QUEST Projects

One of the last big things of the school year is the QUEST research projects.  QUEST is our school's gifted and talented program.  Personal opinions about the particulars of the program aside, the boys really enjoy it. While I'm not certain that they are learning much, they do get an opportunity to practice giving an oral presentation and an early start into the kinds of projects that will dog them throughout their entire school career.  In any case, both boys did a great job this year and I am very proud of them.  Speaking in front of a group is almost more than I can bare so I avoid it at all costs.  To see them do their projects so eagerly and speak so well touches my heart.

The third graders researched countries. Alex chose Haiti - for obvious reasons. Most kids made a typical tri-fold display for their projects, Alex opted to make a "photo box", which was really more like a big diorama.

First graders researched marsupials this year. Ben's project was on the tasmanian devil.  I had no idea that the tasmanian devil was a marsupial - see, even I learned something!  Anyway, again, he did a fabulous job.  Again, he bucked the trend and his project ended up being in a different form from the other first graders.  First graders were given a big piece of poster board to make a "lap book".  Ben was the only first grader who chose not to set his up in the infamous tri-fold fashion.  Rather, he made it a true "lap book".  It was hard not to do the entire project on the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil, but we resisted the urge and instead just included a few pics of Taz in his presentation.

So that's QUEST this year.  One more thing to cross off the list as we limp across the finish line.