• What do you already know about Project-based learning?

    I don't actually know a whole lot, both articles were great examples though. In Moran's Paper Bag city they worked on map skills, geography and economics. The teacher also made the lesson relatable for the students, so there were many reasons for them to stay engaged. The point is to teach students the foundational knowledge required to perform their task and have it culminate in a project where they need to put all of that knowledge together to create the final project. We teach them the relevant skills and information to complete their task, but the information becomes more relevant to them because they have to relate it to their project and use critical thinking skills to make connections. 

    The historical fiction project seems wonderful to me, I personally am a "book nerd" and my favorite genre is historical fantasy or folklore. This article really resonated with me because one of my favorite authors writes modern fairy tales set in Ireland. She has to research the names, the accents, the history and existing folklore, she needs to know about the geography and climate in Ireland as well, this is not existing knowledge for her as she is Australian. It's also a great way for students to express their own thoughts and feelings on the things they learn. 

• What do you think makes it a powerful way to plan for SS inquiry?

    Hands on active learning tends to stick a lot better for students. The idea behind project-based learning, my impression at least, is that you are able to integrate many relevant skills and even subject matter into the lesson. The students need to learn the information not because we "say they have to" but because they have to know it to create their project. It is also a wonderful way for students to incorporate their own voice or style into their learning.

    This seems like a particularly great way to plan for SS inquiry because the compelling question is usually pretty comprehensive as far as the standards go, and this is a great way to assess the efficacy of the lesson. By creating a project after and inquiry the teacher is able to assess many aspects of the lesson, what they learned, how effectively they were able to convey it. 

• Then, do a Google search and find pictures or video of a particular SS Project-based unit for elementary students. Describe the project, grade level, and why you might do it in your own classroom. This should be where you get the pictures/video to enhance your post!

    I loved this project, these second graders were building playgrounds for the animals in their agricultural program. They had to use problem solving, engineering, agricultural knowledge and skills. They needed to know and list their supplies, and draw up their design. They needed to include everyone's ideas and work collaboratively. Not everyone will have the opportunity to work on a farm at school, but I could see this working with a class pet just the same. They also worked on increasing their butterfly population, using science, math, and agriculture.