Hello everyone! It's been a busy first few days of our Simple Machines Project! We wanted to give you some updates on the 6th graders' progress and some upcoming due dates.
First of all, the project outline is attached as a picture if you'd like to see the general plan for the project.
Entry event pictures are also attached. We opened the old trunk to find many different simple machines, an old key, mysterious vocabulary words on burnt paper, and some pictures of the Eiffel Tower and the Metro train system in Paris, France. The students also found a copy of the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. This is the novel the students will be reading along with our project. If you'd like to see a summary of the book and learn more about the story, CLICK HERE. We will begin reading next week. Some students have already read this book; that's okay. We will have supplemental readings for them to add to their knowledge of the story. Also, we will be deeply analyzing the story, so it will be good for students to return to the text once again.
The second part of the entry event allowed students to work with their group members in order to take apart a complex machine. Most machines had many simple machine parts inside of them. The students were sketching the parts as they went along, not necessarily knowing they were going to learn about those simple machines themselves. Pictures of the deconstruction are attached as well.
Students also created a list of what they know about the project and what they need to know. Based on the driving question, "What devices are needed to assist a school or community member with everyday tasks," the team created a driving question to focus their project work. Problem Statement: "How can we as PBL Innovation Academy mechanical engineers create a new device so that we can assist school and community members with everyday tasks?"
Today, students created and submitted their Group Contracts. Ask to see your student's group contract... they should have a copy of it on GoogleDocs. These are much better than last time. The students seem to be learning better ways to work with their group members!
Each group also started working on vocabulary for our project and the book. All vocabulary is due on Thursday, at the end of class. They will be turning in their notebooks before they leave. This will be the second benchmark of the project, as contracts were the first. (Grades are entered for those in Science!)
Tomorrow, Mr. LaFree will be talking to the students about his job as a Physical Therapist and how he creates devices to help his patients. They will also have some time to complete their vocabulary, but if they have a lot to do, students may need to work on this tonight. Directions for the vocabulary can be found on Echo and by CLICKING HERE.
Thanks for your time,6th Grade PBL Facilitators
First of all, the project outline is attached as a picture if you'd like to see the general plan for the project.
Entry event pictures are also attached. We opened the old trunk to find many different simple machines, an old key, mysterious vocabulary words on burnt paper, and some pictures of the Eiffel Tower and the Metro train system in Paris, France. The students also found a copy of the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. This is the novel the students will be reading along with our project. If you'd like to see a summary of the book and learn more about the story, CLICK HERE. We will begin reading next week. Some students have already read this book; that's okay. We will have supplemental readings for them to add to their knowledge of the story. Also, we will be deeply analyzing the story, so it will be good for students to return to the text once again.
The second part of the entry event allowed students to work with their group members in order to take apart a complex machine. Most machines had many simple machine parts inside of them. The students were sketching the parts as they went along, not necessarily knowing they were going to learn about those simple machines themselves. Pictures of the deconstruction are attached as well.
Students also created a list of what they know about the project and what they need to know. Based on the driving question, "What devices are needed to assist a school or community member with everyday tasks," the team created a driving question to focus their project work. Problem Statement: "How can we as PBL Innovation Academy mechanical engineers create a new device so that we can assist school and community members with everyday tasks?"
Today, students created and submitted their Group Contracts. Ask to see your student's group contract... they should have a copy of it on GoogleDocs. These are much better than last time. The students seem to be learning better ways to work with their group members!
Each group also started working on vocabulary for our project and the book. All vocabulary is due on Thursday, at the end of class. They will be turning in their notebooks before they leave. This will be the second benchmark of the project, as contracts were the first. (Grades are entered for those in Science!)
Tomorrow, Mr. LaFree will be talking to the students about his job as a Physical Therapist and how he creates devices to help his patients. They will also have some time to complete their vocabulary, but if they have a lot to do, students may need to work on this tonight. Directions for the vocabulary can be found on Echo and by CLICKING HERE.
Thanks for your time,6th Grade PBL Facilitators