Body Biology Project

Project Description

Explore a rigorous interdisciplinary capstone project called the Body Biology Project. In this project, students design and implement their own investigation based on one or more body systems. To begin, students choose variables, design a data collection system, and write a purpose, procedure, and hypothesis. After collecting the data over the course of six weeks, students determine and apply appropriate data analysis techniques and draw conclusions about their data. After conducting research on the body system(s) relevant to their investigation, students synthesize their conclusions with their research to explain what happened to their own bodies over the course of the investigation. This project aligns closely to Next Generation Science Standards, and Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts. The Body Biology Project promotes teacher collaboration, technology integration and can be adapted to accommodate a variety of time frames and learning needs.

How will the project be evaluated (e.g. how will you gauge its success)

Students will be evaluated in the following classes:

Art: Students will be graded on the artistic piece they create. Rubric asks students use a medium they have learned from their 3 years here. It asks students show effort and creativity as well as clear intent. Students also need to show a clear relationship between the art piece and the body systems they are studying.

Science: Students are graded using a rubric on the purpose, hypothesis, procedure and analysis of the project. Students must use similar lab set up from the year as well as follow all grammatical and spelling techniques learned in ELA from all 3 years.

Math: Students will be evaluated using a rubric on the data, data analysis and conclusion portions of the project. Here students must have a detailed graphs and explanations of all trends and outliers and clusters. Students must be able to describe and interpret the data using linear and/ or quadratic equations to support or refute their hypothesis.

Students must complete a reflection after the project is finished.

Students will add this to the final 3 year portfolio for the school as well as the final online science portfolio created for the year.

Students will host a science fair for the outside community as well as lower grades in the school. Students are asked a series of questions and graded on a presentation scale by their peers.

Benefit to the students and the school

This project befits the school in many ways. It is truly interdisciplinary and project based learning. This project allows students to put into action all the lab, data analysis, formal writing and research skills they have learned and practiced all year. It is also a nice project for students to show off their interests through the art choice and the topic they are researching.

This project has been shared with teachers from all over the country. In March of 2015, we were chosen to present this project at the National Science Teachers Association national convention in Chicago. We have since been in contact with teachers from our presentation, helping them to integrate this project into their classrooms. We have been asked to submit this project for presentation again at the 2016 national science conference. We anticipate hearing back between October 6th-October 20th. It is part of our school mission to disseminate good teaching practices.

Timeline of Project (when will you do the project, if applicable)

This project begins in February. Students will choose and write a purpose and hypothesis for this project. Students will also create and develop a data recording sheet.

In March students will write a procedure for their project and begin to take data.

In April and May students will begin to analyze their data and begin research on body systems. Students will also begin the art portion of the project.

In June students will share their projects with the outside and school community here at the school. They will reflect on this project and add it to both the 3 year and science portfolios.