Parenting+Skills+Brochures

I use this project with my 8th grade students as they are carrying around their "egg babies" for a week.

I assigned different topics to each group of 2 students. Each group researches their topic using assigned web sites. (I find this is easier as they don't need to spend time searching for them.) Notes are taken in a Word doc. Correct citations must be used. They also look for a few appropriate graphics. I have also done the project where students took notes in the class wiki. This actually worked better because the notes were available if a member of the group was absent. I also took this part of the project and collaborated with the librarian (or it could be an English teacher) to reteach the students about good research and note taking skills.

Once the note taking phase is done the students then write the information into paragraphs in a Word doc. They split it up so they each do some typing. Again the docs are uploaded to the wiki for access.

Finally, the information is put into a trifold brochure. We use the Word program but Publisher works as well. The students were allowed to pick their own type of brochure (within reason) and they really appreciated not being told which one to use. The inside 3 panel spread is where they put their information. It's not a lot of space so their notes must be good and they need to practice summarization skills. On one of the other panels of the brochure I have students go through our local resource directory guide for the county. This gives them the opportunity to become acquainted with real life resources that are available to their families. Our school keeps a direct link to this guide so it is something they can take with them when they leave my class. The back center panel is where they put citations.

After the brochures are complete, each group reviews their brochure and comes up with 3 questions about the most important part of their information. These questions are made into a worksheet. The students present their brochure to the rest of the class. Because I do this with 2 classes, I videotape each presentation. Then the other class gets to view the videotaped presentations. As they watch the presentations they answer the questions on the worksheet. This gives them an incentive to pay attention.

I also worked with the college English teacher and she had her students edit the brochures. They were impressed with the quality of the work for 8th graders and it helped them a lot with their editing skills. My students then went back and did final revisions.

When the brochures are finished they are copied and donated to the family center downtown where they are available to the public.

This whole project took about 3 weeks to complete but it was worth it. The kids liked it and they learned a lot.





sample student brochure

student questions worksheet

Karen Farmelo Otto-Eldred Jr. Sr. High School kfarmelo@ottoeldred.org