One of the basic elements of the GFA experience is our emphasis on research. With the huge expansion of information at the disposal of our students it is critical to give them the tools necessary to distinguish the quality of the material that they are presented with. It is our goal to teach students basic research skills during their middle school years and then give the students the opportunity to use those skills to learn more about topics that they are passionate about. We do this through a systematic approach with these skills being taught in the core academic classes, specific research seminars in seventh and eighth grades, and then culminating with extensive science research opportunities and the Capstone project in eighth grade.
Research Papers
Basic research techniques are taught starting in sixth grade in a student’s history class. During sixth grade, learning the foundational aspects of research is the primary focus of the curriculum. Students conduct a variety of research projects during the year where they learn to distinguish between different types of research materials. Students learn how to write note cards, outline material, and then write a paper, and develop a Bibliography. In seventh grade, these skills are built upon as the students are introduced to using and defending a thesis statement and attributing their research through the use of footnotes.
Research Seminars:
In seventh and eighth grades, students take a weekly research seminar for a third of the year. Taught by the Director of Information Services in coordination with their core academic classes, students during these seminars learn to use different research tools and develop a greater familiarity with both library and technological resources.
Science Projects
Starting in sixth grade, students conduct research at a variety of different levels. Science labs are a major component of every science class. Students learn to use scientific equipment to gather and analyze data, including questions of bias and data error. In sixth grade, all students select a product to test. They design and conduct original scientific tests on a consumer item. In seventh and eighth grade students have the option to design and conduct their own experiments using the environment of the school. These projects culminate in a school wide science Exposition where students can present their work.
Capstone Project
One of the hallmarks of the Greens Farms Academy Middle School is the Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is designed as an opportunity for the students to become passionate about a particular topic and to use the learned research skills from their other classes. Eighth grade students spend the year researching a topic of his or her choosing under the guidance of a Mentor teacher during their double period weekly Capstone class. The students finish a formal research paper during the first half of the year complete with note card checks, outlines and a graded rough draft as part of the process. After the completion of the research paper, students spend the second semester working on their individual creative piece as each student has the opportunity to come up with a creative demonstration of his or her research material. In addition, students use technology as a way of creating an engaging demonstration of their topic. The project culminates with the Capstone Symposium Day when there are no classes that day as the eighth graders teach the sixth and seventh graders about the topics that they have studied.