Every year, my students conduct a project early on to interview one another about their skills and interests. I follow this by allowing students to complete an "investigation" where they can learn anything they would like (play guitar, learn a new language, learn to knit, draw, etc) - this is their "Inquiry Based Learning" (IBL) project.

In the second half of the year, students need to conduct another IBL project, but this time it must give back to their community - either classroom, school, community, or the globe! Some students have conducted battery recycling programs, or coached a primary soccer team, while others have brought issues of women's rights to the attention of our federal government.

I love having opportunities to watch my students collaborate in real time. Often, as a teacher we're at the front, or supporting students directly, and can't "sit back and observe" - but with this challenge, after you set out the materials for the groups, you can sit back, listen, and enjoy! Check out the TED talk, which sets up the lesson and consolidation for this activity.