Problem+Based+Learning

Problem-Based Learnin g... Mrs. Brown/Kelly's inclusion classroom. Problem-based learning has inspired the love of learning in my students. My Exceptional Education students are included in a fourth grade classroom. My collegue and I began the year with the Journey North Global Butterfly migration project. Our essential question, //How does the Monarch butterfly impact the local and global enviroment//, challenged my students. Throughout the year we have tracked the Monarch's southern migration to Mexico and just this Spring we tracked the Monarach's northern migration. We corresponded with students in Mexico through a simulated butterfly migration. The students used the class map of the United States and plotted the longitude and latitude of butterfly sightings as the reports of the migration were shared over the web. Our classroom was transformed in to a scientific lab which centered around the life cycle of the butterfly. Students worked through the scientific process as they discovered how the Monarach impacted their local environment. Through grant money we were able to create a butterfly garden on campus. Our students were thrilled when they saw the first egg on milkweed they had planted. The students followed the life cycle of that little egg and released a beautiful Monarch butterfly back into the enviornment. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,17,255); FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif">       Our final project of the year was also based on an essential question, //<span style="COLOR: rgb(236,14,14)">How <span style="COLOR: rgb(230,10,10)">did the establishment of St. Augustine effect change in the state of Florida from the 1500 to the 1800s  .// We wrapped this problem-based learning experience around our yearly St. Augustine, 4th grade field trip. We differentiated our groups by interest.These interest groups formulated questions that would aid in answering the essential question of the project. Our students researched information, interviewed experts in St. Augustine, and took pictures of historical places to support their specific interest in the project. Each interest group wrote a script, selected pictures and produced a digital story that addressed the essential question. As educators we are challenged with preparing our students to meet the challenges that the 21 century will present. Educating our students through problem-based learning is a tool that will equip them with problem solving skills they will need in the future.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">This year in Mrs. Mulholland's class we began with the essential question: <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,53); FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">"How Do Living Things Interact with the Environment?". We decided to scientifically try to answer this question with the help of our friends: <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">//**Worms**//. Our class set up a worm composting bin with more than 1,000 worms. Students set up their own science experiments integrating technology in order to learn about the worm bin ecosystem and how we as humans are involved. Students were able to learn about food chains, recycling, and decomposition using a hands on approach with the worm bin. They actively made observations, collected and analyized data and information, and finally drew conclusions based on real world inquiry which enabled them with developing much needed problem solving skills.

At the conclusion of using our worm bin working laboratory, students were able to test the effects of compost on plant growth and eventually have answers to our essential question. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">