Project Description:
A group of Health & Physical Education students from Egg Harbor Township High School who are in good academic standing, are active in extracurricular activities, and/or possess leadership qualities go to PleasanTech Academy to inform 8th graders of the high school experience. The PleasanTech students ask questions that concern them, and E.H.T. students and faculty members give detailed answers. The topics that are discussed include athletics and extracurricular activities, academics, applying to colleges, vocational options, and school rules and regulations. The assembly better prepares the PleasanTech students for their forthcoming high school experience; many will attend Egg Harbor Township H.S. or a similar school that is in the same district.
Easing the Transition to High School |
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By: Robert Dutches
Teaching Team:
Karen Semet
Joel Chisholm
School:
Egg Harbor Township H.S.
Grade Levels: 9-12
Academic Focus/
Core Curriculum Standards:
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education: 2.1, 2.2
Language Arts Literacy: 3.3, 3.4
Social Studies: 6.1, 6.2
Consumer, Family & Life Skills: 9.2A, 9.2B, 9.2C, 9.2D
Core Ethical Values:
Caring; Empathy; Civic-mindedness; Respect
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Project Description:
A group of Health & Physical Education students from Egg Harbor Township High School who are in good academic standing, are active in extracurricular activities, and/or possess leadership qualities go to PleasanTech Academy to inform 8th graders of the high school experience. The PleasanTech students ask questions that concern them, and E.H.T. students and faculty members give detailed answers. The topics that are discussed include athletics and extracurricular activities, academics, applying to colleges, vocational options, and school rules and regulations. The assembly better prepares the PleasanTech students for their forthcoming high school experience; many will attend Egg Harbor Township H.S. or a similar school that is in the same district.
Target Audience:
8th graders at PleasanTech Academy
Timeline:
One day
Project Scheduling:
During class time
Equipment Needed:
Transportation to PleasanTech Academy, matching T-shirts
Academic Focus:
Comprehensive Health and Phys. Ed.: E.H.T. students strengthen their leadership skills by answering pressing questions from the PleasanTech 8th grade class. The high school students give informative and positive answers that promote good behavior and an active role in academics and extracurricular activities.
Language Arts Literacy: After participating in a question and answer panel that involves a large audience, the nine high school students will build confidence and gain experience in their speaking and listening skills.
Social Studies: The act of advising younger students generates a sense of civic duty for the E.H.T. students that can carry over to their peers and community.
Consumer, Family, & Life Skills: The high school students employ critical thinking, self-management, and interpersonal communication when they have to give impromptu answers to questions from the 8th graders.
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Hurdles Encountered:
Hurdles
8th graders may ask questions in which the E.H.T. students won’t have the answers.
Solution
The panel will consist of a group of students that differ in age, cultural background, educational interests, and afterschool activities to ensure that all aspects of high school are covered by the E.H.T. students.
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Educational Strategies:
Performance-based Education
Every academic element of the project is related to the performance of the student panel at the assembly.
Cooperative Learning
Multiple students answer questions to give different perspectives and experiences that they have had, giving the 8th graders a well-rounded analysis of their inquiries.
Interdisciplinary Approach
The project incorporates leadership and communication skills, as well as civics, in order to enhance the life and language arts skills of the E.H.T. students while giving the PleasanTech students an educational assembly.
Personal Growth Outcomes:
Students learn to care and empathize with students who will experience the same thing that they went through at the beginning of their freshman year of high school. Respect and civic-mindedness is fortified when the elder students take a pro-active role in the lives of younger students.
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Celebration: Students receive the sweat shirt and a certificate.
Recognition: Media coverage of the event
Key Findings: Very positive feedback from both the EHT seniors & the PleasanTech students who expressed a greater resolve to succeed in high school.
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Community Involvement:
Parents and Volunteer Involvement:
Teachers and administrators at PleasanTech also pose questions to the high school students. This provides a different line of inquiry and important information that educators believe the 8th graders should know.
Reflection Activities: (Link with core ethical values)
The teachers that accompanied the high school students will discuss the experience with them after the project is finished.
Means of Assessment: A reflective discussion follows the assembly in which the EHT students assess their performance and suggest ways of improvement.
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