There are two separate categories, the Junior Great Brain for Kindergarten through 3rd grade, the regular Great Brain from 4th to 6th grades. 

The Great Brian program is designed to provide children an opportunity to study a subject that interests them.  Each child creates a project to demonstrate what they have learned and reports their findings to their classmates.  This process should be completed over an extended period of time.  This gives a student and their family time to think in-depth about the topic and conduct an authentic investigation.  Hopefully, children will experience the joy and excitement in studying something well, and then presenting their knowledge to family and friends at school.

When completing the Junior Great Brain, the following steps help students along the pathway to a successful Great Brain project:

1. Brainstorm	Think of several topics you may be interested in studying in depth.
2. Select	Choose the topic which is most appealing and offers the most promise for new discoveries for you.  Then, tell your teacher about your plans.
3. Questions	Make a list of 5-10 questions you will answer.
4. Study	Use books, encyclopedias, newspaper and magazine articles, internet, and people as resources.
5. Collect	Spend a couple of months gathering your information.
6. Journal	Keep a journal of all the interesting things you find.
7. Bibliography	Keep a careful record of where you find each bit of interesting information.
8. Create	Make something (story, poem, art work, diorama, video, computer graphic, etc.) to show what you have learned.
9. Visual Aids	Collect pictures, charts, or props for your presentation.
10. Practice	Use a loud, clear voice.  Use your own words.  Practice at home and ask for suggestions for improvement.
11. Presentation	Make an appointment with your teacher.  Invite your family to attend your presentation if you would like.

Click here to see the Evaluation Form.

To be recognized at Provost Elementary as a “Great Brain” in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, the student will need to follow the requirements listed later on this web page.  Please note that some requirements differ according to the particular rank toward which the student is aspiring. 

Specialist	3 books 1 encyclopedia/ internet article	4 questions
Expert	4 books 1 magazine/ newspaper article 1 encyclopedia/ internet article 1 media source (TV, films, video)	6 questions
Mastermind	6 books 1 magazine or newspaper article 1 encyclopedia/ internet article 1 media source	8 questions
Genius	8 books 2 magazine/ newspaper articles 1 encyclopedia/ internet article 1 media source	10 questions

Students should check off each requirement as it is completed.  The project, along with the completed checklist are to be turned in to the teacher on the day the Great Brains project is presented to the class.

Hopefully, students will experience the joy and excitement in studying something well and then presenting their knowledge to family and friends at school.