5 Project Based Learning Activities

5. Secret Pen-pals to Promote "World-Wide" Collaboration

Each of my Freshmen classes wrote letters (yes, actual handwritten letters) to other freshmen students "from around the world". When in actuality, it was just Avid Seniors. The seniors pretended like they were students from another part of the world working on a specific project. (Could be to get clean water, learn how to grow plants effectively in their climate, or writing a story about American mysteries, etc). While each group of students thought they were actually helping students from across the world, they worked hard and communicated as frequently as they "could" via the letters. For the final presentations, I had my students skype to the Avid Class. Once they were finished, the Avid students revealed themselves and graded my students' work based on rubrics and how well they executed their mission.

4. Writing within the Community

This is a community service project that I did in college. The class was divided into pairs and then assigned a specific location from the following: Homeless shelters, Battered women's shelters, and Boys & Girls clubs. We would take creative writing prompts to these places and just allow for men, women, and students to write about anything they wanted. We went twice a week for an entire semester. As a final project, we typed up the ones we liked best and placed them into a small published book. We gave each participant a copy and left a copy for the shelters to keep in the libraries. Each semester was considered a different volume. I would be amazing to have students visit these types of places, but some parents may not approve- therefore, we could go to the younger grade schools around the area instead. Below are a few questions that you can use to jump start your poetry books, or try this site.

• If you were a plant, what type would you be? Describe your pedals, thorns, colors, weeds, blossoms. Where would you grow? What would it take to make you wilt?
• Write about something ugly and draw a picture that represents one of the following words; Panic, Chaos, or Fear.
• Imagine your mind is a hallway of doors.
• Behind the Red door you will find...
• Behind the Yellow door you will find...
• Behind the Green door you will find...
• Behind the Blue door you will find...
• At the end of the hallway, behind the black door you will find...
• Through the last white door, you will find...
• If you were a body of water what type would you be? If fishermen were to drop a golden net down to the bottom of your floor, what treasures would they find?

3. Design, Build, Teach, and Play your own Game

As a high school final for PE, we had to design a game (with specific criteria provided), teach it to our classmates, and then play it. First, we had to research 3 different sports played in other countries. Then we had to learn the rules of each, and finally combined the games. We had to type up a mini "rule book" that described the objective, ways to score, equipment needed, types of fouls, substitutions, and obviously how to win. This project was great for all types of learners. Some students did the research, others created the booklet, two people taught it, and the rest demonstrated. Not only we were thinking critically, but we were also learning about sports around the world. 

2. The 24 hour plays, learning exercise and fundraising tool

Once again, this was a project that I did in college. Over 200 students came together and was assigned specific roles; Playwrites, Stagecraft, Sound, Lighting, Costumes, Actors/Actresses and so on. We had literally 24 hours to write, built a set, create costumes, and perform the show. Obviously, because we were in college, we were "locked in" the auditorium until the end of the show. I would suggest that you make it a 48 hour or even a 72 hour play. This way students have class time and after school to work on it. In order to be considered for a role in the plays, you had to fill out an application and send in a sample piece or resume for the job you desired. This determined if you were qualified. (Kind of like a real world scenario). We would sell tickets the week before (a theme would be provided) in order to help raise money for the theatre department. We also had a Public Relations and Sales team. If you can not do something like this for your class, think about it as a school-wide project.           About 24 Hour Plays 

1. Life Cycle of a Bean Sprout, Scientific Methods

This activity is great for any science class that is studying plants as well as the scientific methods in research. 

• Start with a bean. Have students draw a picture of it, measure it, and record basic findings.
• Create an inquiry question (individual or class as a whole)
• Propose hypothesis (What do you believe will happen and why)
• Assign variables (Change the soils, amount of light, exposure to music, etc.)
• Continuously record data and findings daily.
• Report to the class on findings
• Assess your hypothesis and compare results

This is a great way to have students learn about the process of research with a basic task of watching a bean sprout grow. It is also easy enough for students of any age to do this on their own with limited to no parent help. The methods taught in this unit can transfer to the rest of your units with basic procedures. You can keep the sprouts in the classroom, or have students take them home, which promotes accountability. I recall participating in this activity and it was so fun that I would like to teach my son how to grow little plants as well.