Plans for Next Year

PBL PROJECT:

“Big Idea” for a project or unit next year, which may include:

Essential Question
Key product(s) and Audience(s)
Key Learning Goals, with relevant learning standards listed
Possible Anchor Texts
Incorporation of culturally sustaining and/or critical pedagogy

I'm not sure about the grade level but I would love to study the ecosystems, plants (nature) and animals that we have in our school. Our school in Colombia has been built on an ecosystem and lots of animals and plants were 'taken out' of their own homes. Some have been able to survive and adapt, others don't. My parents own a school and also, a farm. I imagine kids going to the farm (which is close) and investing their time in some kind of engaging and meaningful work. For this I'll be contacting:

We did a tour in HTH Chula Vista and visited the STEAM teacher from Elementary who's incharge of a Wednesday club related to gardening.
I'll be visiting in June 1st a 'farm lab' school in Encinitas.

Farm Lab school in Encinitas:

https://farmlab.eusd.net/programs

For example 5th graders:

Grade 5 experiences a three day learning engagement. Learning opportunities on days one and two allow students to develop a deeper understanding of water scarcity, the importance of water conservation and reclamation, biological and physical water filters, and the forces and types of energy that can move water via pumping systems.

Students tour the farm - noting all of the water conservation strategies we have implemented to minimize water usage on site. Virtual field trips to both the water reclamation plant, the San Elijo Lagoon provide real-world examples and access to experts in the field.

On day three, students demonstrate and apply their new knowledge by collaboratively designing and building a model that utilizes kinetic energy to filter and pump water from the bioswale to utilize for irrigating our shade trees and maturing native gardens.

5th grade

https://www.nextgenscience.org/dci-arrangement/ms-ps3-energy

Incorporation of culturally sustaining and/or critical pedagogy

This activity lays out the big question of our global water problem. Students often have difficulty truly visualizing water scarcity. Students will first analyze the use of water in daily life and then experience the effects of water scarcity. In addition, they will visualize the importance of water to humans and brainstorm ways that they can reduce their own water usage. Through critical and creative thinking and problem solving, students will create novel solutions and illustrate their ideas.

Clean Water Nonprofits

If kids are inspired to do more, here are some great organizations working to make clean water available in developing countries. I like how these non-profits show a range of ways to solve this problem that includes new technology, improving operations around the water system, to hands-on building projects like digging new wells.

Georgie Badiel Foundation focuses on providing access to clean water and sanitation to the people of Burkina Faso and developing solutions for the future.

Creation of Hope works to create a future for the orphans of Mbooni Region in Kenya.

Water for Good works with communities in central Africa to establish sanitation best practices, improve agriculture, and empower people to create sustainable clean water access.

WATERisLIFE developed a water filtration product called The Straw which provides clean drinking water when immersed into a water source.

The Global Goals

One in three people live without sanitation. This is causing unnecessary disease and death. Although huge strides have been made with access to clean drinking water, lack of sanitation is undermining these advances. If we provide affordable equipment and education in hygiene practices, we can stop this senseless suffering and loss of life.