines for your Theme Learning Contract

The facts:
1. We have seven weeks with which to complete our theme work.
2. Your exploration must be educationally rigorous.
3. Your group must develop and get approval of a learning contract that you craft with the support of your teachers.
4. Your learning contract must contain a plan for a demonstration of learning.
5. Your group must complete all the requirements contained in your learning contract.
6. Your group must effectively craft and deliver a demonstration of learning.
7. Individuals in your group must meet weekly with their advisors to go over “goals and accomplishments and write a weekly “check-in” email. This email will contain both a self-evaluation as well as an evaluation of group dynamics.
8. Individuals in your group need to complete a self-assessment as well as peer-assessment.

Important questions to answer in your learning contract:
Step One - Define:
1. What is the definition and/or focus of your theme work?
2. Why is it meaningful and/or important to spend seven weeks learning about your group’s chosen theme?

Step Two - Develop:
3. What are your learning experiences going to be?
4. How are they going to contribute to your development and growth as a learner?

Step Three - Demonstrate:
5. What formats will you use to show what you’ve learned?
6. How will they effectively communicate the content and depth of your learning?

Learning Contract Expectations:
1. Your learning process must feel focused and deliberate, with obvious connections to your defined theme.
2. Your learning experiences must include opportunities to get academic content knowledge.
3. Your group must show clear intentions to collaborate in the learning process.
4. Your group must engage in consistent and continuous learning throughout the term.
5. Your group’s demonstration of learning must feel thorough and polished, with obvious evidence of effective group collaboration.