Leafing through the Past
In their capstone project, 9th graders write a book length biography of some important elder in their lives. They work throughout the year to interview the subject and others and write and bind their book. During the whole process teachers, who are assigned no more than 5 students, accompany the students by providing feedback and encouragement. At a formal event, students make a museum of artifacts of that person’s life, read an excerpt from their book, discuss their process of becoming a novice author and present the book to the subject. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings attend to support the students.