Project Based Learning
9/26/2020
The PNA community prides itself on our integration of Project Based Learning in our teaching. This summer I was able to go to a conference hosted by PBLworks. PBLworks defines PBL as, “A teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects.” Meaningful projects are what kids remember about school. As I think back to my own school experience, the things that stand out are not the worksheets I did or the tests I took, rather the things I created through activities that were engaging and sustaining. The start of the year was unpredictable but I hoped a PBL project would spark curiosity and set the tone for our class. Our first project, “The Masks We Wear”, was multifaceted. It contained elements of these six subject areas:Art
Our driving questions were, "How do masks differ between cultures around the world?" and, "How can increased self-awareness help us better understand each other?" The goal in creating this project was to give kids a positive connotation for the word "mask", introduce them to cultural studies, and discuss the differences between physical and figurative masks. Art was especially important since we do not currently have art as its own "special". Students designed and created their own masks out of cardboard and other materials. Next, students conducted a brief research project, learning how to navigate trustworthy sources and differentiate between summarizing and plagiarizing. Students studied African, Greek, Native American, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Egyptian, and Aztec masks. They also wrote personal narratives describing the importance of creating an atmosphere where their classmates feel comfortable enough to "take off" their figurative masks. Each student then presented all their work in front of their peers. PNA values public speaking as a 21st century skill and students have begun to move out of their comfort zone with this common fear. All their hard work is now proudly displayed in the main stairwell next to our classroom. Students made signs to accompany the masks, in hopes to educate the rest of PNA about their takeaways from the project. Since finishing this project, we’ve seen younger students admire the exhibit in the stairwell and students have made personal connections to the cultures they studied. PBL projects are not “one and done” concepts. Hopefully years from now, when students reminisce about their 2020 school experience, their COVID face mask isn’t the only mask the remember.
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Elizabeth FerryMs. Ferry's experiences include teaching with the Peace Corps in Tanzania, teaching high school English in Maine, and this is her second year at PNA. She loves moose, outdoor activities, and being with her students. Archives
April 2021
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