Amy Henderson Nicole Barone Chris Walker Kathleen Stanton

 Students share a goal, and come up with different perspectives on how to reach the goal.  It helps students to become active learners.  It helps students relate to their material, actual use of the concepts learned in class.  It can increase critical thinking skills.  It can increase student motivation.  Correlation to real world situations.

 Social Studies: current events, and reflection on previous events. How would they have reacted differently?  English: Students can rewrite the ending of stories, “what would you do?” situations.  Math: Concrete word problems about their environment.  Science: Environmental issues.  Art: Students are given specific materials and guidelines to create functional objects

 Identify the problem  Consider alternate approaches  Students attempt to solve the problem with the best answer possible (this may not be the RIGHT answer every time)  Make a final judgment

Philadelphia is currently in a budget crisis: The projected revenue fell short by $180 million dollars. Our financial obligations remain the same. You are city council committee members. Each group must propose a plan for balancing the budget.

 Cutting salaries  Reducing overtime  Reducing benefits  Layoffs  Reduce amount of new hire pensions  Offer early retirement  Cut back on health care for retired workers  Cut programs: City mural projects, welfare, after school programs, Rec programs, libraries  Limit trash pick-up  Or: rather than cut, increase sales tax

 Economyleague.org/budget_challenge/