Grade 8: Interdisciplinary Learning to Close the Year
Eighth graders are working on an end-of-year capstone project to combine learning in all four MESH classes. In lieu of traditional finals, students are studying the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, identifying problems to research and offering viable solutions. These goals relate to bettering the world by ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring peace and prosperity for all the world’s populations.
Eighth graders are working on an end-of-year capstone project to combine learning in all four MESH classes. In lieu of traditional finals, students are studying the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, identifying problems to research and offering viable solutions. These goals relate to bettering the world by ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring peace and prosperity for all the world’s populations.
The brainchild of the project, history teacher Jane Maslanka, said the goal of the capstone project is to empower eighth graders to recognize their ability to impact the world. “My hope is that students will choose a goal that they are truly curious about and interested in,” says Ms. Maslanka. “Being intrinsically motivated is the best and most authentic way to learn.”
The project involves five distinct phases from research to activism to a live presentation for an assessment panel of community members and peers:
- Research UN Sustainability Goals using various media and select a topic that is meaningful to you.
- Write a proposal describing your research, the problem to be addressed and a potential solution.
- Identify an organization that is working in your selected area and participate in some way to raise awareness, volunteer hands-on or design a new approach to solving the problem.
- Reflect on your activism in a written piece.
- Develop and present a digital report describing phases 1-4 and present it Ted Talk-style for final assessment.
Ms. Maslanka says the idea for the project was developed to keep students motivated through the end of the school year by allowing them to explore curiosity and passion. “My work with the differentiation cohort was instrumental because I was able to brainstorm ideas and look at ways to scaffold down a high school capstone project into one that is appropriate for eighth graders,” she says. “The project really took off when I involved math, English and science teachers and we focused on sustainability and global issues.”
English teacher Katy Cooper adds, "Capstone is a way in which students can not only identify and explore their own interests, but also build their research, writing, and presentation skills. I am looking forward to collaborating with my teammates in order to teach students how to write a well-developed high school level research paper and deliver a powerful, persuasive presentation."
Science teacher Dan Barklund and math teacher Jorge Chavez are also closely involved as students tackle complex political, environmental and economic issues around the world.
The assignment, new this year, has been met with a range of reactions from students including curiosity, excitement and also some hesitation. “You’ll always have students who are more comfortable just taking a test,” Jane explains. “The capstone project is more of a challenge and allows students to learn and apply their knowledge to real-world situations.”
Capstone projects will be presented the week of May 28. Stay tuned!
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
