It is pretty early days but the ball is definitely rolling.  The kids have all chosen partners and broad topics (e.g. marine studies, plants and their uses, local animals, sustainable energy, etc.) for their projects.  They are very excited to get started!  My biggest struggle right now is holding them back and helping them pair down some of their grand ideas.  We are working on pre-planning and setting achievable goals. To help with this, I have created a slideshow to guide topic choices, product choices; it also identifies criteria, questions to think over and expectations.  The kids are being good sports about going through this process, but I can tell they can’t wait until I let them loose.  I have given them some freedom to start working and researching which has been useful in helping them figure out where they need to spend more time planning.  Some of the questions they have to consider as they design their projects are:

• Why have you chosen this topic?
• What do you want others to learn from your project?
• How are you going to present your information/project?
• How does you project connect to Coast Salish culture and ways of being?
• Who can you speak to or interview to get some expert information on your topic?
• Does the topic of your project have any problems that need to be solved or face any threats?
• If so, what are some solutions or changes that we can make?

Our next steps will include team meetings to fine tune their projects and to work on creating a step by step plan that divides up responsibilities between team members. I have planning guides with checklists, criteria, ideas and suggestions for each team.  I am happy to share these if anyone is interested in seeing them.

The iPads and Apple Pencils are huge hits!  I have a few kids testing out some of the possible apps the class will be using to create projects.  These “student experts” will share their tech knowledge with the rest of the class in combination with some mini lessons I plan and present.

Now that I know all the topic choices, I am on the look out for free and cheap resources and materials.  We have enough to keep us busy for awhile, but if anyone knows of some good second hand books sites or places to buy building materials for solar projects, etc. please let me know. I will add any I find to my resources section.

In the new year, the plan is to starting connecting students with experts.  I’m pretty excited to see who they would like to contact to interview and what types of questions they come up with.

That’s it for now.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Lisa