Embedded Files
Building Delicious Molecules
Building Delicious Molecules
Students are assigned a molecule commonly found in agricultural soil: Potassium, Nitrogen, Phospherous, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, etc.
They then have to research what that molecule looks like: how many protons and neutrons in the molecule's nucleus, how many electron shells and orbiting electrons.
They then make that molecule out of simple, sugary snacks: marshmallows, gum drops, and held together with toothpicks. The real challenge is resisting the urge to eat it all before you are done building!
Charter Methods:
Experiential Learning
6. Independent Student Research Projects
9. Sensory, graphic & interactive scaffold learning
12. STEM
Charter Goals:
Students will recognize and understand agricultural literacy
3. Students will understand the value of goals and outcomes.
The Federal Budget Challenge
Students were assigned a Canadian Federal Political Party. They spent time examining the political and economic platform of each. Students then had to create a budget in which they had to decide how to spend 100 billion dollars. The budget they created had to align with the party they were assigned. The budget was presented to the class, who critiqued and questioned the decisions they made.
Charter Goals Achieved
2. Students will demonstrate problem solving through adaptability, resilience, and critical thinking
3. Students will understand the value of goals and outcomes
4. Students will achieve academic success while displaying leadership
Charter Instructional Methods
Experiential Learning
6. Independent Student Research Projects - Project Based Learning
9. Sensory, graphic, and interactive scaffold learning to support and eventually allow students to become independent thinkers and learners.
Key Curriculum Connections
Understanding Government Revenues and Expenditures: The project explores the sources of government revenue (taxes, EI premiums, etc.) and major expenditures. This aligns directly with analyzing the various taxation models and social programs in Canada.
The Role of Government Intervention: Students must decide where to allocate funding and where to cut costs, demonstrating how political decisions and public spending impact the quality of life for Canadians.
Scarcity and Economic Priorities: By balancing a budget, students engage with the core economic concept of scarcity—making difficult choices about limited resources to satisfy unlimited wants and needs.
Competencies & Skill Outcomes
Decision Making and Problem Solving: Students take initiative in problem-solving scenarios, analyzing data sets to make informed, evidence-based choices on financial priorities.
Critical Thinking: The project requires students to interpret data, identify biases in media/budget information, and justify their economic decisions based on diverse perspectives.
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