DIY Wild Treasures Proposal Phase
(4 classes for writing proposal; 3 classes to create live presentation agenda and props; intermittent rehearsal)
During the Proposal phase your students will first write and submit to the school board a persuasive proposal for taking action to improve the school’s sustainable practices. Then your students will prepare and make a live presentation to their school board.
Procedure for Writing a Persuasive Proposal
During Proposal phase, students should work in groups of 2-3. Here are some ideas on how to proceed.
1. Describe the goals of the Proposal phase of the curriculum. Tell your students that they will work in small teams to help write a proposal to persuade their school board to support an action plan for helping to improve their school’s sustainable practices. Explain that the proposal must stem from their original research.
2. Tell students the date you’ve booked with the school board for their presentation. A copy of the written proposal should be submitted to all members of the board at least 10 days before their live presentation.
3. In small groups, have students brainstorm a list of actions they think your class should and can take between now and the end of the school year to improve their school’s sustainable practices. Make sure their brainstorms are informed by what they learned from their research. Invite each group to share their best ideas with the entire class.
4. Decide as a class which actions are feasible and desirable. Ask students to explain how their proposed actions are connected to one or more of the 5 big ideas introduced to along the Challenge Trail.
5. Share and discuss the “Criteria for Writing an Exemplary Proposal.”
Criteria for Writing an Excellent Proposal
Quality |
Criteria |
Cover Page |
√Title clearly reveals the proposal’s purpose. √A relevant image makes the cover interesting. √Teacher’s name, class, and grade are included. √School name, address, phone, and email included. |
Intro |
√Includes a 1-2 page summary of your: --Involvement with Wild Treasures --What you found out from your research, --The general action plan you are asking your school board to support. √Be sure to include what makes you think that your actions will improve your school’s sustainability practices. |
Body Describe specific plans |
√5-7 pages √Describe your research methods, and findings. √Describe a specific plan to improve your school’s sustainability practices. √Discuss how your plan applies one or more of the 5 big ideas of sustainability introduced along the Challenge Trail. √Include charts, graphs, and/or diagrams to enhance text. √Include an illustration of your plan. |
Action
Budget
|
√Describe exactly what your action plan will cost the school. √Include a budget that is consistent with the proposal. √The budget is neat and grammatically correct. |
Format
|
√Page length is between 10-12 pages, double-spaced,
12-point font, numbered, and stapled. This does not include the
“Bibliography,” or Appendix (The Appendix includes an “Action Budget”) √Subheadings are appropriately placed to indicate each new section. √The document is neat, attractive, and grammatically sound. √Table of contents is accurate and useful. |