Cross-Curricular Projects
Since starting at MSS, I have been delving into the world of Project Based Learning. This has been a steep, but enjoyable learning experience - sometimes things go remarkably well, other times we have epic fails but there are always important learnings that take place. On the subpages listed below, you will be able to see more details about each of the projects I have been able to be a part of.
Michael Strembitsky Space Agency
This could be one of our greatest undertakings yet! Stay tuned to see how we turn our Junior High program into a Space Agency to tackle all aspects of our science currlcula and beyond!
Martian Medicines Project - Science and Environmental Outdoor Education 8
Students learn how to meld traditional indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge as they work to design medicines to heal a variety of illnesses and injuries.
Pedal Power Bike Wars - School Wide!
Students in grades 2 though 9 pedalled their way to diverting electricty from the power grid and, in turn, preventing kg of greenhouse gases from reaching the atmosphere.
Net-Zero Living Space Colony Style - Science 9
Collaborating across school divisions, during a global pandemic, provided some unique challenges but students were up for it! Read how students learned about energy use, created energy budgets, determined how to offset energy AND optimize the energy they had. An incredible project that required creative thinking on the part of all involved.
Launch Into Hydroponics - Science 8
Spanning multiple units in the science 8 curriculum, students designed, built, planted and maintained hydroponic gardens throughout our school. They were able to integrate practical skills such as critical thinking and problem solving throughout the project, as well as examining plants as medicine through indigenous perspectives.
Concepts: Cells & Systems, Solubility, Fluid Movement, Pressure & Work
Bringing the "Green" into Greenhouse Gases - Science 9
Funded by Inside Education's A+ for Energy Grant, students explored how small changes could have far-reaching impacts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Armed with information from experts in various fields, explorations in how energy is used on a daily basis connected with experimental evidence measuring CO2 emissions from different fuels. Unfortunately, the global Covid-19 pandemic definitely made things difficult to conclude, but we did our best!
Sustainability for Colonizing Mars - Grade 9 Science, Math and Social Studies
In this full year project, students create a plan for colonizing Mars, keeping in mind the limited resources available. They form political parties and create a reasonable platform describing how they hope to lead the first human settlement on Mars. Students code automated devices to conserve energy resources for everyday tasks.
Concepts: Electrical Circuits, Coding, Environmental Chemistry, Political Leadershi & Elections, Scale Factor, 3D Design
Student Spaceflight Experiment Program - Grade 8 Science and ELA:
In this "Limited Edition" project, grade 8 students designed experiments to investigate the effects of microgravity on various systems. Thanks to our school division helping to fund the program, students across the city competed for a chance to have their experiment flown up to the International Space Station!
Concepts: Experimental Design & Safety
SMAK-G Chocolate Project - Grade 8 Math, Science, Language Arts & French
Still a project we do at our school. Students create a new chocolate for the company 'SMAK-G' and make a complete product launch for it including the packaging, ad campaign & the chocolate itself!
Concepts: Mixtures, Density, Viscosity; Surface Area & Volume; Persuasive Writing & Marketing; French food vocabulary.
From Earth to the Moon to Mars! - Science 7
Students analyse and compare Earth, Moon and Mars regolith physical and chemical properties. They select plant seeds to plant for their nutritional value and growing potential. Students design and build Space Habs and Greenhouses, insulating them and coding micro:bits to sense temperature inside the structure.
Concepts: Plant Structure and Function, Soil Analysis, Crop Growth, Structures and Forces, Heat and Temperature
Playground Project - Grade 7 Science and Math
Students gathered information from the community, students & playground designers to propose a new design for a new neighbourhood playground.
Concepts: Structures & Forces, Geometry
Shark Lake Housing Project - Grade 9 Science & Math
The first PBL project I was a part of. Students designed and wired scale model homes for a 'new development' in our neighbourhood.
Concepts: Electricity, Scale Factor, Surface Area
Mission to Mars - Grade 9 Science, Math and Social Studies
Students create a plan for colonizing the Red Planet including creating political parties to legislate and govern, modifying plants to grow more effectively and designing habitat structures to scale.
Concepts: Experimental Design, Data Collection, Biological Diversity, Political Leadership & Governance, Scale Factor
Le Petit MasterChef - Grade 8 Science, Math, French & Food Studies
Using no internet research, students must create and bake a recipe for a baked good using only what they learn about ingredient science, methodology & ratios.
Concepts: Mixtures, Properties, Ratios, Food & Cooking Vocabulary, Baking methodology.
Sharks Bio-Lab - Grade 9 Science, Language Arts & Social Studies
Students propose a new genetically modified organism to a biotechnology company with the purpose of improving life for the organism itself, humans or both.
Concepts: Biodiversity, Functional Writing & Research Skills, Ethical and Legal Decisions
The Body Shark-Tastic - Grade 8 Science, Physical Education & Health
Students design an interactive exhibit for a science museum to teach about different systems in the human body.
Concepts: Body Systems, Physical Fitness, Healthy Decision Making & Consequences.
Cardboard Boats - Grade 8 Science & Construction
Students design, build and test a boat made entirely out of cardboard using the engineering design process.
Concepts: Buoyancy, average density, measurement & construction.