“I wrote the book, PBL Simplified: 6 Steps to Move Project Based Learning from Idea to Reality, so you can find your place and your team’s place to step into PBL.”
Welcome to the PBL Simplified, brought to you by Magnify Learning, where we help teachers, school leaders, and afterschool workers find their sweet spot through PBL!
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SHOW NOTES
We have a fantastic PBL showcase today. I talk to 2nd Grade Teacher Kelly Misheikis from Unionville Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana, and two of her former 2nd-grade students. Kelly and her class solved a runoff problem at their school's pond and raised over $10,000 to dig a well in Africa so girls could go to school instead of carrying water.
I also have a "need to know" question: "How do I bring PBL ideas to my classroom?" There's nothing wrong with the kids coming up with ideas, but that's an advanced exercise. A facilitator can craft a well-thought-out idea that looks at standards, solves a real-world problem, and has available community partners. Kelly Misheikis, the project, and the learners in this episode are amazing!
Episode Highlights:
[02:38] Today's "Need to Know": How do I bring PBL ideas to my classroom?
[02:59] The idea can come from anywhere. Kids having to come up with a PBL idea on their own is definitely an advanced tactic.
[04:07] The idea has likely been crafted by the facilitator who's looked at the standards, real-world problems, and community partners.
[07:48] Kelly Misheikis teaches at Unionville Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana. She has two students who participated in the PBL with her today.
[08:02] The project was called Save Water, Secure the Future. What can students do to conserve water, make it more accessible, and prevent pollutants?
[08:24] Kelly started her PBL journey with Magnify Learning about 3 years ago.
[09:50] There's a large pond in front of their school and runoff from the parking lot was going into that pond.
[11:06] The school also has a vision called E.A.R.T.H. Earth, art, resources, technology, and health. Each grade studied a continent, and the second grade continent was Africa.
[13:12] One of the students shares her story of gathering water with a bucket at the pond. The experience was life changing.
[15:54] The kids had a goal to raise $10,000 for the Georgie Badiel Foundation. They even spoke with her.
[17:53] They did research and made videos for the principal and person in charge of finances.
[19:25] A well dedicated to the students will be dug with the money raised.
[19:59] The kids thought it was awesome and got donations from several family members.
[21:11] They also researched and planted plants around the pond to soak up the runoff, and they also relocated the trail.
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