handbook

 ** Affinity Activity ** ** What ** An affinity is a natural interest or talent. It is something that you like to learn about because you want to, not because anyone says you must.
 * Crefeld 2009 **
 * is an affinity? **

Everyone has something that they are interested in. It could be something you like to do as much as possible, something you want to know more about or something that is new to you but you want to know more about. An affinity could be anything from curiosity about weather, photography, cars, learning to play the drums, hunger, or any other interest. When you choose your topic try to narrow your search from computers to what kind to the history of that kind. The examples above are starting topics which are later to be narrowed. If you choose something that cannot be put into detail like baking cakes then your project can be called, “Baking Cakes.”

** Who ** All interested Crefeld students will work on affinities during one round of activities, which is four weeks. If the students care to, they may continue their affinities through another round of activities or on their own time. (if it gains enough popularity) This individualized and creative learning experience is completely up to each student to design and implement. This packet contains information to make your project successful and as positive an experience as possible.
 * does affinities? **

** do we do affinities in school? ** ** The Purposes for Affinities are: ** ** The Goals for Affinities are: ** This quote is from Mel Levine who wrote __ All Kinds of Minds. __ ||
 * Why **
 * to mesh together your thinking, learning and discovery processes
 * to help you find and define your personal interests and strengths
 * to help you creatively and successfully expand your academic skills such as planning, combining ideas, and organization
 * to give you a chance to work on a project that is completely different from your regular school work
 * to discover your unique personal interests
 * to explore new information and delve deeper into yourself and your abilities
 * to promote your independence and self reliance
 * to help develop time management and organizational skills
 * Dr. Levine claims that he has never met a child who didn't have strengths. It's our job as parents and educators, he says, to figure out what those strengths are and develop them in our children; their strengths will lead to their success in life. "Success is like a vitamin," he says. "If you don't get enough of it growing up, you'll suffer a very severe deficiency that could have long-term impacts in your life."

** HOW ** ** The Process ** // For example: // · // Skateboarding: How to Learn New Tricks. // · // Photography: Paid Photography Contests. // · // Three Stooges: The History of Mo, Larry, and Curly. // · // Poi: A How-To. // · // Sailing: Sailing Around the Globe. // · // Cheerleading: Sport or Not? //
 * do I do an affinity? **
 * After identifying your possible choices, you will write your ideas in the back of this handbook. You can do electronic or handwritten. Brainstorm and write down as many ideas as you can. Free thinking is best; do not conform to structure. After doing this, talk over your ideas with your peers or mentors. Keep thinking and writing!
 * Decide on one topic and a likely **project title**.

**1- ****Brainstorm** ||
 * ** A Quick Summary: **
 * 2- ****Choose an idea**
 * 3- ****Give your idea a title**

** Organization ** ** Begin the Process: proposal, schedule, resources ** At the back of this handbook is some paper. Use it for everything! From drawings to notes, this is your most important tool. Keep any printouts stapled together and handed to me with your name on it. If you prefer, use your computer but make sure to keep track of what you are doing. Try to keep your research **organized and dated.** · Write a **proposal** for your affinity work. In it: What kind of project do you visualize upon completion? It’s completely alright if the result is different than what was first planned. **__Talk About__** what you think you’ll need…supplies, products, etc.
 * More How: **

Try to complete at least one main project in four weeks. If you need more time you may sign up for the next round of affinities (if popular).

** References ** · ** Make sure to write down all of your references. ** Try to make a page on the computer for it. This may seem boring but is a very important part of the project. · For PowerPoint projects make one slide for your references. · Examples of what the resource page may have are web addresses, titles of books or magazines, who you may have interviewed, what videos you might have watched and gathered your information from, etc.

“David is working on an architectural model of the new school building. During his project he visited an architectural studio to learn about model building from experts.” ** Things to Remember While Working On Your Project ** · Keep your mentor aware of how your project is going. If you need help, problems, etc. **This will make it easier.**
 * Suggestions and Reminders **

· Every so often ask your-self some questions. - Am I staying on track with my original plan? - Have I had any more ideas about how to do the project? - Do I have any problems that I need to tell my mentor?

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Remember that two results will come of doing a project 1) There will be a completed project that shows what you have learned from the resources you used 2) There will be a visionary outcome that reflects what you have done.

** Presenting ** Your presentation should have good decision-making and call attention for all degrees of the final project. For example, this could include a book, some charts, a model, a healthy plant; **it is really up to you.** Upon finishing the project, you have the option to show it to your activity classmates. Before completion be sure your work: <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· has a beginning and end <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· has been spell checked <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· has good grammar <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· has a resource section
 * Your Affinity Project **

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"> ** Intellectual Property: Who really made it? ** Do you have rights to your own ideas? If you can prove that your song, story, or invention for example is your original idea, for some time you have legal protection and without your permission another person cannot use your idea. You are the one who says if someone else can have a copy either by writing, copy-and-pasting, or photocopying. Your work is your //creative title.//
 * Give Credit to your Author **

When you research your topic: find as much as you can, and get what you find to be the most important, when you copy it either paraphrase, copy it exactly as it is written, but if you do that quote and cite your sources.

** How To Cite Sources ** The Bible, Mother Goose Rhymes and others also have some limitations on how you can use them: They are under the category of protected ideas. The publisher of the book or website owns what they offer you. If you follow the fair use concept, a regular rule, it will keep you out of trouble. Some things are in public domain, meaning you can use them and alter them but you still need to cite back to your sources
 * -For a book include the title, author or editor, date of publication, and publisher **
 * -For a web page write out the entire web address or copy paste it and make it into a page to put onto your project somehow **
 * - Magazines, pamphlets, catalogues, other published information, etc. must also be included in your project **
 * -If you are making something from scratch, and without resources, you should say where everything came from and who was involved in helping you **

Common knowledge differentiates between what is right and wrong. We get this knowledge from school, parents, synagogue, church, the list goes on..
 * Copying: what is the difference between fair use and stealing? **

Since research is done for education, we can use passages about chocolate, or clocks and you don’t have to ask the owners for permission. But it is important to get into the habit of citing the sources of information. For maximum benefit and trust within yourselves and your audience, (students, teachers) it’s the right thing to do to be honest with yourself, by following these rules.
 * What is okay? ** After clicking the “agree” button when downloading a program you are saying that you will use it for what it was made for and not abuse or **rewrite it**. In the past people have gotten into a lot of public trouble for mistakenly or purposefully writing down another’s thoughts without permission and made it seem like it was their own.
 * Plagiarism: ** according to **//__Dictionary.com__//**, plagiarism is, **“** The unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.”

This information came from this website: []

** Please feel free to use this as a planning paper. ** 1. Create ideas. (Turn to extra paper pages if you need more room)
 * THE STEPS to beginning… **

2. Write down your top 2.

3. Come up with a topic and title.

4. Write down a minimum of six ideas of things you would like to know regarding your topic. Be inventive and clever when you are thinking of the questions.

5. Write down how you would like to begin. Write your interview questions, exploring the internet, library, etc.

..Turn To Back Page..

Resources: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">1. [] <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">2. [] <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">3. This handbook has been re-written and was originally created by Ruth Joray, Head of School, at “The Quaker School at Horsham.” <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">4. []

Extra:

“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.” “The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.” **<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">--Anonymous-- **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; text-transform: uppercase;"> [|Henry David Thoreau] : **<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; text-transform: uppercase;"> [|Linus Pauling] : **<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">
 * <span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“Now Go For It, Have A Great Time, And Show Us All What You Can Do” **