INQUIRY TOPICS & THEMES

FOCUSING YOUR RESEARCH

• How will I orally present my topic? How should I organize those ideas?

• What will my visual presentation be? What kind of help or materials will I need to build it?

• How will my poster presentation look? What information should be on there?

IMPORTANT DATES!!!

• April 27th (Monday) — In-class presentations

• April 28th (Tuesday) — In-class presentations

• April 29th (Wednesday) - Renaissance Fair

DA VINCI JOURNALS:WEEK 1 CHECK-IN

• Make the connection to the Renaissance very clear.

• More notes in the journals.

• Poster boards —> point form if necessary

• Multiple projects about flying machines, crossbows, and catapults/trebuchet.

• Think about framing your topic into a question.

EXAMPLES OF TOPIC QUESTIONS:

• “How did warfare change during the period of the Renaissance?”

• “How did the new art techniques reflect the ideals of Humanism?”

• “In what ways was music transformed by the Renaissance?”

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHILE YOU WORK TODAY:

• If your topic is similar to another’s find a way to make it different. Change your focus or be willing to alter your project.

• Think about your resources and where you are getting your information from. Start noting down in your journal websites, books, videos, and other sources of information. You will need this information for your eventual Works Cited page.

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 1

Answer the following questions in a paragraph format.

• “What is your topic and what interests you about it?”

• “What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you? (the model, the speech, the poster, research, planning, etc?”)

• “Why?”

• “What is your plan for solving the challenge?”

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 2

• “What was your biggest success from today?”

• “Did anything go wrong? What can you do differently tomorrow?

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 3

Answer the following questions in a paragraph format.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE TWO TOPICS TO WRITE ABOUT:

1) If your project is from a similar theme or topic as others have you made sure to differentiate it from theirs? If not, what is your plan for making your project different and unique?

2) What is a good resource you have been using? What were its strengths? Do you think it is a reliable source? How has it helped your project?

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 4

Please answer both questions in a paragraph format.

•After seeing your self-assessment is there anything you will do differently this week?• Have you made sure to connect your topic to the Renaissance in a clear way? If not, how will you do that?

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 5

Please answer the questions in a paragraph format.

• Provide a sketch of your posterboard, detailing the layout of your headings, maps, images, artifacts, etc.

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 6

• Provide a sketch of your 3D visual. Discuss materials used and give an estimation of dimensions (what size is it?)

• Do you prefer Inquiry projects as a way to learn about topics like “The Renaissance?” Why or Why not?

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 7

Please answer the questions in a paragraph format.

• Looking at the Rubric what are your goals and what area do you feel most confident about? What areas might you struggle in? What can you do to get “fully meeting expectations” in the area that challenges you?

DA VINCI JOURNAL - DAY 7

• What did you gain from participating in this Renaissance Inquiry? Is there something that you will take away from this experience? Did you learn something new or did you enjoy the process of exploring your topic? Did you dislike this process?

RENAISSANCE FAIR CHECKLIST

1. Project Poster with Works Cited page

2. 3D Model or

Visual

3. Speech Typed & Prepared(1-2 min)

4. Completed Da Vinci Journal