Introducing a creative concept to the current curriculum.
Communicating and collaborating with classroom teachers.
Communicating and collaborating with classroom teachers.
5th Grade Castle Building Projects!
Teaching Collaboration and Planning with 3rd and 4th Grade
The 3rd and 4th grade were given binders to help them create their Medieval Castles. Students were given planning sheets, group job decision sheets, materials lists, and a planner. They followed the planner inside the binders by using a To-Do list that is also used in the 5th grade planning classes. At the end of each class they also reflect on how they worked that day and use the smiley face grading system to leave communicate their feelings. This is a way for young students to begin using their PBL skills in the classroom.
Our Community Project-Based Learning Launch
Students in 3rd and 4th grade broke into groups to explore their community. Taking pictures and discussing historical sites and images got the children excited about their first unit of the year. This theme will carry on through to their first projects!
Students in 3rd and 4th grade broke into groups to explore their community. Taking pictures and discussing historical sites and images got the children excited about their first unit of the year. This theme will carry on through to their first projects!
Teaching Project-Based Learning Skills
A learning tool that I have used to help build students perception of planning in the youngest grades is an interchangeable poster where students can determine their materials and organize their steps to the class project. Sometimes I have them guess what materials they will need and fill out the poster themselves. In Kindergarten we use this to also remind us what happens next, or what materials to collect and distribute jobs for the day. This helps students recognize their capability to organize a plan, distribute positions though out the group, and also serves as a great visual tool for students who are learning to read.
An early way to teach the skills of project-based learning!
Another great tool is a "to-do", "today", "ta-dah" chart. This is where students take their step-by-step plan and write each step to a project on sticky notes and place under the "to-do" column. Once the students begin working they may take one sticky "to-do" and place it under the "today" column. The student who is focusing on this particular step would them initial so a teacher may see who was working on what parts of the project. The "ta-dah" column is for students to show what they have accomplished and also a great tool to look back at during a group reflection time.
1st Grade Superhero Collab Project
Working with the other educators is always such a treat. Claire, the 1st Grade teacher had designed a project-based learning launch for the students to decide what their "Super Power" was. This was a real life trait that each individual felt made them an important part of their classroom. Kindness Girl, Remember Guy, Computer Man, etc. Each student decided to design a cape or created puppets in the art room to act out their super power! This year in the Art Room we created Superhero Shields out of clay so they could wear them as necklaces! The students then took images of their necklaces along with their superhero drawings and action words to create a small presentation for the hallway.
Grade 5 Human Rights Project Based Skill Building
The fifth grade started their Human Rights Project by brain storming (after teacher modeling) what human rights meant to them. They then took this information and passion and began outlining their argumentative essay. Students were encouraged to use the 3 T's chart in their classroom as well to plan and create their essay for familiarization. After reviewing a rubric created by the 5/6 PLC director and educational coach, I decided to use his example of a self-management rubric and have the students tell me a little about how they see themselves. Just as the sixth grade teacher had done, I showed them only part of the proficient level on the rubric to not overwhelm them. I also let them reflect in their own way after a discussion on why we use reflection, and my own example reflecting on myself as a teacher. Overall, I was extremely pleased with the visuals and will use this within their project folder for reflecting during and after the project.