Possible Project Components
Here’s an example of a project product with potential public value:
Activities and topics vary a lot. Contact us for additional choosing or planning support. Here are some possibilities. One way to use this table: find things that interest you and sketch out projects based on them, then discuss with us or a school advisor.
| Topic | Readings/ Videos | Interview(s) | Community Action | Products | Partner #2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Land use, water pollution, biodiversity | MOFGA rep | Working on a local organic farm | Illustrated timeline: restorative ag progress | Wolf's Neck Farm |
| Community hunger | Food insecurity, nutrition policy, farm bill | Social worker | Lunch packing over school vacation | Map: local nutrition and food resources | Preble Street |
| Emotional health | Emotional intelligence, mental health policies and resources | Local counselor | Lesson for younger students: responding to adversity | A PSA for school announcements | The Yellow Tulip Project |
| Energy production | Electrification, sustainable energy, energy policy | Learner who did a similar project | Lobby a state rep or committee | Presentation: school rooftop solar benefits | NRCM |
| Information quality | Misinformation, debate ethics, logical fallacies | Poly sci grad student | Online fact check: local officials' claims | ||
| Justice | Forms of personal and systemic racism | Justice activist | Campaign: drug sentencing reform | Letter to the editor about recognizing prejudices | Racial Equity and Justice |
| Literacy | Immigration, education system, job training programs | ESL teacher | Holding a fundraiser for a group; reading to others | ABC picture book w/ differently abled models (classmates) | The Telling Room |
| Pandemic safety | Virus science, health statistics | Business owner, microbiology grad student | Rap and info sheet on finding quality masks | Maine CDC | |
| Physical activity | Physical and emotional impacts of physical activity | City planner | Help clean up and construct trails locally | Essay: project impacts on the learner and community | Teens to Trails |
| Voting | First amendment rights, debates on voter ID and mail-in ballots | American historian | Registering new voters in a GOTV campaign | Speech: supporting election participation and security | Represent.us |