My students are a great bunch of 6th graders. I would like my classroom to be welcoming and "home-like" for all of my diverse learners. My students come from a wide range of social and economic households. I have several students who speak multiple languages as well as a student who only speaks Chinese. Although the students are diverse, they are all 11-12 years old that have the same needs: to be able to move around and be part of a classroom environment where they can flourish.
My Project
Breakout EDU Boxes will serve as tools to help my 6th graders learn the value of collaboration through fun, unconventional, team-building exercises. The breakout boxes are modeled after the idea of "Escape Rooms," and will take those same skills required to "crack the code," but in this instance, open the box. This is a uniquely engaging way to bring critical thinking skills and creativity to the surface while getting students out of their seats and communicating with others! I will incorporate the breakout EDU boxes throughout the year as both a review and/or introduction of not only science skills, but the aforementioned skills as well.
This collaborative-based-learning will equip my 6th graders with the problem-solving skills they need in order to be successful in and out of the classroom.
The new NGSS science standards focus heavily on science and engineering practices as well as problem-solving skills and not simply on rote memorization of topics.
The goal of the experience goes outside the box; students will be strengthening communication skills in the race against other teams by asking questions, solving complex clues and riddles, referencing sources, accessing technology, and sharing their ideas and theories with one another. The puzzles in the boxes can be modified to teach science skills, team building skills or a variety of other topics throughout the year. I teach approximately 150 students throughout the day, which will benefit from these boxes.
I can also share these boxes with other teachers as well. My students come from a wide range of social and economic households. I have several students who speak multiple languages as well as a student who only speaks Chinese. I believe ESL learners can be successful at breakout boxes as well!
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