Do you like your differentiation planning done for you? If so, you will love the Topic Selection Wizard at Sciencebuddies.org. This clever tool provides personalized ideas to students in K-12 classrooms.
Students begin the process by entering some background info (e.g., grade level, due date for the project). Then, they take a short interest survey composed of yes/no/sometimes questions (e.g., Do you enjoy gardening?; Do you like working with formulas?). This process results in dozens of recommendations for an age-appropriate and challenging project.
And the differentiation support doesn’t end there! If the suggestions provided seem too easy or hard, you can click to find ones from the next grade level (up or down).
When I filled out the survey and tried the wizard, I was sold. The projects chosen for me were very well matched to my interests and strengths. My favorite recommendation was an experiment to test the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (this ties in my interest in working with people and solving problems with my love of mysteries).
If you have learners who don’t need this level of support, they can also browse projects categorized by project topic.
No matter the needs or ages of your students, you will find useful resources on this site.
About Paula Kluth
