Have you heard of project-based learning? My students LOVE learning by doing. Why, do you ask? Because they are engaged at high levels of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. They are learning yet they hardly notice.
When students feel their voice is important and valued, they learn with rigor and passion.
A parent shared with me, one of my students recapped the day at the dinner table referring to his peers as colleagues. At that point, I knew my students valued the work they were doing and felt their voice mattered. That's exactly what project-based learning does... builds students up to be confident and empowered in their ability to discover and solve world problems!
My Project
Catching the attention of students can be challenging in a world of 4D movies, virtual reality, video games, and the constant connection to social media.
What better way for kids to nail down their 4th grade standards than preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse?
Okay, okay, so we all know that's not really going to happen, but it doesn't hurt to prepare and spread awareness. Our Kansas Governor, Sam Brownback, declared October as Zombie Preparedness Month in 2015. He states that while he doesn't believe a Zombie Apocalypse will ever happen, it is the best way to make sure people are prepared for anything... a natural disaster, or an unexpected event that could cause devastation to a community.
Through a zombie-themed project-based learning unit, my students will be learning a variety map reading skills, persuasive writing, and research on how best to prepare for emergencies. And we can also use "The Last Kids on Earth" book series to connect and enjoy literacy together as a class. In this engaging book mixed with black and white comics and text, students see how a group of friends battle a zombie outbreak. Help me create an awesome opportunity to engage kids in reading and fall in love with literature. My desire is for them to each have their own copy by the end of the project. We will also have a copy of each book in the series to add to our classroom library.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Jankord and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
