Clifty Creek Elementary School 2012 – 2013 Project-Based Learning

What’s the difference? A good, hands-on classroom will “do projects” this way…

“Boys and Girls….we are going to learn about Historical Figures from Indiana.” Over the course of the next few weeks: Students will learn about Historical Figures from Indiana through:

Reading from the social studies text book…. Going on a field trip to the Indiana History Museum. Listening to the teacher lecture…

Completing a timeline worksheet about Indiana History… Watching an on-line movie about Eli Lilly. Using websites to research.

Choose a Historical Figure from Indiana…. Research using a variety of sources and use a citation page…. Show your PowerPoint at the Indiana History Fair…. Create a PowerPoint presentation with all of the required sections…. “We are going to host an Indiana History Fair. So with a partner, you each need to:…”

Next… “You must work as a team!” The learners partner up. Sometimes one student does most of the work. She brings it home the night before and it becomes a “family” project. The learners partner up. Sometimes one student does most of the work. She brings it home the night before and it becomes a “family” project.

The students hold their History Fair for the classes in the school during the day and for their parents that evening.

In a PBL – Project-Based Learning classroom, it will look a bit different…

“Boys and girls, we have a guest speaker today from the Indiana Historical Society….” Authentic project partner from outside of the school setting. The difference?

The guest speaker shares that his museum’s website needs a “Characters in Indiana History Page.” He explains the background of the museum and its’ needs. He then asks the students for help: How can people in a small, mid- western state like Indiana work to make a real difference in the world? Can students create an interactive, web 2.0 page for the 10 most important figures in Indiana History? And have this site answer the driving question above?

THEN….. K/NTK Students work with the teacher to develop a K/NTK List: KNOW ~ What do we KNOW about what we need to do for this project? NEED TO KNOW ~ What do we NEED TO KNOW in order to complete this project?

Reading a text…. Listening to the teacher lecture… Watching an on- line movie about Eli Lilly. Going on a field trip to the museum… Over the course of the next few weeks … students will learn about Historical Figures from Indiana through…

Class time will be allocated to the PBLClass time will be allocated to the PBL Students will assess one another on their teamworkStudents will assess one another on their teamwork All learners receive a collaboration grade.All learners receive a collaboration grade. The students will form teams to complete the tasks. The learners will complete an oral presentation explaining the development of their site.The learners will complete an oral presentation explaining the development of their site. The museum personnel will provide part of the grade.The museum personnel will provide part of the grade. Students will submit their sites to be linked on the museum webpage.

How can people in a small, mid- western state like Indiana work to make a real difference in the world? A driving question that is open-ended, guides students’ work, and captures the task. The difference

Skills….Reading texts…complete vocabulary study…using websites….listening to teacher lecture. Rigorous, standards-based content that requires students to master the same basic skills as in any school. The difference

Tie projects closely to fewer and more specific standards. Design Shorter Projects Include Direct Instruction For Students with Basic Skill Issues…