Day 5---MONDAY!

We started our Monday morning with the strategy of  "tell me something good!"  Students discussed where they went, what they, did and of course what they ate.  We took some time to recap all of last week's events and we also discussed what we've learned un until now.  Groups talked about where they were in their timelines of the project and some of the things they still needed to get accomplished.  Just as I anticipated, all groups are still in the research phase of the project and are not at a point where all of their questions regarding their topic have been answered.
  
They have 3 activities from the menu to work on, and most groups alternate time on each of the 2 activities from the menu.  The 3rd (and mandatory activity) will most likely start to take form closer to the end, as it details their PBL journey throughout the 4 weeks.

Last week, I started conferencing with the groups regarding their chosen activities to see what they had in mind for their projects .  I have found that students want to rush through the process without really having enough information to complete the project.  I'm also finding over and over that students will need workshops in editing their writing and organizing information (charts graphs and graphs).  

Today, students participated in a workshop that would support their writing, especially on technological devices.

Students had opportunities to visit the library on a regular basis during camp.  They enjoyed time in the library for SSR and continued research.  Students really utilized their time wisely during that time!

I'm excited to see how much this camp (and all of the many reading opportunities) of an impact this camp will make on their reading levels at the beginning of the following school year! Students are constantly reading, discussing and digesting information.

The class chose Charlotte's Web as the read aloud for the class.  I read from 15-20 minutes a day, making sure that I was asking questions about vocabulary, comprehension, and asking students to make inference during the reading.

This will also be Day 5 of students posting in their journals.  They are journaling about:  things that they've learned, things they still want to learn about, next steps in their investigations, and what they want to continue learning.

Comic Life experts share their knowledge with fellow teammates,

I am amazed by our students willingness to share and collaborate with their peers! Two boys in my group have been titled "The Comic Life Experts"!!!  And they were very willing to share their knowledge with a group of girls who who were working on one of their choice activities from the matrix!

PBL Day 4

Students met with the district's Child Nutrition Services Staff to discuss their research and their current findings.  Our students were readily able to respond to their questions with a level of sophistication that I felt was impressive!   They discussed everything from reasons for vegetarian diets to the implications of fast food to our health and nutrition.  

     The CNS staff also opened up a forum for discussion on student ideas for entrees, sides, vegetables, and even healthy desserts.  They were informed that the feedback collected today would be used to create, what I would call, a "combinations" game, with their choices.  There would also perhaps be an opportunity for the students to help prepare some of the menu's choice items for summer school later on (an even possibly for the next school year)!

The CNS department took note of student responses and will use that info to create a combinations game and as possible food menu items for a later date

Discussion forum with CNS staff on possible food item menu choices.

Groups explored began the different options that Glogster provides for theit 

Students seemed to have a better grasp of what the next steps for their research was.  We started our morning with a debrief of the last 3 days.  We reiterated our questions, we talked about chosen activities, and our next steps for learning.  I introduced Glogster Edu to a group of students who were ready to begin thinking about a format for their presentation.  That group sat together and explored the variety of functions that Glogster had to offer.  

Another group began the planning of one of their activities that included buying groceries for their family for a week and comparing it to families of other countries. 

Students began utilizing space and resources more efficiently today as well!

Groups used the large boards for planning, collaborating, and jotting thoughts and ideas.

Students will require some workshops on tables and charts to fully develop their the organization of their data.

PBL Day 3

Today, some students were still rethinking their questions and deciding on how to seek more information and questions for their learning.  Other students stayed strong and continued the trajectory of their learning paths that they chose in the beginning.  At this point, students are continuing to work on their alphabet and the words for the word wall.  

Students chose vocabulary that was tied in with the research that they were carrying out.  They used technology extensively to aid that process!

Students continued to work on their alphabets throughout the week.  They chose the format for this process.  They wanted the letter in the center, the word, an image, a sentence, and a student generated definition.   Students chose great, grade-appropriate vocabulary and had great ideas on graphics.  Some workshops on editing (before presenting),
 is still needed.  Great job, guys!

Hard at work on our investigations...

Second Day (cont)

We created a menu with activities that would lead to the final project and ensure the types of learning that we are expecting. The students have to choose to complete a minimum of three from nine different proposals, being only one of them required and the other two of their own choice. 

We also decided on some of the workshops that we think the students may need once they decide on their choices from the menu.

• Taller de comunicación y escritura procesal
• Taller de comunicación y escritura persuasiva
• Workshop on representing data through charts and graphs
• Workshop on measuring in fractions and capacity

We are working on improving the students access to information on line so that the resources we have are available to them both on the Ipads and laptops. Exciting!!!

Second Day!

Students were engaged in the research process and were focused on the driving question!

Students accessed information/articles in English and Spanish to supplement their learning.
 

Students (on their own) made mixed aged groups to work with!  Students worked in groups based on their chosen
problem.  We weren't sure if they would want to mix, without being asked.