PROJECT-BASED LEARNING 34

Appendix B
Student checklist and rubric for project choices
Student expectations checklist and rubrics for project choice board;

Adapted from Classroom on the Quad TeachersPayTeachers Resources

Create a Video / Podcast Create a Tri-Fold Poster

Design a video or podcast featuring a natural
disaster. Your video or podcast must be at
least 2 minutes long and include video
animation and sound. Place your name and
title at the beginning of your video or
podcast.
Make sure you include:
• Your name & the name of the disaster
• what causes the disaster
• how the disaster affects people’s lives
• where the disaster occurs the most
and why
in your video or podcast.
There is some great free software that you
can use to create videos and podcast out
there. Be prepared to present your
video/podcast to the class. You will need to
start off with an introduction of your project
before playing it. You will also need to leave
2-3 minutes for questions at the end.
Be creative!
Design a poster on a natural disaster
of your choice. Each section from the graphic
organizer needs at least 2 images/
illustrations to go along with the written
information.
Make sure you include:
• Your name & the name of the disaster
• what causes the disaster
• how the disaster affects people
lives
• where the disaster occurs the most
and why
on your poster. When creating your poster,
make sure it is visually appealing. Be
prepared to present your poster to the class.
You may read portions from the poster, but
do not read directly from the written
portions. You need to know the material you
are presenting.
Be creative!
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Write a Children’s Book
Research a natural disaster and create a
children’s book. Your information and
illustrations should show important
information about your researched natural
disaster, but must be suitable for young
children. When writing your book, make sure
you include:
• Your name & the name of the disaster If you type it, use 12-point, Times New
• what causes the disaster
• how the disaster affects people’s
lives
• locations where the disaster occurs
the most
in your children’s book.
35
Create a Diorama
A diorama is a three-D scene generally
created in a cardboard box. For this project,
you may use a single box or stack several
boxes together to create your diorama. After
you create the diorama, you need to write a
two-page handwritten or a one-page typed
report on your disaster.
Roman font. The report needs to also explain
what the scene of your diorama illustrates, as
well as:
• Your name & the name of the disaster
• what causes the disaster
• how the disaster affects people’s lives
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Your illustrations and book cover need to be
in color. You may use black and white clip art
images (copyrighted) to help with your
illustrations. No computer printed images or
pictures. You may use the computer as a
resource, but the work must be your own. Be
prepared to read your book to the class.
36
• locations where the disaster occurs
the most.
Your diorama must have some color. It
should be visually appealing.
It must either present or demonstrate your
natural disaster in its peak disaster time (i.e.,
a volcano erupting, a tsunami wave in action,
etc.)
Be prepared to present your diorama to the
class. You must present the key points of
your disaster, as well as how you created
your diorama.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Create a Mobile
Research a natural disaster and create a
mobile about it. Your mobile must contain at
least five hanging pictures that represent the
disaster. The pictures must be illustrated and
colored by you. The back of the illustrations
can be very brief (1-2 sentence) caption of
the image. After you create the mobile, you
need to write a two-page handwritten or a
one-page typed report on your disaster. The
report needs to include:
• Your name and natural disaster
• what causes the disaster
• how the disaster affects people’s lives
• locations where the disaster occurs
the most
If you type your report, use 12 point, Times
New Roman font. Make sure in your paper
you also explain what each of the pictures
on your mobile represents.
37
Create a Travel Brochure
Create a travel brochure warning tourists
about the natural disaster that occurs in the
area they are visiting. Make sure you include:
• Your name and natural disaster
• what causes the disaster
• how the disaster affects people’s
lives
• locations where the disaster occurs
the most.
To create your brochure, take a sheet of
paper and fold it into three sections. You may
use an online template, but all images must
be illustrated by you. No printed images.
Along with information about the natural
disaster, include the following elements of a
typical travel brochure:
pictures, positive features of the area,
things to do, places to stay, special
activities, and maps.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING 38

Appendix C

Observation chart

What did you observe? # of students Time into the lesson

engaged
1. Student asks questions
2. Student show ownership of learning
3. Voluntarily responding to questions
4. Engaged in research
5. Actively taking notes & reading critically