Students are Given a Chance to Make the Community Better
An inquiry-based investigation based on the idea, “Any community has the potential to grow, to serve better its members, become safer, or present a more enjoyable environment. How can you make your community better?” The project included the four stages of proposal, research, presentation, and reflection.
Based on the big question, students identified a community and a problem within that community that needed improvement. Students researched their chosen community and its problems, obtaining supportive evidence that led to a solution and/or conclusion. The project was done independently although teacher guidance and periodic workshops were given throughout the process with timeline checkpoints. Students utilized skills that included problem solving, research, organization, time management, synthesis and evaluation of information, and presentation. Culminating products were student’s choice and could vary from paper to multi-media to dramatic performance. Students wrote a one to three page reflection at the conclusion of the project.
Challenges or Obstacles:
- Seventh graders showed their inexperience by procrastinating deadlines.
- Some of the students experienced technology issues during their presentations.
- Variations in grading rubric are needed for the future.
Benefits and Successes:
- Students were able to select the community that they personally related with. Evidence of this was the large number of students who chose their neighborhood or local park as their community to improve.
- Student choice in their final product provided an opportunity to use expertise and talent with creativity. An example of this was when a student used his interest in animation to create a cartoon on his iPad.
- The critical thinking of synthesis of information to draw conclusions was a major benefit of the project.
Submitted by: Kristi Brumley and Becky Carr, Northside Middle School