To frame this STEM PBL unit, the class as a whole will be given a month-long challenge to design a handicapped-accessible playground, including both structures( Bridges, ramps, small buildings) and machines( spinning rides, swings, etc. Individual or small groups of students can each contribute a structure or mechanism to a whole-class diorama of the project.

PBL Unit Plan Outline

based on John Spencer 'Tiny House' unit plan: https://youtu.be/6a_P-N3EFIc

Lesson 1: Project Launch/Entry Event- The Problem of Inclusive Design for Playgrounds

Teacher activities:

• • • Slide Show/Video/Hands-on experience

    • Set Up Groups

    • Basic vocabulary

Student activity:

• • • Warm up- What makes an enjoyable playground structure?

    • Brainstorm about topic

    • Generate Driving Questions- "How can I make a model of an inclusive slide, usable by a child in a wheelchair?"

    • Exit slip: Write down 1 thing you found interesting, 2 ideas you have, and 1 question you have

Lesson 2: Research/Empathy Phase-What are the issues? What are some solutions that others have found?

Teacher activities:

• • • Provide research grid to student groups

    • Lesson on effective internet research and sources

    • Lesson: How to interview

    • What collaborative research looks like

    • Collaborative research practice exercise

    • Introduce journaling methods and platform- Google Docs, Padlet, research grid

    • Starter Video content

    • Review basic terms

    • Check in with groups

Student activities:

• • • Interview users at playgrounds and disabled students

    • Internet research on different disabilities

    • Complete research grid/Padlet/etc

    • Share what you have learned with your group

    • Exit slip; questions

    • Stand-up scrum: 1 minute share with class

Lesson 3: Brainstorming Inclusive Playground Designs

Teacher activities:

• • • Model how to do intra-group feedback

    • Provide examples of brainstorming sketches

    • Lesson on scale

    • Monitor groups

Student activities:

• • • Individual brainstorming & sketching of different playground structures

    • Group brainstorming and sketching

    • Rate ideas

    • Stand-up scrum: 1 minute share with class

    • Deliverable: Brainstorming list and sketches; questions

Lesson 4: Prototyping/Revising Inclusive Playground Structures and Play Spaces

Teacher activities:

• • • Instruct physical and /or computer modeling methods

    • Vocabulary- prototyping, etc.

    • Check-in with groups

Student activities:

• • • Build prototypes, document work

    • Critique

    • Revise

    • Exit slip on group collaboration

    • Stand-up scrum: 1 minute share with class; questions

    • Deliverable: Model/research report/documentation of process

Lesson 5: Public Exhibition

Teacher Activities:

• • • Teach how to create a video(I-movie or WeVideo)

    • Show video examples

    • Teach what should be in video- outline, story board

    • Teacher reflection

Student Activities:

• • • Create tabletop model of inclusive playground

    • Create video or other digital media describing each component project

    • Share work with your class and the world

    • Student reflections

Sample Unit Plan- All Ability Playground