Journey North International Plant Study

Student Portfolios as Visual Organizers
for Journey North

A new Journey North season brings lots of excitement. Students gather information, send in field observations, study maps, calculate migration distances and spend time researching topics of special interest. All of these activities promote rich learning experiences. The challenge is how to organize this vast amount information for project assessment. A creative project portfolio is one answer!

Easy-to-make Project Portfolios
This lesson shows how to create a 9 X 12 project portfolio where students can for collect, record and display qualitative and quantitative observations, life cycle studies, weather and mapping information and research findings—all in one convenient, creative, easy-to-handle package, and all beginning from Day 1 of a new season of Journey North.


"Shutter" fold student portfolio	Self-contained organizer makes a simple and complete display

The beauty of this student-made organizer is collection AND display of all Journey North materials in one place. Research notes, maps and reports from quarter-size sheets to full-size pages can be displayed permanently inside one folded portfolio that's kept at school. At the end of the season, all the student work is showcased in this final portfolio made from simple folds.

Materials

11 x 17 inch paper (for the folder)
8.5 x 11 inch paper
scissors
glue
2” wide clear packing tape

Directions for Jacket and Component Pages

A. Each student begins with an 11 x 17 sheet of paper. This will be the portfolio jacket.

First, make a “shutter”* fold:

Lay paper horizontally in front of you.
Bend the outer edges of the paper inward to ALMOST meet in the center; firmly press the folds. (It's helpful to leave a space of about 1/4-1/2 inch between the two halves to accommodate the expansion of the folder as materials are added.)

B. Next, show students how to build components to use as the project expands. Show them how to:

fold and then cut sheets of paper into halves and quarters. They can use some themselves, and also share with their neighbors; younger students may only need quarter sheets to answer a question or explain a concept.
use glue sparingly. Even the youngest students can learn to add JUST A DOT of glue to hold pages in place.
use tape to reinforce important folds or parts of their portfolios. Use clear 2-inch packing tape)

More About the Portfolio Concept
This portfolio is built from Day 1 of your Journey North experience. The framework of the portfolio will hold the student’s work throughout the season. Students add important pages with their Journaling Questions, Challenge Questions and notes from research as they create them. The project portfolios allow you to assess their growth and understanding throughout the season. At the end, your students will have all their important work together and assessment will be simplified.

	Compact investigations unfold into more detailed findings—
Portfolios can hold Challenge Questions, research notes and data/mapping work

Journal entries can be written on simple quarter-sized sheets of copy or notebook paper and added permanently to the project using glue.
Help your students to focus their research by identifying a few "who, what, when, where, why and how" questions in their investigations.
Life cycle information, characteristics, drawings and diagrams can be attached to the project. Use full-sized sheets folded into halves or quarters and glued in on one side for unfolding to present more detailed findings as students advance in ability to research topics.
Larger, more important concepts become the cover topics.
Inside sufaces of the the side panels can be used for student notes, drawings, or subtopics.
A pocket for loose materials of importance can be created by taping or gluing an 8.5 x 11 sheet to 3 sides of the back of the portfolio leaving the top edge open for access.

Take a Look!

Examples from Belle Sherman Elementary in Ithaca, NY.

Try This!
Add a special page to the portfolio that "moves" to reflect a growing tulip plant. This simple cut-and-slide diagram doubles as a graph that records predictions and actual measurments of your tulip growth this spring.


A special page to the portfolio that "moves" to reflect a growing tulip plant.

For simple directions:

How To: Make a "Growing" Tulip Graph

Celebrate the Season’s Work
At the end of the Journey North season have a celebration. Display your portfolios and invite others to learn about your experience!