Have you seen these sites?

Just a couple of sites that may be of use...

National geographic

Think quest

Add any more that you find useful into the comments!

How to fill in the tracking sheet

Below, you will find a tracking sheet that has been filled in. I have planned all of my activities in blue pen at the start of my project and then revisited my plans in red pen throughout. In the notes section, i have included specific detail about my plans and progress as well as helpful resources. I have also used the spare rows to add in my own tasks...

Topic: The Mt Vesuvius eruption in the year 79 AD
Planned Date Finished	Actual Date Finished	Task	Notes
28 July	25th July	Research	Go to the library in holidays, look for books as well as use the computer at the library – ask Mum to take me. Will need to go at least twice. We went! Thanks Mum!       http://geology.com/volcanoes/vesuvius, and “Vesuvius the Buried Treasure” – great resources!
26 July	-	Ask my cousin for advice	When I go to stay at my cousins house at the end of the holidays, make sure I ask her about what i should include in my speech and how i should write it – get some tips! Didnt end up going to stay at her house – stink! Will try and phone her next week
4th August	3rd August	Speech Writing	Use the weekend to finish – make sure its finished by MONDAY 4th! DONE! Feels great that I am finished writing my speech!
6th August	6th August	Write onto  speech cards	Make sure I take card from school home. Make sure i write only bullet points on cards! Not like last year!!! Done! I am really happy with my speech cards – they are clear and concise!
13th August	Ongoing...	Practice	Read through speech each night – once from my full refill copy and once from my speech cards... See if i can improve each night!!! I dont think I have been practicing enough!!! Must do more!
13th August	15th August	Find visual aids to use in my speech	Ring up my cousin and ask her for ideas on what i could include as ‘visual aids’ She gave me a great website to check out www.visualaidsforspeeches.com Found great images and have baking soda and vinegar ready!
18th August	Ongoing...	Practice	Work on my body gestures and changing the way i talk to suit the speech content. Keep on practicing my speech, maybe once in the morning and twice at night.
20th AUGUST		PRESENT

Forces of Nature Project Sheet

FORCES OF NATURE PROJECT

DUE: 20^th August 2013

This project is focused on our current Inquiry unit - Forces of Nature. At school our two classes (Pūkeko and Kākāpō) will be working on a range of topics from thunder and lightning to cloud formation and earthquakes. This project will be presented in the form of a speech. You are to conduct your own research and plan your work under your own headings. Your speech is to be between 2 min 30 sec and 3 minutes long.

This project is to be focused on either:

·      A single natural event (eg: Boxing Day Tsunami, 1931 Napier Earthquake, Haiti 2010 Earthquake, Hurricane Katrina,)

·      A specific feature of our natural world (eg: Pink and White Terraces, Minerals, Southern Lights Aurora Australis).

The project is not to be based on a topic that we have been working on in class.

You will be assessed on your ability to:

·      Research effectively, providing an interesting topic and informative content

·      Write an effective speech that is well structured (introduces key ideas early, repeats key messages, has a good flow of ideas) and has a balance of facts, comments, specific and global details, opinion and reflection.

·      Use language features / presentation aids to capture and retain the audiences attention

(language features of rhyme, metaphor, simile, hyperbole and more!)

·      Use an appropriate and engaging tone with variation of pace (including hesitations, pauses, silences), volume and emphasis as well as facial and body language.

You are being given this project before the holidays – currently you have 5 weeks to prepare your speech. It is advisable to get started on your research in the holidays – if you have any questions over the holidays you can email me and I will get back asap (chris@sacredheartpetone.school.nz). I will be checking in with each student at the end of Week 1 (Friday 2^nd August) to make sure that sufficient progress is being made.

There will be information, links and small videos going online at www.mrtheobald.blogspot.com to give you more information about what you need to do to achieve well in this project.

Again, I will encourage all students to use the time before school from 8:30-9:00 to work on their projects for the first three weeks of Term 3. You can utilize resources that we have at school – netbooks, paper for making speech cards, library etc.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR QUERIES PLEASE ASK FOR HELP NOW!!!

Topic:
Planned Date Finished	Actual Date Finished	Task	Notes
		Research
		Speech Writing
		Practice
		Practice
20th AUGUST		PRESENT