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Student
Portfolios as Visual Organizers
for Journey North
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Time
1 period
Materials
11
x 17 inch paper (for the folder)
8.5
x 11 inch paper
scissors
glue
2”
wide clear packing tape |
Background
A new Journey
North season brings lots of excitement. You gather information, send
in field observations, study maps, calculate migration distances, and
research topics of special interest. All these activities are rich
learning experiences. The challenge is how to organize this vast amount
information to show what you know. A creative project portfolio is one
answer!
Easy-to-make
Project Portfolios
Create a 9 X 12 project portfolio to collect, record, and display qualitative
and quantitative observations, life cycle studies, weather information,
maps, research findings, and
more — all in one convenient, creative, easy-to-handle package.
Start from day one of a new season of Journey North. At the
end of the season, the portfolio showcases all the student's work.
Or, gather all you have done and display it together in this showcase
display!
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"Shutter" fold
student portfolio |
Self-contained
organizer makes a simple and complete display |
Directions
for Jacket and Component Pages
A.
Begin with an 11 x 17 sheet of paper. This will be the portfolio
jacket. First, make a “shutter”* fold:
- Lay paper
horizontally in front of you.
- Bend
the outer edges of the paper inward to ALMOST meet in the center; firmly
press the folds. (It's helpful to leave a space of about 1/4-1/2 inch
between the two halves to accommodate the expansion of the folder as
materials are added.)
B.
Next, build components to use as the project expands:
- Fold
and then cut sheets of paper for journal entries into
halves and quarters.
- Use glue
sparingly. Even the youngest students can learn to add JUST
A DOT of glue to hold pages in place.
- Use clear
2-inch packing tape to reinforce important folds.
Technical
Notes
- Write
journal entries on quarter-sized sheets of copy or notebook paper
glued permanently to portfolio pages.
- Glue in
species life cycle information, migration maps, drawings, and diagrams.
- Fold
full-sized sheets into halves or quarters and glue them in on one
side. These can
be unfolded to present more detailed findings as more
in-depth research is done.
- Important
concepts ("big ideas") can become the cover topics.
- Inside
sufaces of the side panels can be used for notes, drawings,
or subtopics.
- You can
create a pocket for loose materials by taping or gluing an 8.5 x 11
sheet to 3 sides of the back of the portfolio and leaving the top edge
open for access.
Gathering
Portfolio Materials
The portfolio will hold your work throughout
the season. Its contents will allow you to show your
growth and understanding as the season unfolds. At the end, you
will have all important work together and assessment will be simplified.
(See Using Student Portfolios
for Assessment.) Here are some of the things portfolios might include:
- Journaling
Questions and responses
- Plans,
notes, and data from research and experiments
- Life
cycle information, characteristics, and migration maps
- Drawings,
diagrams, charts, graphs, and analysis of data
- Concept
maps or KWL charts
- Initial
predictions and revised predictions along with explanations for revisions
- Calculations
and "worksheets"
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Compact
investigations unfold into more detailed findings— |
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Celebrate
the Season’s Work
At the end of the Journey North season have a celebration. Display your
portfolios and invite others to learn about your experience!
*
"Shutter" fold term coined by Dinah
Zike
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