Bells 3, 5, & 7 (Core): Any I.R.P.s you turn in will be graded as extra credit.
You may earn up to one hundred points (which equals one whole letter grade) of extra
credit in this way.
Bell 4 (Advanced): You must do a minimum of FIVE I.R.P.s to pass for the 9 weeks.
Any over 5 will be counted as extra credit. You may earn up to one hundred points
(which equals one whole letter grade) of extra credit in this way. You and your parents
must sign below to acknowledge understanding of the assignment.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Bell 4 English student's signature parent's signature
All bells: Limit of 3 art projects per student. ALL NON-ART PROJECTS MUST HAVE THE
REAL DEAL HONOR PLEDGE WRITTEN OUT IN FULL ON THEM (I pledge I neither gave nor received
unauthorized help on this project); TYPED/WORD PROCESSED WORK IS ALSO TO BE ACCOMPANIED
BY AN HONOR PLEDGE SIGNED BY STUDENT AND PARENT(I pledge I did all the typing/word
processing on this report myself) IN ORDER TO RECEIVE BONUS POINTS. Reports MUST
have a title page (showing title, pledge(s), name, date, class, bell, and teacher)
and a bibliography of sources in addition to the body of the report. Follow the bibliography
style shown on the bibliography handout I gave you that is supposed to be the third
thing in the front of your English notebook. You MUST use more than one published
source for reports. Write reports in your own words from the notes you take on your
sources - no credit if you plagiarize a source. Do NOT include blank sheets of paper.
Folders are unnecessary as these papers will be filed in your writing portfolio;
just staple the pages of your report together neatly in the upper left hand corner.
All research is to be done outside of class. I have some reference materials available
in my room for student use before school from 7:50 a.m. until 8:30 a.m.; otherwise,
plan to visit the school and/or public library. You must have the written consent
of your parents BEFORE viewing any video to review it for me; include this written
consent with your review, or you will not receive credit. Video reviews should also
include video copyright information, a list of acting and directing credits, a plot
summary, and a critique. You must have the written consent of your parents BEFORE
reading any book to review it for me; include this written consent with your review,
or you will not receive credit. Book reviews should also include publishing information,
a plot summary, and a critique. I'll give quality points only for quality work. Follow
directions, or you forfeit any and all points.
All assignments must be handed directly to me by 3:00 p.m. June 5th, carved in stone
- NO EXCEPTIONS!!! Being absent the day projects are due DOES NOT RESULT IN A LATER
DUE DATE!!! I do not give partial credit for late work - I do not even accept late
work!!! Feel free to turn projects in earlier, however; I would appreciate greatly
not being inundated with things to grade at the last minute, and I will thus reward
early submissions with liberal points!!! I may display, read, play, or otherwise
share with my classes those projects I consider exceptionally well done!
1. Make a hanging mobile of planets in our solar system. Color them appropriately.
On one side of each planet, place a label with the name. On the other, put a neatly
written or typed (preferably) reasonable explanation of why you think scientists
chose that particular name for that planet.
2. Investigate how all our 12 months were named. Type up a brief paragraph about
what each was named for.
3. Make an attractive chart of the 12 signs of the zodiac. For each sign, include
on the chart information about what the sign comes from.
Zeus/Jupiter's most famous affairs (Io, Callisto, Leto, Europa, Leda, Danae, Semele,
etc.!)
5. Research flowers in mythology. Do illustrations with summaries of the myths neatly
placed beneath. Some examples: Adonis, Hyacinthus, Clytie, Narcissus.
6. Write a report on ancient Greek government (city/states, democracy, etc.) or ancient
Roman government (emperors, senate, etc.).
7. Write a report on the history of ancient Greece (rise, fall, etc.) or ancient
Rome (Romulus & Remus, the triumvirates, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire,
etc.).
8. Make a phobia chart of at least 10 phobias and their etymologies.
9. Make a model of a Greek amphitheater or Roman colleseum.
10. Research how constellations were named (for example, Ursa Major and Minor, Orion,
Andromeda, Cassiopeia, etc.). Do illustrations with summaries of the myths placed
neatly below.
11. Write a report on the origins of the Olympics.
12. Research monsters and other mythical creatures. Do illustrations with descriptions
below. Examples: Scylla, Charybdis, Sphinx, Pegasus, Chimaera, Centaurs, Fauns, Nymphs,
Griffin, Cyclopes, Centimani, Typhon, Python, Minotaur, Phoenix, Basilisk/Cockatrice,
Unicorn, Harpies, Sirens, Gorgons.
13. Write a paper on the 4 Ages of Man (Golden, Silver, Bronze, Iron).
14. Scientific elements are often given mythological names. Research some such elements
and explain why their names were chosen (for example, helium, mercury, neptunium,
plutonium, selenium, uranium).
15. Write an interview with characters from mythology. For their replies to your
questions, use sections of lyrics from popular songs. Tape record this interview
using your voice asking the questions and excerpts from the actual songs for the
replies. You may collaborate on this. Introduce yourselves by your full name, class,
and bell at the beginning of the tape.
16. Research Roman and/or Greek architecture. Do a report with pictures. (for example,
what do doric, ionic, and corinthian mean?)
17. Research frescoes and friezes. Do your own mini-mural in this ancient style about
some mythological subject to hang in class.
18. Research mosaics. Do an attractive one about some mythological subject to display
in class.
19. Do a report on ancient Greek or Roman family life. Talk about what their houses
were like, what they ate, what they wore, what they did, etc.
20. Research Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii. Replicate the volcano and city with a model
to display in class.
21. Research Roman engineering and plumbing. Write a report. Talk about aqueducts,
public baths, etc.
22. Research the Roman catacombs, or cities of the dead. Write a report.
23. Research the Roman chariot races. Do a report and/or poster advertising a pretend
chariot race contest. Think about what modern sport(s) this is like. How? How are
they different?
24. Research the Roman gladiatorial contests. Do a report and/or a poster advertising
a pretend gladiatorial contest. Think about what modern sport(s) this is like. How?
How are they different?
25. Rent an old movie about ancient times (like Sparticus or Ben Hur). Watch it and
then write a review. Tell if you liked it and why or why not. Also tell what you
learned about ancient times from it.
26. Make a model of the Trojan Horse.
27. Construct a lifesize bust of Pallas Athena (with helmet!) from clay or paper
mache to sit on the column in the back of class. (MUCHO points for the winner!)
28. Make a large chart of the family tree of the gods or a heroic family from mythology.
29. Investigate how the days of the week were named. Type up a brief paragraph about
what each was named for.
30. Make a collage of product labels or pictures or advertisements alluding to classical
mythology.
31. Make a timeline of significant events in ancient Greece or ancient Rome. Suggested
markers: deaths, births, or rules of political leaders, wars, inventions, births
or deaths of important authors/philosophers/artists, when important pieces of literature
were written or of art were made, natural disasters, etc. Mark at least 10 significant
dates on your timeline.
32. Read and write a review of a play by Euripides, Sophocles, or any other ancient
author. Tell what happens in the play, what characters had interesting or important
things to say, and if you liked the play or not.