Project Based Learning!

Project based learning is a student-centered style of learning that involves of dynamic classroom approach that allows for students to acquire a deeper knowledge through real world challenges and problems. These lessons are active and they can make the learning of a subject so much fun. In this blog, I am going talk about a lesson for Math and possible English Language Arts for 4th-5th graders using a project based lesson.

THE LESSON

Students will be designing a school carnival by using their math knowledge of area and perimeter. Their principal is asking that they help with the design and making the most use of the space they have in their field. To start, they will be given guidelines, in the form of worksheets, that tell them the requirements for entertainment, games, and other various carnival areas. 

THE ACTIVITY

Students will work in groups of 2-3, or individually if they choose, and they will design a carnival. They will design where each ride, game and food area will go, along with areas for tables. They will strategically place them where there would be the most room for them, using their knowledge of the use of area and perimeter. They will use worksheets to figure the numbers for each game, ride, etc. Their final presentation will be color coordinated and labeled for each area on graph paper, with their measurements labeled as well. I will also offer different activities that they can do throughout the lesson. They can transfer their carnival they made on graph paper to a larger scale poster board and present it to the class. They can create a game and write out the rules for an optional ELA portion for the assignment. Within the optional ELA areas, they can create a poster announcing the carnival, persuasively announcing that everyone should be at the carnival. 

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Within this lesson, I hope to offer two different worksheets when students are working out the calculations. There will be the basic one, which has the length and width already there, and all the students have to do is calculate the area and perimeter. The second option is a little more advanced and the students will have to figure the length and width, along with the area and perimeter. It’s more challenging for the students who think they can handle it. 

REFLECTION

I think this lesson will be great for testing students knowledge, and figuring out where they are in understanding how to work out area and perimeter. If i provide different options within the lesson to help students along, then that will help increase their access to the content. They will be able to achieve a better understanding, especially if they aren’t understanding it to begin with. Working with a group would also help in their understanding, because students are more likely to ask for help from their peers, in my experience. They can explain it in simpler terms. I think this lesson could be a lot of fun and show us how much our students know in that content area.