Introduction to your
Personal Passion Project
Summit High School
MYP Program
Your problem : How can I find a
topic that will interest me??

Goal #1- Define the task. What is a
Personal Passion Project?
What is the Personal Passion Project?
The personal project is YOUR project to do
what YOU want to do. Show everyone
your skills, interests and creativity.
 It is a significant body of work produced
over an extended period of time.
 It is a creative product of your own
initiative as the culmination of the MYP.
 It demonstrates skills in approaches to
learning.

Why do a Personal Project?
You can make a difference in the lives of
others.
 You may never have another opportunity to
explore something as much fun as this—it is
what interests you!!
 You may discover skills and talents that you did
not know you possessed.
 You may realize what you would like or not like
to have as a career.

What type of Personal Project can I
do?
an original work of art
 a written piece of work on a special topic
 an original science experiment
 an invention
 a developed business plan
 a special event
 develop a new student or community
organization

Examples of Successful Projects










Creating a picture book for young children
Writing a vegetarian recipe book
Choreographing a dance performance
Designing and constructing a beach chair
Creating a travel guide
Designing and making clothes
Creating books and games for the visually impaired
Designing a website for a zoo
http://www.corningareaschools.com/myp-ppexamples.cfm
Look at examples from other SHS students
Topic for Investigation
Choose a topic for investigation that really
interests you.
 It is very important that your topic relates
to an area of interaction.
 Today we will focus on choosing a topic
and deciding on one area of interaction.
 Please turn to page 5 in your student
guide.

Time to brainstorm and write...
My current activities
 Personal enjoyment and relaxation
 Important things to me
 Important issues and matter to people my
age
 Important issues and matters to the world

Several lists…now what??
Which one appeals to you the most?
 Which one fits in with what you already
do?
 Which one will be challenging to keep you
interested over the next months?

Which AOI does your topic fit under?
Human ingenuity
 Environments
 Health and social education
 Community and service

Page 7 of your guide defines each area in
detail. Examples on table, too.
What is your final topic and AOI?

Complete page 8 in your student guide.
Inquiry Question
Now you must create a question to guide
your investigation.
 You question should contain your topic
and your area of interaction.
 See page 9 for examples.
 Write down possible questions you are
considering on page 10.
 Decide your question on page 11.

Your Process Journal

Your journal is a complete record of
EVERYTHING you do for your Personal
Project from start to finish. You should
use your journal to store:
 Notes
and ideas
 Concepts of your project
 Drawings, pictures, clippings, photographs
 Information that you have gathered
 Copies of interviews
 Detailed reflections on your ideas
Your Process Journal Could Be…
It is the most important document in your
Personal Project experience !
 It could be:







A website
A scrapbook
A booklet
An electronic booklet
A wiki
A blog
Write!!
Take out a piece of paper and write the
date on it.
 Now reflect on your ideas, progress and
challenges.

What is your product or outcome?
With your topic, area of interaction and
question in place, now you need to think
about what your outcome or product will
be.
 It could be a performance, published
writing, events, visual displays or an
interactive display. See pages 11-12.

What sources can you use?
Books
 Articles from magazines, journals,
newspapers
 Websites
 Expert people
 You must have 5 in all!!

Document your sources!!
You must use MLA formatting.
 See the gold pages in your student guide
to help you create a bibliography.
 Also pages 15-17 can guide you, too.

Project Report
The project report is the formal record of
the entire process you undertook to
complete your project.
 Must be a minimum of 1,500 words and a
maximum of 3,500 words.

Exhibition/Showcase
As a form of celebration, SHS organizes an
exhibition of all the projects.
 The Personal Project exhibition
demonstrates the success of the MYP
program where the projects represent the
culmination of the MYP years.

Assessment—Green papers in folder
Criterion A
Use of Process Journal
Process Journal
Maximum 4
Criterion B
Define the goal
Report
Maximum 4
Criterion C
Select sources
Report
Maximum 4
Criterion D
Apply information
Report
Maximum 4
Criterion E
Achieve the goal
Product and
Report
Maximum 4
Criterion F
Reflect on learning
Report
Maximum 4
Criterion G
Report the project
Report
Maximum 4
Total 28
Finally….
Remember, you are not doing this on your
own. We are here to help you on your
way! Your advisor on Thursday will guide
you, as well.
 By choosing something YOU want to
explore, with planning and effort, you will
complete the project and by the end of it
be more knowledgeable and skilled in your
chosen area.
