By Becky Seemann
10th grade US History teacher
This week all of our sophomores are dedicating time to researching their personal projects. Personal Project is an IB program component that all sophomores are required to complete. The purpose of this project is to give students the planning, research, and development skills they will need throughout college and their future careers. The fun part about it is that students can choose to research any topic their heart desires! It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to show their creative side and express their personal goals in an academic format. These project and topics vary from student to student. Here are some examples of just how unique our sophomore’s goals are:
to learn sneaker restoration techniques, and restore a pair of old sneakers.
to create an original comic book, in print and possible digital formats.
to find a way to make nail polish from cheap and easily accessible materials.
to create candles using a variety of wax types to determine which ones burn longer.
to write a report on Chicago homicide rates and possible preventatives.
to learn how to cook 3-4 recipes of Italian food in order to create a full dinner for friends.
As you can see the student can pick literally any topic that interests them as long as there is a research component to show that they are learning something new!