A project menu is list of tiered assignments that can be used to differentiate your classroom. In this activity, the teacher allows the student to choose what project they would like to work on. The assignments are based on level of challenge. Some activities are more basic and call on knowledge comprehension and application levels of Bloom's taxonomy. Other project ideas are more difficult and focus on analysis, evaluation or synthesis of the content information. 

This project menu can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used as a "wrap up" to the curriculum unit. It can be used in combination with the other activities as time permits for students to work on as they finish other assignments. 

Teacher Note: The teacher can decide how to incorporate the project menu. Projects in the first row of the menu are based on more basic knowledge while those in the second row are more difficult. The teacher may wish to assign two projects from the first level and one from the second level. It is totally up to the discretion of the teacher. You may also want to develop grading rubrics prior to assigning the projects so that students know what is expected of them. Different projects take different amounts of time.

Objectives

• Students will demonstrate their understanding of the conditions striped bass larvae encounter by writing a story
• Students will describe the life stages of striped bass by writing a song or rap
• Students will discover commercial and recreational fishing laws of striped bass
• Students will compare and contract fishing gear before and after World War II
• Students will predict the Young of Year juvenile striped bass population based on historical data
• Students will develop a skit to demonstrate their learning about the food web members of the ETM nursery area

Materials

• Project Menu
• Teacher-made scoring rubrics
• Computer access

Procedure

1. This is a list of tiered assignments that can be used to extend the students knowledge.   
2. Allow the student to choose what they would like to work on.   
3. Some activities are more basic, while some are more challenging. They are based on Bloom’s Taxonomy.  
4. See summary of lesson for more details.
5. Once students have chosen their projects, develop timelines and rubrics for scoring.

National Science Education Standards

9-12 Science as Inquiry

• Understandings about scientific inquiry

9-12 C: Life Science

• Interdependence of organisms 
• Matter, energy, and organization in living systems 
• Behavior of organisms 

9-12 E: Science and Technology

• Understandings about science and technology 

9-12 F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

• Population growth 
• Natural resources 
• Environmental quality 
• Natural and human induced hazards 
• Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges 

 9-12 G: History and Nature of Science

• Science as a human endeavor 
• Nature of scientific knowledge 
• Historical perspectives

Lesson Resources

Project Menu