Habits of Mind Foundation Memorial Competition

The Habits of Mind Foundation promotes intelligent behaviors that help all of us be successful in life. Each year, the foundation sponsors a design competition for a memorial that honors an exemplar American and highlights his/her practice of Habits of Mind.

We will focus on the following habits.  Click on the graphic for more detail.

		PERSISTENCE : Persevering on a task even though the resolution is not immediately known.
		LISTENING WITH UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY:  Actively listen.  Focus on the speaker.
		FLEXIBLE THINKING: Changing perspectives, generating new alternatives, considering opinions.  Look at it another way!
		APPLYING PAST KNOWLEDGE TO NEW SITUATIONS:  Make Connections to previous experience and learning.
		THINKING AND COMMUNICATING WITH CLARITY:  Striving for accurate communication in written and oral form.
		QUESTIONING AND POSING PROBLEMS: Having questioning attitude. Developing strategies to produce needed data.  Finding problems to solve.  How do you know?
		CREATING, IMAGINING, INNOVATING: Generating new and novel ideas; fluency, originality.  Try a different way!

Your job is to persuade the Foundation Committee to provide funds to construct a memorial of your design.  You will write a powerfully persuasive letter, design a thoughtful memorial, create a Power Point, and make an oral presentation.

Handouts: Possible Subjects, Topic Selection,  Task, Mini-Posters
 

Show your understanding of an exemplar American and how he/she demonstrated Habits of Mind. 

Demonstrate research skills.

Demonstrate persuasive writing skills.

Demonstrate creativity in design.

Demonstrate MS Word and PowerPoint Skills.

Demonstrate oral presentation skills.
 

Part 1 Research

Consult the list of Possible Subjects.  Choose three subjects.  Complete the Topic Selection form and submit it to your teacher. 

Use sources listed on the Research Page. 

Complete the graphic organizers. 

Remember to cite your sources.

Reflect upon your research and identify examples that demonstrate at least three Habits of Mind.

Handouts:  Note Sheet, Works Cited Worksheet, Assessment 
 

Part 2 Nomination Letter

  Write a persuasive letter nominating your subject for a memorial.

How is ________________ an exemplar _________________ (statesman, innovator, reformer, explorer, or artist) ?

How did _______________ demonstrate Habits of Mind? (use at least three)

Submit:  Two copies of your letter, two copies of your works cited page, completed note sheet, search strategy worksheet, works cited worksheet, completed self assessment for research component.

Handouts:  Graphic Organizer for Letter, Assessment
 

Part 3 Develop a Design Concept for a Memorial

Click here to see samples of memorials

Select a location for your memorial.

Create a design.  You may make a sketch or model.

Handouts:  Memorial Design Worksheet
 

Part 4 Create a Power Point About Your Design

Slide requirements:

Title
Brief introduction (who was he/she?)
Why is your subject an exemplar?
Location
Symbolism
Reveal Design

Handouts:  Graphic Organizer for Power Point,  Instructions, Assessment

Part 5 Oral Presentation

Handouts:  Assessment, Ballot, Total Points Sheet

Consult the cart of books that have been pulled for this project.

Research Page

Search the Internet.  Be selective!  Be sure to record author or organization. 

Costa, Arthur. Habits of Mind. 16 Dec. 2000. 15 Mar. 2007 <http://www.habits-of-mind.net/>.  Concept, quotes, graphics.

Task Development Team: Cheryl Beatty, Kate Fitzpatrick, Debbie Jones, Justin Tomczyk, and Jen Vilenski.

 

Models

PT Barnum
MLK
George Washington Carver

 

links for 2013 assessments
Letter organizer

Letter assessment