NameofProject:MyCommunityNeeds

Teacher(s):KathleenBrinson
School:PalmettoChristianAcademy
Gradelevel(s):8th12thgrade
Duration:4quarters(yearlong)
Subject/Course:ESOL
Othersubjectareastobeincluded,ifany:ELA,technology,servicelearning

EssentialProjectElements

A.KeyKnowledge:
Studentswilllearnhowto...
read/interpret/evaluateandsynthesizeinformationinEnglishonlineresearch
organizeandcollectinformationinanonlineportfolio
collaboratewithpeerstoorganizeandpresentanproblemsolvingidea
communicateinformationinEnglish:designaplanofactionletterandpresentationtosolvea
communityproblem
reflectontheprogressandeffectivenessoftheplanofactionthroughjournalling
createapromotionalvideoadvertisingtheplanandinspiringotherstogetinvolved

Targetedstandards:
StandardR1.Thestudentwilldemonstratepre/earlyEnglishreadingskills.
StandardR4.ThestudentwilldeterminethemajorelementsofatextwritteninEnglish.
StandardR6.Thestudentwillunderstandthecontentandthemethodologyusedintextswritten
inEnglish.
StandardW1.Thestudentwilldemonstratepre/earlyEnglishwritingskills.

StandardW2.Thestudentwillusegraphicorganizersoroutlinestoplan,organize,and
develophisorherwritinginEnglish.
StandardW3.ThestudentwillwriteEnglishcompositionsinavarietyofforms.
StandardW4.Thestudentwillrevisehisorherwritingaswellasthatofothersforlogic,
consistency,andclarity.
StandardS4.Thestudentwillcorrectlyandeffectivelyconveyhisorherattitudeand/or
perspectiveinEnglishinconversationsandotherformsoforalcommunication.

B.ChallengingProblemorQuestion(s):
Howcanweserveourcommunity?
Howcanweworktogethertosolveproblemsinourcommunity?
Whatproblemsdopeoplefaceinourcommunity?

C.SustainedInquiry:Howwillstudentsengageinquestioningandinvestigation?
Studentswillwonderaboutandquestionhowtoimpactandservetheircommunity.Theywill
investigatevariousideasforhowtosolveaproblem.Theywillresearchtheircommunityneeds
orconcerns,localnonprofits,statistics,aswellasfundraisingmethods.

D.Authenticity:
Studentswillbecomingupwithrealsolutionsforrealproblemsintheircommunity.Students
willimplementtheirplanstomakearealimpact.
Theycanassumetheroleofnonprofitvolunteers,thosewhoworktirelesslyforanimportant
cause.

E.StudentVoice&Choice:Whatopportunitieswillstudentshavetomakedecisionsaboutthe
projectsproduct(s)orprocess?
Thisprojectallowsstudentschoiceanddecisionmakingtodriveeverything.Studentschoose
theneighborhoodtheywanttoimpact,theproblemorconcerntheywanttoaddress,andthe
natureofhowtheywillgoabouthelping.Thestandardsarethesameforallstudentsasthey
mustlearnreading,writing,andspeakingproficiencyinEnglish.However,allstudentswill
decidebasedontheirinterestorbackgroundwhattheyread,whattheywanttowrite,andwhatto
saytothepublic.

F.Reflection:Howandwhenwillyoubuildinopportunitiesforstudentstoreflectonwhatand
howtheyarelearning,andontheprocessitself?
StudentswillsubmitjournalreflectionsweeklyontheirPadletaccounts.Theywillreflectupon
theirlearningandprovideupdatesontheirprogress.

G.Critique&Revision:Whatprocesseswillyouincludeforstudentstogetfeedbackontheir
work,inordertorevisetheirideasandproductsorconductfurtherinquiry?
Throughouttheprocessstudentswillbereflectingandandgivingupdates

H.PublicProduct:
StudentswillcreatePSAvideostoadvocateandinspireotherstodonate,volunteeroranyother
formsofsupport.Studentswillpresenttheirplanandvideoinanassemblyofstudentsand
parents.

DetailofProjectElements

KeyKnowledge&Understanding(CCSSorotherstandards):
StandardR1.Thestudentwilldemonstratepre/earlyEnglishreadingskills.

StandardR4.ThestudentwilldeterminethemajorelementsofatextwritteninEnglish.
StandardR6.Thestudentwillunderstandthecontentandthemethodologyusedintexts
writteninEnglish.
StandardW1.Thestudentwilldemonstratepre/earlyEnglishwritingskills.

StandardW2.Thestudentwillusegraphicorganizersoroutlinestoplan,organize,and
develophisorherwritinginEnglish.
StandardW3.ThestudentwillwriteEnglishcompositionsinavarietyofforms.
StandardW4.Thestudentwillrevisehisorherwritingaswellasthatofothersforlogic,
consistency,andclarity.
StandardS4.Thestudentwillcorrectlyandeffectivelyconveyhisorherattitudeand/or
perspectiveinEnglishinconversationsandotherformsoforalcommunication.

GeneralContent:
ESOL
Otherareas:ELA,technology,servicelearning

SuccessSkills(tobetaught&assessed):
Criticalthinking
Problemsolving
Communication
Creativity
Collaboration
Literacy
Confidence
Passion
Empathy
Selfmanagement

ProjectSummary:Studentswillresearchproblemstosolve/needstomeetintheirlocal
community.Ingroupstheywillchooseaproblemtosolveandpresentaplanofactiontothe
class.Then,theywilldesignpromotionalvideostopresenttotheschoolandaskothers
(parentsandstudents)forsupport.

DrivingQuestion(ifgiven):
Howcanweworktogethertosolveproblemsinourcommunity?


EntryEvent:
GuestSpeakerIwillinvitealocalteentoclassfortheintroduction.Thisteen,inorderto
raisemoneyforalocalnonprofit,rodehisbikefromtheEastcoasttotheWestcoastduring
thesummerof2015.Hewilltalktothestudentsabouthowoneperson,despitetheirage,can
makeadifference.

MajorProducts:
Individual(andcontent/competenciesassessed):
Journalreflections,researchlog,weeklyEdmodoupdates,portfolio
Team(andcontent/competenciesassessed):
Commercial/PSAvideo,PlanofActionstatementandpresentation,proposal

MakingProductsPublic:Includehowtheproductswillbemadepublicandwhostudents
willengagewithduring/atendofproject.

Studentswillpresentcommercialstheymaketoinspirestudentsandparentsataschool
assemblytobecomeinvolvedintheiroutreachproject.Aftertheprojectcompletionstudents
willsubmittheirvideotoalocalnewschanneltogainmoresupport.

ResourcesNeeded:
Classsetoflaptops
Videoeditingsoftware
Camerasorvideorecordingdevices

ReflectionMethods(howindividual,team,and/orwholeclasswillreflectduring/atend
ofproject):
PresentationsofWhatIlearnedstatements

Studentfacilitatedformaldebrief

Groupevaluations

Panelevaluationofcommercials
Portfolioevaluation

Notes:
Ithinkissuesmightariseintheresearchphaseofthisproject.Myfearisthatstudentswillbe
overwhelmedwiththenumerouspossibilities.Theywillneedtobeguidedandtotakethings
onestepatatime.Iwillconferenceindividuallywiththemaswellastrainthemtousea
researchlog.AnotherchallengecouldarrivewithstudentswhohaveverylittleEnglish
proficiencyplaceinmyclass.Readingandwritingwillbethemostchallengingaspectsofthe
projectforthesetypesofstudents.ToscaffoldforstudentswithlowproficiencyIwill
carefullyassigngroupsandwilladaptassignmentstoreflecttheirlevelofability.

ProjectCalendar
Quarter1

Quarter2

Quarter3

Quarter4

Project
Introduction/Entry
event(Guest
Speaker)

ReviseGoalssheet

Due:FinaldraftPlan
ofActionstatement

Film/editvideos

Researchprocess
lessons

WhyIchosemy
topicstatementDue

Fundraisinglesson

WhatIlearned
selfreflection
statementDue

InitialResearch
Lesson

Researchinthe
community

proposalwriting
lesson

Wholeschool
assembly/Panel
evaluation

Moreresearch/
Groupingby
communities

Due:planofaction
draft

ProposalDue(for
funding)

Effectiveness
StatementDue

Padlettutorial

Peerreviewsofplan
ofaction

Videoeditinglessons PortfolioDue

Duedate#1project
ideacheckin/
feedbacksession(3
Journalentriesdue
and1peerreview)

Teacherconference
Beginvideo
brainstorming
withgroups
Due:5journal
entries,2peerreview

Studentfacilitated
formaldebrief

DraftofGoalssheet

PresentationsofPlan Film/editvideos
ofactionstotheclass

Groupevaluations

forfeedbackand
revision