Final Make
Overview: This is an outline for a unit that I will be teaching next year. This outline will be used to create a digital interface that students will be able to navigate to complete their projects. Next year, I plan to record myself modeling some of the material and embedding within the interface for future classes.
This project-based learning unit will directly connect to the current 3rd grade science curriculum. This unit will focus on the solar system, specifically the sun, the moon, and the planets.  The project will span 4-5 weeks and will operate in phases. Each phase will have a goal or driving question that will connect to the curriculum, specific teaching points and demonstrations as well as tasks and skills that students will need to complete each phase. Students will be able to move at their own pace but will be required to check in with me to make sure they have met the objectives for the phase.   At each checkpoint, I will  give constructive feedback and use a rubric to help guide students future work.
The Rubric: Created by two of the PEN (gifted education) teachers that work in my district, this rubric will focus on 4 domains- quantity, quality, autonomy and collaboration.This rubric is focused on the process rather than the final product.
Each domain will be organized into 3 categories: adjust, strive and sustain. Â If students are having difficulty meeting their goals they will need to be prepared to discuss how they will adjust in order to meet their goals. Students who are meeting goals throughout each phase will be prompted to think about how they can strive for more. Finally, students exceeding their goals will be asked how they will continue to sustain. Students will also be required to reflect on how they will prioritize their work.
The Process: Students will select a planet in our solar system and identify whether or not it would be inhabitable. This planet would need to meet several pieces of criteria to qualify as an inhabitable planet. At the beginning of the unit students will Skype with an astronomer  to help guide their research, at the end of the unit students will create a visual presentation to share with the astronomer and receive feedback. Our unit will conclude with a final Skype and allow students to ask follow-up questions.
Connected Learning and Shared Purpose: Students will be working together collaboratively to investigate and research other planets within the solar system. Students will also present this information to their peers and an authentic audience (via Skype) Â who will be able to give them feedback about their design. Students will also have the opportunity to collaborate with other teachers in the school including the QUEST teacher, PEN teacher and librarian who will help support their learning.
Equity and Accessibility: Each phase of the project will be attached to a driving question/goal and tasks or skills that need to be completed. Materials and resources will also be available to help students conduct quality research. The outline of this project will be used to build a digital interface using Power Point that students will use throughout the project. This interface will include visuals, videos, and links to resources and articles, Â making information accessible to all learners and allow for students to work at their own pace.Â
Student Choice: Students will be given a voice in deciding which planet they are interested in researching and a choice of how they would like to present their information to their audience.
Empathy: Â Students will be able to explore concerns regarding the need to find new planets within the solar system to live and possible solutions that could help our planet combat the effects of pollution. Through these explorations empathy for our environment could be nurtured.
Authentic Audience: Students will have the opportunity to connect and share their final makes with an expert in the field. This expert will be able to proved feedback and answer any lingering questions.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XDOGLiJjS89OyjtHe3rOixzdgaCk3Y2hEa-Udvr-FOw/edit?usp=sharing













