Teaching Social Justice and Anti-Racism: 5 Engaging Project Ideas
The past two pandemic years have helped surface some glaring inequities between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots.’ While the ‘haves’ have experienced advanced medical care, the ability to work seamlessly from home, and healthy meals delivered directly to their doorstep; ...
5 Project Ideas to Build Relationships, Empathy and Community from Day One
They say the first week of school sets the tone for the entire school year. And while it is important to use the 1st week to review classroom routines, formulate agreements, set expectations, establish goals, and review policies, it's FAR more effective to establish a...
Music for Spaces: An Exploration in Sound and Project Based Learning in the Hybrid Music Classroom
Robert Kilvington-Shaw, head of Visual Performing Arts and Middle School Music Teacher at the American International School in Hong Kong, reflects on integrating PBL into his teaching practice. The Scenario In the autumn of 2020, I had the opportunity to attend the...
PBL Spotlight Project: Re-Designing School
The Background After 6 months of lockdown, Luke and Peter, Primary Coordinators at the Cambridge International School of Slovakia wanted to offer students something different upon their return to school. They knew their students' primary needs would be to reconnect...
PBL Spotlight Experience: Student- Led Community Projects Increase Citizenship and Social Responsibility in Medford
Background Imagine students across all ages working to address global problems such as opioid deaths, hatred, prejudice, addiction, bullying, mass murders, climate catastrophes, gender bias, suicide, voting rights, gun control, global warming, pollution, poverty, etc....
PBL Case Study: Building Sustainability, One Student Project at a Time
Background You ever watch the film Waterworld? I just watched it again on Netflix. Beyond marvelling at the fact that Kevin Costner had flippers for feet, I was equally fascinated with the futuristic technology presented in the movie. The giant boats were powered by a...
PBL Case Study #14: Keeping Student-Led Community Service and Action Projects during CoVid
The Background When CoVid-19 first sank its teeth in last March, Bill and Alex, project mentors and coordinators of student-led Community Service And Action Projects at The International Montessori School of Hong Kong had two choices: Put the CAS (Community Action and...
PBL CoVid Case Study #12: ‘Earning Advance Course Credit Through Designing Games’
How do you help High School students receive lost credit for classes they missed because of CoVid? This was the question PBL Innovators Denise and Jackie faced at the end of last year when CoVid was in its most contagious phase. They had two choices. Create study...
PBL Case Study #11: ‘Planet Podcast’ Early Years Project
This PBL transformation story is shared in its entirety by Sara Lev, an expert early years practitioner... The Background This is my 16th year as a classroom teacher – I currently teach Transitional Kindergarten (4- and 5- year olds) in Los Angeles, California. I...
PBL Case Study #9: Exploring cuisine, dialects and low-age education in China
THE BACKGROUND Andrew Morrissey, a grade 10 Individuals and Societies IB teacher at Beijing City International School was finding his "Causes of World War One" unit falling on deaf ears. His teenage students, while finding the topic interesting from a History...