Lighten Your Load! – 4450

Summary

Students investigated the issue of heavy backpacks in elementary schools and shared information gained with a variety of audiences in order to help “solve” or “appease” the problem. Studentsbegan the project by weighing backpacks of students in different classes and grade levels throughout Adams. After collecting the data and asking the students a variety of questions in an interview-type format, students then graphed the results across grade levels and the school. Students also collaborated in peer-chosen and driven groups to find ways to solve the problem of heavy backpacks in our school through navigating a variety of research sites. Together, they brainstormed solutions to the problem and chose to share these problems and solutions with Adams students, teachers, parents, and other schools. To do this, they chose to create Comic Life posters, Google presentations, Photobooth or iMovie commercials, and Glogster posters to educate others outside the classroom on not only the dangers of heavy backpacks, but how to properly wear backpacks and “lighten their loads.”

TIPC Ratings

The research conducted in this lesson was done through primary resources by way of surveys and experimentation which was self-generated knowledge to aid in creating the new ideas of how to spread the message of lightening the load of carrying heavy backpacks. The students used Google docs to collaboratively organize and share their findings and research from the research station in order to analyze their data and interpret it before creating their public service messages about “Lighten Your Load!”.

Students have chosen their own groups to collaborate on this assignment, and have chosen an audience they’d like to target outside of our classroom (Adams students, teachers, parents/PTA, or students at other schools). Students then cater their projects to address these different audiences. At the end of the project, students will also be given the opportunity to Skype with another classroom at a different school to share their findings and compare/contrast the issue of heavy backpacks.

Students are collaborating while working with different, self-chosen technology programs to explore and solve the problem of heavy backpacks in elementary schools, a real-world problem. Through their research, they are developing their own answers/solutions to this problem, guided by the questions they originally posed on their Google Form survey. Students will conclude the project by reflecting upon their experience as an individual and as a member of their group in all 3 areas of the TIPchart requiring such.

Students are collaborating in peer-chosen groups to solve a real-world problem with an audience outside of their classroom, and even outside of the school. They are doing so by applying critical thinking skills, conducting research, and communicating within their groups but also with other grade levels. The students were given the freedom of choice with their creations and were encouraged to do explore ideas that were more appealing to them. The students reflected on all of the areas of the TIP chart by way of the Google form; however, they could have done so using iMovie or PhotoBooth as well.