Effects of PBL

On Friday, my AIG girls asked me when we could do another project like the Japanese multiplication one, which was a CERTL PBL case. In our math time we have started reading some of the Sir Cumference books. After or as we read through the books, we take notes on the math vocabulary we encounter during the book. We have a list of 26 words! They are going to get on the computers and find definitions and/or examples for these words. They have been helping me get the computers ready for 3rd grade's powerpoints on gameshows, so they asked if they could do a project (like creating a gameshow, puzzle, matching game . . .) using the words we listed. I see that as a PBL activity! The students thought of it on their own! :)

I started a new PBL activity with 3rd grade students today involving them being an investigative reporter reporting on the story of the 3 little pigs. Their assignment is to retell the story in a real news story, which involves real characters living in a real town, working real jobs, and being in real situations. Students have a choice whether to work individually, in pairs, or in groups of three. We identified facts known and brainstormed ideas, so they are now in the planning stages for this project. There are two groups of 3, one group of 2, and one working individually.