Of course, we don't have a real break, because our units are due in only a couple of days. I am working to get this completed and finish with a bang!!!! As I have planned this unit and talked to my CE this semester, I have thought about how I would like to plan units in my own future classroom. I recently found an article on Edutopia talking about Project-Based Learning. I think that this can be such an amazing and fun learning opportunity for students!
The article was originally written, because a dad found an opportunity for project-based learning with his own son. His son wanted to build his own hospital. This gave the dad the opportunity to step in and teach his son many new things! This type of learning gives students a chance to be actively involved in learning. It also gives students a chance to use imagination and exploration. It is amazing how projects allow students to develop critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, compromises, and patience. Students will develop so many skills and have the opportunity to put their learning into action, whereas they don't have the opportunity to do so normally.
Th article talks about learning through play as well. This made me think of my own Pre-K classroom. When we were learning about pets and animals, we had a "veterinarian" center set up in our room. We had a waiting area where students looked at books about pets. There was an actual veterinarian area where students brought their "pets" to various students who took turns being the vet. We also had a pet store where students could buy various items for their pets. It was awesome watching the students be excited about learning and actually put themselves in the learning environment.
I always want to come up with new and creative ideas for my students so that they are learning, but having fun as well! I think that this type of learning will also help students see how the lessons relate to their own lives. It helps put their learning skills to use!
Standard 3:
Teachers make instruction relevant to students.
Check out the article to read more about Project-Based Instruction:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/making-room-childrens-ideas-pbl-jack-dieckmann?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
Check out the article to read more about Project-Based Instruction:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/making-room-childrens-ideas-pbl-jack-dieckmann?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
Things are definitely getting a little crazy because it is the close of the semester. You are so right, though. It is nice not to have to worry about all the things for Dr. Parker's class because he did assign them early. That certainly relieves some stress from this hectic part of the year. Project-Based Learning definitely provides many benefits as you have stated above. I love how you stated how you want to make learning fun, and how you want the students to see the relevance of what they are learning. I, too, want to do that. I want the students to do fun activities that will help them learn but will be so exciting that they do not realize that they are actually learning so much information.
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