The Culminating Project

The Culminating Project provides students with opportunities to connect school to life outside of the school.  Students choose projects that connect to vocational, academic, community service, and/or cultural interests.  These projects are the basis for students to refine and demonstrate the skills they have gained in school while pursuing personal interests.  Students maintain learning logs and make formal presentations about their project.  Staff will use a common checklist or rubric to review each component of the Culminating Project to ensure that it meets CKSD standards.

Components of the Culminating Project

  1. A proposal that includes:
    1. The topic and how it relates to the student's personal, community service, career, cultural or academic interest (The CKSD portfolio may assist students in identifying possible areas of interest);
    2. The stated goal of the project;
    3. Major steps to be completed;
    4. Identification of outside consultant;
    5. A proposed timeline for completion;
    6. The estimated costs;
    7. Parent approval; and
    8. School approval.*
  2. Presentation of the project.  Staff and/or community using a common rubric will evaluate the presentation.
  3. Reflective paper that is completed at the end of the project and placed into the student's High School and Beyond Portfolio.  The paper is evaluated using a common district rubric.
  4. Project documentation will be placed in the student's High School and Beyond Portfolio and will include:
    1. A bibliography/annotated bibliography (if applicable) of research completed
      (if applicable)
    2. A learning log;
    3. Artifacts of the project that document the work completed (if artifacts are too large photos may be included); and
    4. A reflective paper.

What are the Goals of the Culminating Project?

The project must accomplish the following:

  • networking in the community outside of the school (advisors, agencies, business)
     
  • exploring an interest that connects to a student's future
     
  • applying academic learning to a vocational, academic, or community interest
     
  • extending learning in a way that classroom instruction cannot

Restrictions

Note:  Activities deemed high risk may not be included in culminating projects unless prior approval is granted.  A list of high risk activities are:

  • No on-the-water/underwater projects (canoeing, kayaking, powerboat racing, water-skiing, jet skiing, white water raft trips, rafting, shark chumming, scuba-diving, etc.).
  • No above-the-ground projects (bungee-jumping, skydiving, hang-gliding, helicopter or plane-flying, hot air ballooning, etc).
  • No mountain climbing, spelunking, rappelling, extreme snowboarding or skiing.
  • No in-line skating, skateboarding or bicycling.
  • No weapons or the making of weapons.
  • No racing of any motorized vehicle (auto racing, car bashes, soapbox races, stunting, tractor pulls, etc.)
  • No paint-balling.
  • No athletic camps unless you have a CKSD coach willing to be an advisor--extra insurance needed.
  • No cheer/drill competitions.
  • No dog training projects.
  • No tattooing/body piercing.