Project

Proposal
Golnar Mostashari
A. Overview

My project is on sea levels rising and the effects of everyday actions minimizing the

effects, but the effects of it on everyday lives of citizens and wildlife. My sponsor is Mrs.

Duncan. My paper will be titled “A Rising Problem” and will cover the overarching topic of sea

level rising, and my specific topics: delving into the effects of it, the effects citizens have on it,

and what the government is doing to regulate it. I selected this topic because I am passionate

about the environment and the everyday things I can do to lessen my effects on climate change.

I think it is important for people to know how they can affect the oceans, and what the

government is doing for the environment. The several driving questions that pertain to my topic

are:

● What are minute tasks that people can implement in their everyday lives to lessen their

effects on rising sea levels?

● What environmental laws are put in place to minimize sea level rising?

● Can the government do anything more to regulate climate change?

● What is the effect of schools on pollution?

○ How can schools implement tasks to minimize their effects on pollution?

● How are the effects of sea level rise going to affect Virginia beach?

● How are the effects of sea level rise going to affect other parts of the United States?

● What causes the rising of sea levels?

○ Is there anything humans can do to combat it?

I will host an educational day for fifth graders and teachers at Kingston Elementary. For

the fifth graders, I will show them tasks they can do to minimize their effects on rising sea levels.

I will hold demonstrations and have stimulations for the fifth graders for them to see what
happens over time. One possible activity would be to provide the students with materials to

build “their” house, then show the effects of sea level rise over time, and possibly stimulate a

hurricane. For the teachers, I will hold an assembly, probably after school, to show them actions

they can do in the classroom and at home to minimize the effects of the school on rising sea

levels. During this day, to both the teachers and students, I will show a presentation showing

what the government is doing regarding sea levels rising. I plan to have it early on, so perhaps a

school day in early or middle of February, but it is essentially up to the schedule of the school.

The materials required for the fifth graders will include various art and office supplies. I will

need two different presentations, one for the students, and one for teachers. Other materials will

be determined as the project develops. The success of my project will be evaluated if the

students and teachers are learning and engaged and will take small steps to minimize their effects

of sea level rise, and are now more cognizant of what the government is doing.

B. Learning Targets, Growth Goals, and Skills

The skills that I will be learning throughout my project will include:

● How to effectively teach a class

○ This pertains to both the fifth graders and the teachers because I have to learn how

to keep an engaging class for two different sets of people

● How to write a creative lesson plan

○ That is engaging for the fifth graders

● Be able to make connections with members of my community

The skills that I will be enhancing throughout my project include:

● Public speaking

● Supervising kids
 ○ Having activities that are appropriate for their age

● Planning and organizing an event

The traits that I will work on throughout my project:

● Time management skills

● Patience

● Confidence in being able to put forth an event

C. Marketing Plan/ Facilities/ Audience

I will have two target audiences for my project: the fifth graders and the teachers. Fifth

graders are ideal because they can start leading a more environmentally conscious life, and they

will also comprehend what I will be teaching them. It is important to have these classes so the

students can learn environmentally friendly habits and see some of those habits reflected in the

classroom when the teachers are following some of the same habits. Living on a coast, it is

important to know the implications of everyday actions. The ideal venue is Kingston

Elementary because I went there, so I know a couple of the teachers there. Also, I have a close

bond with the Gifted Resource Teacher there, which might help to have a teacher in the school

that I could meet with to discuss the aspects of my project. However, any elementary or middle

school would work for my project. I need a group of young kids that will be susceptible to the

environmentally driven lesson.

D. Project Steps
 Preliminary ● Contact the venue, set the date and the classes I will be talking to
Steps on that date, make sure the cafeteria or other meeting space is free
that day after school so I could talk with the teachers.
● Start making the two lesson plans, brainstorm engaging mini-
projects that the kids can do, that also educate the kids. Start
sketching handouts or stickers that the students can take home and
the teachers can put up in their room.

Midway ● Contact students who would want to volunteer during my project.

Steps ○ Perhaps a volunteer to take pictures, a couple volunteers to
help out with the students
● Meet with an advisor and the teachers of the classrooms in the
school where the event is being held, discuss the lesson plans, my
ideas for activities to make sure the kids will respond well, and
other various topics related to the day of the project.
○ Buy or make the necessary materials for the project
● Get close to finalizing the agenda for the day.

Later Steps ● Run through the whole project

○ Make sure the lesson plans fit the audiences
○ Make sure I have the necessary materials

Follow up ● Make thank you notes for all the teachers and staff, the volunteers,
and my consultant.
● Perhaps have a follow-up session for the students to see if they are
using the methods they learned.

Total 20+

E. Project Documentation

To document the time I have worked on my project, I will use mostly pictures, a time log

signed off by my sponsor, and the blog. In addition to these, I will also use the receipts from the

places where I buy the materials for the activities for the students. I will include the rough and

final drafts of the flyers/stickers, and various screenshots, from email, text messages, and phone

conversations. When meeting with the teachers at the school, I will take notes on what they
suggest for their kids. Also, most of the lesson plans and powerpoint presentations will be

completed on Google Drive, which keeps a time log.

F. Project Justification

This project is not only challenging because I am stepping out of my comfort zone, but it

is also something I am passionate about. I will be immersing myself into this topic, which will

keep me interested and engaged. This is challenging for me because I don’t have experience

with children or with teaching a class, so I will need to work on my lesson plans to ensure they

will be engaged and so they are enthusiastically learning about this topic that impacts their

everyday lives. It will be intimidating to teach a room of adults and ask them to use the methods

I am teaching them in their everyday lives. The preliminary steps of the project will be the most

difficult for me because I will have to contact the school and hope they are willing to host my

project, and that their schedule works with the Senior Project schedule. Another challenge will

be to try to focus on the legal implications of sea levels rising. I do not want this project to

simply be with an environmental undertone; since it is a part of the Legal Studies Academy, I

will need to push myself to teach the kids about some of the environmental laws. This will be

challenging because I will need to make the legal aspect of my project be especially engaging

because I can imagine loosing some of the attention at this point, since they are young and might

not understand this wholly.

From this project, I hope to teach the kids small ways that they can help reduce their

impact on sea levels rising, or at least teach them how it is affecting their lives. For the teachers,

I want them to be positive, environmentally conscious role models for the children, so each day

at school, the kids are surrounded by teachers who are following steps to reduce their

environmental footprint. This project is important to me because I have always lived around a
coast, and currently, if no action is taken, the ecosystem and quality of life on the coast will

deplete. Thus, being from Virginia Beach, the students and teachers also have a big commitment

to their surroundings.

G. Project-Paper Connection

The research paper component of my Senior Project will mostly be based around the

regulations and laws put forth by the government regarding climate change and specifically,

rising sea levels. While there are some laws put in place regarding a topic like this, which I will

review in my paper, there are not enough laws governing the everyday citizen regarding a topic

like this, so I will be discussing the importance of making climate change and rising sea levels a

legal issue. My project will connect to my paper because I will be showing the kids and teachers

all of the effects of the lack of legislation. If the students are old enough, I will talk to them

about the legal side of the issue. For the teachers, I will be going over the legal basis to my

project. Also, my project is related to my paper because I will be showing the students and

teachers habits they can acquire to decrease their effect in climate change and the issue of rising

sea levels.

H. Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is presenting work that is yours; not copying or using another’s work

as your own. Plagiarism is illegally copying someone else’s work and using it as my own,

without citing them as a source. Academic dishonesty and plagiarism will not be tolerated.

Since Senior Project is mostly an individualized research paper and project, it is the

responsibility of the student to have integrity and be honest that all the work presented is your
own. I understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the project will result in

failure of the Senior Project and forfeiture of the Legal Studies Seal on my High School diploma.