Project Week Gives Eighth Graders the Freedom to Explore Their Interests

For more than 20 years, Eighth Grade Project Week has marked the culmination of the Middle School experience with independent exploration and creation, culminating in a showcase of student work. From shadowing a surgeon and building a go-kart to designing a game inspired by the sword fight in Romeo and Juliet, the projects reflect the wide range of interests and passions of Poly students.

The guidelines for Project Week are straightforward: eighth-grade students must spend at least 20 hours on their project, stay within a budget of $125, and complete their work within the Los Angeles area. This year, 72 students spent the week developing projects that they will present on Project Night on June 1 from 6–7:30 p.m.

“The thing I love about it more than anything else is that it’s so student-directed,” said Middle School Director Pat Gray. “It taps into the entrepreneurial spirit of 13- and 14-year-olds, and they come up with ideas they may never get the chance to try again. You never know what you’re going to get.”

Over the years, Project Week has led students to patent technology they created, discover new hobbies like journaling, and pursue interests that continue well beyond Middle School. The process begins with a proposal submitted to Eighth-Grade Dean Kate Gray. Faculty members help students refine their ideas and, in some cases, connect them with adults on campus or alumni mentors. While students are required to complete 20 hours of work, many invest significantly more time into their projects.

Project Week takes place during a unique point in the eighth-grade year. Students have just returned from their Outdoor Education trip on the Colorado River and are given an unstructured week to focus entirely on their projects. Although students are not required to be on campus, many return to take advantage of Poly’s resources and community support.

Naina K. ’30 spent part of the week in Monica Dolan’s Lower School science classroom teaching kindergarteners about native plants. Inspired by the Rewilding Block she took with Manager of Environmental Sustainability Laura Fleming and Middle School Science Teacher Raman Mander, Naina created an interactive lesson where students learned to identify native plants before planting flora like milkweed and monkey flower in the Lower School garden.

“During Block we gave a lesson to fourth graders, and I wanted to do something similar for my project,” Naina said. “I’ve been really interested in native plants during the spring semester, so this project came together from my classroom experiences.”

Elsewhere on campus, Roya R. ’30 and Raine B. ’30 shadowed Performing Arts Chair Brady Frome and helped teach drama classes that included improv games like “moonwalk,” where students imitate walking on the moon. Project partners Ellis M. ’30 and Mason M. ’30 used Photoshop to design T-shirts and engrave artwork onto glasses featuring album-cover-inspired and abstract floral designs. Emma M.-B. ’30 created 10 painted canvases reflecting memories from her years at Poly, from kindergarten through eighth grade.

“My digital art class definitely inspired this project,” said Ellis. “Mason and I both expressed interest in continuing this kind of work in high school, so we wanted more experience and a chance to learn new things during Project Week.”

On Project Night, students set up their presentations across North Campus with examples of their work and opportunities for community members to ask questions. The second half of the evening allows students to present to small groups in classrooms, using supporting materials such as short films or slideshows. It’s another opportunity for Middle School students to practice public speaking and gain comfort and confidence in front of a captive audience.

Kate Gray said the projects often become important moments of personal growth for students. Many return years later describing how Project Week introduced them to interests or skills that shaped future decisions.

“We emphasize that it’s really the process that matters,” Kate said. “The biggest piece is independence and taking responsibility for whatever they achieve and put on display. Whether or not they succeed, they can still show what they did and learn from that.”

Unlike many academic assignments, Eighth Grade Projects are not graded. Instead, students are motivated by curiosity and personal investment in their ideas.

“Project Week is a chance to show what we’ve been working on and what we’re interested in,” said Raine B. “I really like going to Project Night because I like seeing what people care about and what they choose to spend a week creating.”

Be sure to join the Class of 2030 tonight on North Campus near the Dining Commons for their culminating Project Night presentations!