Projects-MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Multi-cultural Villages and Tribes

Disciplines/Subjects: History, geography, art and global citizenship Key Themes: Cultural Diversity Tribal Traditions Geography and Environment Social Structures and Roles Global Awareness This project explores the diverse cultures of various tribes and villages across the globe. Students will dive into the history, geography, social structures, daily life, and survival methods of these communities. By researching different tribes such as the Maasai, Cherokee, and others, students will understand how geography influences daily life and culture. The project culminates in the creation of display boards for a final expo, where students will share their findings, models, and visual work to showcase their understanding of the tribes they’ve researched.

Exploring Trade in West African Countries: Creating a Visual Work Centered on a Proposal

Disciplines/Subjects: Social Science Key Themes: a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, Trade, West African Countries, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Under the grand vision of the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Africa cooperation is increasingly becoming a global focal point. As a future international relations expert, you will have the opportunity to explore this promising region, applying interdisciplinary knowledge from mathematics, history, and computer science to examine how trade can drive shared prosperity. This project requires you to select a West African country, conduct an in-depth analysis of its trade landscape, identify opportunities and challenges, and write a proposal outlining strategies for economic development. Additionally, you will create a visual piece—whether a poster or video—to present your insights in an engaging and accessible way, helping the public understand and care about West Africa’s future. Through this project, you will enhance your data analysis and problem-solving skills, while learning how to articulate your ideas clearly and persuasively. Your work will be showcased in school gallery corridor and may also be featured on public platforms, allowing more people to witness your efforts and achievements. This is not only an academic leap but also a significant step in personal growth. Let us work together to contribute to the harmonious development of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind, shaping a more equitable and sustainable global trade system for the future.

"Journey to a Whole New World"

Disciplines/Subjects: Performing Arts Key Themes: The central theme revolves around discovery and transformation. Through the adventures of Aladdin, we explore themes of courage, identity, and the pursuit of dreams. The "Aladdin Medley" is a captivating musical arrangement that draws from key songs in Disney's animated film "Aladdin." The medley includes iconic numbers that tell the story of Aladdin, a street-smart young man who discovers a magical lamp and a wish-granting Genie, leading him on an extraordinary adventure.

Community Handbook - MSA 10KM

Disciplines/Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Science, Geography Key Themes: Expository Writing Community Engagement Local Geography and Environment Civic Responsibility Real-World Application of Writing In this project, students will engage in expository writing to create a comprehensive community handbook for the MSA 10KM area. This area spans from the school campus to a 10km radius. Students will explore the community through activities like walking tours and observations, collecting data on local culture, architecture, and environment. They will then compile this data into a clear, informative guide that can be used by new students, parents, and visitors to understand the community. The project connects writing skills with real-life experiences, demonstrating the value of writing in everyday life. Students will also develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and civic engagement skills, reinforcing their role in contributing to the community.

Capturing the trajectory of movement under slow-motion lenses

Disciplines/Subjects: Health and Sports & Visual Arts Key Themes: Slow motion and movement trajectory. Scientific Research and Artistic Presentation Biomechanical Analysis: Slow-motion footage can be utilized in biomechanical studies to scrutinize muscle activity and force transmission during movements. For instance, when examining the batting trajectory in baseball, slow-motion can capture the muscle contractions and the path of the movement, providing a foundation for scientific training. Data Recording and Analysis: Slow-motion can record detailed data of movements for subsequent analysis and research. For example, in track and field training, it can document an athlete's running posture and stride frequency, assisting coaches in devising more scientific training plans. Visual Effects Presentation: Slow-motion enhances visual effects, enabling students to more intuitively comprehend the physical processes of movements. Display of Action Details: Slow-motion can clearly reveal complex actions and movement trajectories, allowing the audience to appreciate every detail of the action. For example, in action films, slow-motion is often used to showcase stunts and fight scenes, intensifying visual impact. Aesthetic of Movement: Slow-motion can transform ordinary actions into visually appealing experiences with artistic beauty. For example, slow-motion footage of dance or sports movements can highlight the grace and power of motion. Students will take burst photographs of their peers' swinging motion, stitch each frame together in photoshop as a work of chronophotography. Through the process, they will observe the continuous motion of sport and transform it into colorful visual languages.

Fantasy Animals

Disciplines/Subjects: ELA/Visual Arts Key Themes: Animals, Surrealism, Creativity, Hybrid Creatures Learners played Exquisite Corpse to explore surrealism and creativity. They then brainstormed, sketched, and designed their own fantasy animals by combining features from at least three different animals. To prepare for their final artwork, learners participated in a watercolor techniques workshop, practicing wet-on-wet, dry brush, salt texture, and alcohol effects. They applied these techniques to create their fantasy creatures using drawing, watercolor, and ink. As an ELA component, learners wrote aproximately 50-word background stories describing their creatures. Sentence starters, vocabulary prompts, and peer feedback supported their writing. The project concluded with presentations, where learners shared their artwork and stories.

Research on Zheng He's Voyages to the Western Oceans

Disciplines/Subjects: Social Science Key Themes: Maritime Exploration, Cultural Exchange, Argumentative writing, Historical Reflection, Multiple Perspectives and Expression This project takes "Zheng He's Voyages to the Western Oceans" as its theme, allowing learners to explore the significance and impact of this historical event from different perspectives through four sub-tasks. They will assume the roles of historical participants, creating voyage logs to express their experiences and feelings during the voyages; write letters to Emperor Yongle from multiple perspectives, reflecting on the purpose and value of the expeditions; produce video research reports analyzing the historical background, achievements, and controversies of Zheng He's voyages; and finally, watch videos created by their classmates and participate in discussions to deeply reflect on this history and discuss its implications for today's globalized society. The project aims to cultivate students' historical thinking, critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, and multimodal expression skills, while inspiring them to connect and reflect on the relationship between history and reality.

Energy as waves

This project aims to demonstrate that a change in energy will result in a change in wave characteristics. By conducting research, collecting data, and developing a working model, we will analyze how variations in energy impact wave properties such as amplitude, frequency, and wavelength. The students were supposed to submit 2 artifacts and share or present the same to their classmates. 1) Research and data report 2) A working model for data collection

Projects

Each project is like an adventure journey. As little detectives, we keep asking questions and, with curiosity and courage, try to solve every challenge.