Over the past few years, I've found myself drawn more and more to interdisciplinary teaching and a more project based approach.
And thus The Project Files were born!
This World Changers project is one of my favorite file projects to date! It fits in with our PYP unit How We Organize Ourselves. In this unit we focus on our concentric communities and our roles in them. We finish the unit by designing a community service project based on a problem that we identified. One of the stepping stones on the way to that culminating project is our World Changers Project. To inspire our eventual community service project, we look at what famous people have done to change the world in the past. Click here to see it in my TPT store!
I usually begin this project with an exploration of the biography section in the library. With our librarian,
Ms. Monica, we introduce the child to what a biography is and where the section can be found in the
library. Then I give the students free rein to explore the books. At this point I haven’t told them about
the project but am just giving them space to explore. If they find someone they like, I have them write
down the person's name and what they did to have a book written about them.
Ms. Monica, we introduce the child to what a biography is and where the section can be found in the
library. Then I give the students free rein to explore the books. At this point I haven’t told them about
the project but am just giving them space to explore. If they find someone they like, I have them write
down the person's name and what they did to have a book written about them.
This library session can look a bit crazy as the books end up all over the tables, with students flipping through them and showing friends the people they found, but they’re incredibly engaged!
I’ve found that titles like the People Who Changed the World and Who Was series, Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls and Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different are particularly engaging for my students.
Once we’ve done all of our exploring, I explain the premise of the project. I give each student their
own project folders and we talk through the steps together.
own project folders and we talk through the steps together.
We then go back to our exploration list and each child chooses one person to actually research. From there, we check out books from the library and investigate pre-approved websites to fill out the script page in our folders. After a quick check from me, students then move on to the next section.
Two excellent biography websites are: Ducksters Biographies and Mr. Nussbaum Biographies.
Students go back to the books and websites to plan out their person’s background and outfit. I tell my kids that the outfit should look like something thier person would have worn and should be made of things they already own. I try to avoid the miscommunication that they need to buy something for any of our projects! The background should show an important setting from their life.
After planning, the next step is to paint the poster. I never fail to be impressed with the amazing backgrounds that my students create! Check them out!
For those of you who don't know who Ashley Fiolek is, she is the first deaf motocorss racer. I hadn't heard of her until this project!
Getting the dried poster attached to the kids is often a bit of an issue. I’ve found the best way to keep
the poster from flopping is to securely tape a meter stick to the back. I then pop four holes in the
poster and thread ribbon through, so the poster can be worn much like a backpack.
the poster from flopping is to securely tape a meter stick to the back. I then pop four holes in the
poster and thread ribbon through, so the poster can be worn much like a backpack.
On presentation day, I ask other teachers to sign up for 15 minute slots and I have about 4 kids
present to each classroom. We talk about presentation skills beforehand. Things like: practicing
reading your script over and over, standing up straight, using your best presentation voice, holding
our folder so it doesn’t cover your face.
present to each classroom. We talk about presentation skills beforehand. Things like: practicing
reading your script over and over, standing up straight, using your best presentation voice, holding
our folder so it doesn’t cover your face.
As this is one of our first presentations of third grade, the kids are incredibly nervous and hugely
elated when they successfully present! This year I had one boy tell me triumphantly, “That’s the
biggest thing I’ve done in my life so far!” Engagement levels are incredibly high for this project and
the immediate feedback and boost they receive from the applause of other classes makes this a
favorite!
elated when they successfully present! This year I had one boy tell me triumphantly, “That’s the
biggest thing I’ve done in my life so far!” Engagement levels are incredibly high for this project and
the immediate feedback and boost they receive from the applause of other classes makes this a
favorite!
After the presentations I use the rubric on the back page to grade their research and presentation
skills. I included the one that I use, as well as an editable version so you can tailor it to exactly what
you need!
Interested in using this project in your classroom?? Click here to grab it from my TPT store!
