All grades  Project 6 weeks

Balancing Act: Life in Harmony!

Laurie S
HS-LS2-7
D4.7.3-5
DA:Cr1.1.4.b
Self Directed Learning
Academic Mindset
+ 1 more
1-pager

Purpose

The purpose of the Balanced Life Campaign is to engage students in exploring and understanding the concept of balance in various aspects of life, including physical, emotional, environmental, social, and digital realms. Through hands-on projects, students will create campaigns that inspire younger peers to adopt balanced lifestyles, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. This experience aims to cultivate self-awareness, community engagement, and problem-solving skills, empowering students to make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Learning goals

Students will develop skills in collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking by designing and executing a Balanced Life Campaign. They will engage in self-directed learning, using feedback and reflection to assess their personal growth in achieving balance. Through research and interaction with community partners, students will explore environmental impacts and strategies for sustainable living, aligning with science and social studies standards. Additionally, they will enhance their communication skills by creating persuasive materials and presenting their campaigns at the Balance Fair.
Standards
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] HS-LS2-7 - Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
  • [National Council for the Social Studies] D4.7.3-5 - Explain different strategies and approaches students and others could take in working alone and together to address local, regional, and global problems, and predict possible results of their actions.
  • [National Core Arts Standards] DA:Cr1.1.4.b - Develop a movement problem and manipulate the elements of dance as tools to find a solution.
Competencies
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will create a "Balanced Life Campaign" package that includes visual elements such as posters, infographics, and zines. They will also produce media components like PSA videos, skits, or podcasts, and develop interactive activities such as games, balance challenges, or guided exercises. These products are designed to inspire others to take steps toward achieving a balanced life and will be showcased at the schoolwide "Balance Fair."

Launch

Kick off the learning experience with an immersive "Balance Day" simulation where students rotate through stations depicting extremes of imbalance, such as a tech overload zone, a junk food corner, a noise chaos area, and a nature disconnect space. After experiencing each station, gather students for a reflective discussion on their feelings and observations, prompting them to brainstorm what balance might look like in each scenario. This launch will set the stage for the project by highlighting the contrasts between imbalance and balance, sparking curiosity and engagement with the essential question.

Exhibition

Students will host a schoolwide "Balance Fair," where each group sets up interactive booths showcasing their campaign materials. They will present their posters, videos, and zines, and engage visitors with activities such as breathing exercises, balance challenges, and recycling games. This exhibition allows students to explain their work, lead activities, and inspire others to take steps toward a balanced life.