What do the health effects of sugar; designing surfboards and the evolution of human flight have in common? They are all self-selected ideas that Grade 9 students at Island Pacific School are exploring for their Masterworks projects. Intergenerational mentorship is one of the great benefits of living and working on Bowen Island and once again IPS is seeking mentors from the community to support these students for the Masterworks Program.
Every year all Grade 9 students at Island Pacific School complete a compulsory Masterworks Project on a topic of personal interest to them. Students research their projects extensively, write an extended paper, and defend their work at a public presentation in June. For many students, Masterworks is the seminal academic remembrance of their middle school experience.
Community Call for External Advisory Masterworks Committee Members
Students are supported in the Masterworks process by an advisory committee that consists of one IPS faculty member and two external advisers. The advisory committee meets five times throughout the school year to review the student's work-in-progress and to offer suggestions, guidance, and support. Members of the advisory panel attend their student's presentation and public defense in June. Although every student submits a final paper relating to their topic of interest, the final product may take different forms, for example, a documentary film, an original composition, or the building of a boat. The school is now looking for external advisers to sit on the Advisory Committees. Please have a look at the trailer for our Masterworks video online here:www.youtube.com/embed/S0RX4TSg1Aw
The questions being asked by students this year are:
- Sugar and its effect on our health
- Girl’s Education - from awareness to change
- Car Design - then and now
- Design, building and testing of a surfboard
- Building a Community Bike Park
- Writing a Novella
- Forging a fantasy sword
- Design for Function: Project Backpack
- Comedy
- A photo documentary about global warming and it’s effects in BC
- Social Networking and Advertising
- How can cinematography portray the thrill of extreme sports?
- Interior Design
- Fly fishing
- Building a Bike Frame
- Designing and creating a Clothing Line
- The Evolution of Human Flight
- The Design of the TUI - Tangible User Interface
External advisers typically have either specific expertise or a keen general interest in the topic being investigated. If you (or someone you know) is interested in helping, please contact IPS teacher and Masterworks Program Coordinator Jennifer Henrichsen by email at [email protected].
Get to know us: For more about Island Pacific School, and the Masterworks Program, please visit our website at www.islandpacific.org.
