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Essential Question
What question will guide the project and learning?
Community Partners
What organizations and individuals will collaborate and enhance the learning experience?
Reflection
What opportunities are there for us to reflect on our academic and socio-emotional development?
Assessment
In what ways can we demonstrate what we have learned and how we have grown?
Exhibition
How and who will we celebrate our learning with?
Project Launch
What shared experiences will engage us in the content, skills, and mindsets of the project?
Core Content
What will we need to learn and practice in order to engage in the project?
Critique and Revision
How will opportunities for feedback and refinement be embedded in the project?
Product
What will we make, build, or do that will have an impact on us or the world around us?
Next
What question will guide the project and learning?

How does learning about the cultures and traditions of the past help us make good choices for our future?

2nd Grade  Project 12 weeks

Llamas, Language, and Legacy: Future Forward!

Thomas R
K-2.AP.16
Self Directed Learning
1-pager

Purpose

Students will begin an exciting exploration of how cultures and traditions from the past guide our decisions for a sustainable future. By diving into Peruvian culture through interactive activities like gardening, weaving, and language exercises, they will build an appreciation for global communities. Working alongside real-world experts, students will grow in self-directed learning and collaborate to enhance their school garden, fostering a sense of teamwork and responsible decision-making for a brighter future.

Learning goals

Students will explore basic Spanish language skills through daily immersive activities, helping them understand cultural nuances. They will gain insights into Peruvian culture by examining geography and traditions, learning how these elements shape communities. Through interactive projects, students will learn sustainability principles by contributing to the school's garden and engaging in composting initiatives. They will also develop self-directed learning skills, collaborate with peers, and apply feedback to improve their projects, fostering critical thinking and creativity in real-world contexts.
Standards
  • [California] K-2.AP.16 - Debug errors in an algorithm or program that includes sequences and simple loops.
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.

Products

Students will create a colorful 3D landform model of Peru, complete with simple legends that explain significant cultural and geographical features. They will each develop a timeline illustrating personal and historical connections to Peruvian traditions, highlighting how these insights shape their future choices. Each student will produce a "best part of me" poem, combined with a chosen black and white photo reflecting their connection to the themes explored. Together, students will enhance the school garden through fun, hands-on activities, such as building composting bins for recycling food waste, fostering teamwork and environmental care. By participating in textile workshops, students will exhibit their weaving creations, gaining practical skills and celebrating cultural arts in interactive displays.

Launch

Let's kick off the learning experience with a 'Passport to Peru' day. Students will rotate through engaging stations that represent aspects of Peruvian culture, such as exploring traditional weaving, tasting Peruvian cuisine, participating in brief Spanish language lessons, and enjoying a virtual reality tour of the Peruvian Andes. This immersive event is designed to spark curiosity, encourage collaborative exploration, and introduce the exciting themes of the project.

Exhibition

Students will transform their learning into a lively exhibition space within the school, beginning with a gallery of their 3D landform models and personal timelines, each explaining the historical and cultural connections. The 'Garden of the Future Expo' will include tours led by students, showcasing their sustainable garden enhancements. The 'Weaving Connections Exhibition' will display student-created textiles alongside attempts at traditional weaving. The 'Spanish Fiesta Performance' will feature cultural skits and dances, complemented by booths where attendees can learn basic Spanish phrases. Finally, the 'Cultures & Traditions Festival' will conclude the project, inviting community partners to explore students' work on Peruvian geography and culture in an engaging and festive format.
Rubric
Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric
Category
Learning Goal
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies
Self Directed Learning
  • I am learning to ask for and use feedback from my teacher and classmates to help me understand my project better
  • I can use this guidance to find and fix mistakes in my work, like solving simple problems with my projects or adjusting my garden plan to make it better.
  • I can ask questions when I am stuck and use hints from my teacher or friends to make my work better
  • I try different ways to fix small mistakes I find in my project and explain to my classmates what I learned from fixing them.
  • I can use feedback from my teacher and friends to make my projects even better
  • I can find and fix small mistakes in my work, like when my story or game doesn’t go in the right order
  • I enjoy learning on my own and get excited to show what I’ve made to help our school garden and learn about Peru.
  • I can independently use feedback from my teachers and classmates to make my timeline and landform projects better
  • I know how to fix mistakes in my projects, like when something doesn't work in my weaving pattern or garden plan, and I try different ways until it looks and works just right
  • I show what I learned about Peruvian culture by explaining my choices, like why I included certain features in my model or what I enjoyed best, and how it can help us make smart choices for the future.
Learning Journey
Empathize
Students will explore Peruvian culture through interactive workshops, creating empathy maps to understand their cultural influences, conduct interviews with community partners to gauge the impact of traditions, and document insights using video reflections and illustrated journals.
Days 1 - 12
Milestone Activities
Cultural Treasure Hunt Kickoff
Launch 45m

Students will embark on a 'Cultural Treasure Hunt' in teams, uncovering clues about Peruvian culture hidden around the school which will excite their interest and introduce key themes for exploration.

Passport to Peru Day
Launch 60m

Students rotate through engaging stations showcasing Peruvian culture, such as traditional weaving, Peruvian cuisine sampling, brief Spanish language lessons, and a virtual reality tour of the Andes.

Empathy Map Development Workshop
Deliverable 45m

Small groups create initial drafts of empathy maps, focusing on cultural insights gathered. Peers provide feedback to refine their understanding.

Failure Analysis Workshop
Deliverable 45m

Students will reflect on what they've learned and analyze a sample presentation for errors or omissions in explaining cultural significance and sustainability ideas, incorporating feedback.

Feedback Circle: Empathy and Culture Insights
Deliverable 45m

Whole class discussion where students share empathy map progress and cultural insights, receiving teacher and peer feedback.

Artifact Presentation Rehearsal
Deliverable 50m

Pairs of students will rehearse artifact presentations, practicing articulation of cultural and historical significance, with soft peer feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Sustainable Gardening Proposal
Assessment

In small groups, students will develop and present a proposal for enhancing the school garden with sustainable practices inspired by their cultural exploration of Peru.

Empathy Map Presentation
Assessment

Students will present their empathy maps, showcasing their understanding of Peruvian cultural influences and personal insights.

Reflection Journal Entry
Assessment

Each student will write a reflection in their journal detailing what they learned about Peruvian culture and language, and how this understanding influences their choices in the garden project.

Peruvian Culture Artifact Presentation
Assessment

Students will create a presentation showcasing an artifact that represents a key aspect of Peruvian culture, explaining its historical and cultural significance.

Illustrated Journal & Video Reflection
Assessment

Students will submit their illustrated journals and a short video reflection highlighting key insights from their interviews and cultural explorations.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Define
Students will analyze insights from their empathy work to clearly define the cultural and geographical factors impacting sustainability and identity, articulating their project aims through focused discussions, timeline creation, collaborative reflection journals, and mapping activities, setting a strong foundation for ideating solutions in Peru's context.
Days 13 - 24
Milestone Activities
Cultural Storytime with Local Expert
Launch 50m

Invite a local Peruvian cultural expert to share stories about traditional practices and engage students in a discussion about their significance and connections to sustainability.

Peer Feedback Session on Weaving Projects
Deliverable 45m

Students exchange weaving projects in pairs and offer constructive feedback on craftsmanship and use of textile techniques, aimed at improving the final product.

Expert Feedback Session
Deliverable 45m

Students present their initial map drafts and journal reflections to community experts and peers for constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Garden Insight Reflection Journal
Deliverable 30m

Students keep a daily reflection journal about their experiences contributing to the garden project, recording peer feedback and personal insights on sustainability efforts.

Peer Journal Review
Deliverable 30m

Students exchange journals with a partner for peer review, focusing on clarity of connections between cultural insights and sustainable practices.

Timeline and Model Review
Deliverable 45m

Pairs exchange feedback on their timelines and models, focusing on historical accuracy and geographical depiction to enhance clarity and detail ahead of presentations.

Peruvian Traditions Mapping
Assessment

Students create a visual map that illustrates the connections between Peruvian cultural practices and their impact on sustainability, explaining its significance to the class.

Cultural Connections Journal Presentation
Assessment

Students present their journal entries detailing their reflections and insights on the connections between Peruvian traditions and sustainable gardening practices.

3D Landform Model and Timeline Presentation
Assessment

Students will present their 3D landform model and timeline to the class, explaining the cultural and geographical factors of Peru and how these influence sustainable choices.

Community Expert Feedback Session
Assessment

Students engage with community experts to present their initial ideas and receive constructive feedback on their understanding and approach.

Spanish Fiesta Performance Participation
Assessment

Students will participate in the Spanish Fiesta Performance, showcasing their Spanish language skills in cultural skits and dances, and explaining how language learning impacts understanding of Peruvian culture.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Ideate
Students will brainstorm creative ideas to enhance our school garden and Spanish Fiesta, draw inspiration from Peruvian cultural insights and sustainability lessons, collaboratively sketch their concepts, and pitch them to integrate peer feedback, fostering imaginative solutions that set the stage for tangible prototypes.
Days 25 - 36
Milestone Activities
Cultural Treasure Hunt Launch
Launch 60m

Begin the ideation phase by engaging students with a cultural treasure hunt to discover clues about Peruvian culture. This activity will lay the groundwork for understanding cultural principles that can be incorporated into their garden planning.

Passport to Peru Event
Launch 60m

Students rotate through stations representing Peruvian culture, including weaving workshops, Spanish language booths, and culinary tasting, sparking curiosity and exploratory learning.

Peer Feedback on Garden Plan Sketches
Deliverable 45m

Students share their garden plan sketches, providing constructive peer feedback to help refine and develop their ideas. This checkpoint allows students to incorporate diverse perspectives into their plans.

Garden Plan Peer Review
Deliverable 45m

Students exchange garden plans with peers for feedback, focusing on sustainability and cultural integration, preparing for revisions.

Spanish Skit Feedback Session
Deliverable 45m

Students receive peer feedback on skits, refining their use of Spanish phrases and performance skills, ensuring readiness for Fiesta presentations.

Final Ideation Share Out
Deliverable 60m

Students present their ideated garden enhancement plans to the class, receiving both peer and teacher feedback to finalize their ideas before the assessment.

Garden Plan Revision Workshop
Deliverable 45m

Pairs enhance their garden models based on feedback, integrating principles learned to improve sustainability and cultural considerations.

Enhanced Garden Planning Presentation
Assessment

Students present their creative solutions for enhancing the school garden, showcasing their ideated sketches and reflections based on cultural studies and sustainability principles.

Garden Plan and Feedback Integration
Assessment

In pairs, students will present their enhanced garden plans, showcasing how they implemented peer and teacher feedback to integrate sustainability principles learned from the Peruvian cultural insights.

Cultural Reflection Journal
Assessment

Students compile and submit a journal documenting their reflections and connections to Peruvian culture and sustainability practices throughout the ideation phase.

Spanish Fiesta Presentation
Assessment

Students will individually prepare and present a short skit or dance demonstrating their understanding of basic Spanish phrases and cultural nuances learned throughout the phase.

Peruvian Culture Reflection
Assessment

Students will individually present a reflection outlining the features included in their landform models and timelines, explaining their choices and how these reflect their understanding of Peruvian culture and its impact on sustainability.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Prototype
Students will create low-fidelity prototypes of their school garden enhancement plans, including designing and sketching garden layouts, building miniature models, and drafting composting solutions, while integrating peer and community feedback to refine their concepts.
Days 37 - 48
Milestone Activities
Kickoff: Exploring Peruvian Landforms
Launch 45m

Introduce students to the diverse geography of Peru by showing videos and images. Have them work in pairs to identify distinct landforms and cultural landmarks, sparking curiosity for their 3D models.

Garden Enhancement Launch
Launch 45m

Introduce the prototype phase with a storytelling session about how traditional Peruvian gardens inspire sustainable practices. Students will be introduced to the concept of integrating cultural elements into their own garden designs.

Peer Feedback on 3D Models
Deliverable 45m

Peers review each other's 3D model prototypes, providing constructive feedback focusing on geographical representation and cultural accuracy.

Peer Feedback Circle
Deliverable 45m

In groups, students will present their initial prototypes and receive feedback from classmates, focusing on cultural inclusivity and practical design elements.

Community Feedback Integration Session
Deliverable 60m

Students will present their refined prototypes to a panel of community members, including individuals with expertise in gardening and cultural aspects, for additional feedback.

Peer Review: Personal Timeline Drafts
Deliverable 30m

Students exchange personal timeline drafts with peers for feedback, focusing on clarity and connection of personal experiences with Peruvian culture.

Garden Design Critique Session
Deliverable 45m

Groups share their garden plans, receiving peer feedback on sustainability features and feasibility, refining their designs based on suggestions.

Garden Design Peer Review
Assessment

In small groups, students will present their garden enhancement designs, focusing on sustainability practices they integrated, and engage in peer review to provide constructive feedback.

3D Landform Model Presentation
Assessment

Students will present their refined 3D landform model of Peru, explaining the geographical features and cultural landmarks, while incorporating feedback received during the prototyping phase.

Peer and Community Feedback Integration
Assessment

In small groups, students will showcase their garden models and layouts, explaining how they incorporated feedback into their designs and improvements they made.

Personal Timeline Reflection
Assessment

Students will complete and share a personal timeline that highlights their learning journey and connection to Peruvian cultural traditions, reflecting on feedback to enhance their narrative.

Prototype Refinement Reflection
Assessment

Students will individually submit a reflection on the process of revising their prototypes, detailing challenges faced and how they addressed errors from feedback.

Garden Enhancement Presentation
Assessment

Students will individually present their prototypes, discussing the design choices, their connection to Peruvian culture, and how feedback helped refine their plans.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Test
Students will present their prototypes of garden enhancements and cultural exhibits to community partners and classmates, gather constructive feedback, iterate on their designs, and prepare for the final exhibition, ensuring alignment of their work with cultural, geographical, and sustainability insights gained throughout the project.
Days 49 - 60
Milestone Activities
Garden of the Future Expo Launch
Launch 60m

Kick off the 'Garden of the Future Expo' with an engaging presentation from community partners about sustainable gardening techniques. Students will explore how these practices can be integrated into their own gardens.

Peer Review Gallery Walk
Deliverable 45m

Students participate in a gallery walk to review peer prototypes, providing constructive feedback on cultural alignment and design sustainability.

Early Feedback Session
Deliverable 45m

Structured feedback session where students share their ongoing projects and use a rubric to give and receive constructive feedback for iterative improvement.

Cultural Insights Sharing
Deliverable 45m

Pairs of students will exchange insights on the cultural aspects of their designs with another pair, deepening understanding through peer discussions.

Practice Presentation Day
Deliverable 45m

Students rehearse their presentations of 3D landform models and sustainable practices, with peer reviews to polish their communication skills and confidence.

Personal Timeline Reflection
Assessment

Students will share their personal timelines, highlighting the connections between their learning journey, cultural traditions, and choices for a sustainable future.

3D Landform Model Presentation
Assessment

Students will present their enhanced 3D landform models of Peru’s geography, explaining the cultural significance and any revisions made from feedback.

Prototype Presentation and Feedback Analysis
Assessment

Students will individually present their garden enhancements and cultural exhibit prototypes to community partners, followed by a self-assessment and peer-feedback session to analyze the effectiveness and cultural alignment of their designs.

Peer Feedback Session
Assessment

Students will participate in a structured session where they provide and receive feedback on each other’s projects, using a rubric to guide constructive criticism and revisions.

Sustainable Practice Demonstration
Assessment

In small groups, students will demonstrate and explain a sustainable practice they have incorporated into the school garden, showing understanding of sustainability principles.

Final Exhibition: Garden of the Future Expo
Assessment

In small groups, students will lead tours through the school's enhanced garden and exhibit space, demonstrating their understanding of sustainability principles and cultural influences during the final project expo.

Cultural and Geographical Insights Explanation
Assessment

Students will work in pairs to showcase their understanding of Peruvian culture by explaining the choices made in their models, detailing geographical and cultural features, and discussing sustainable practices implemented in the garden projects.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Plan
Week 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Phase
Empathize
Activities
Cultural Treasure Hunt Kickoff
Launch 45m
Passport to Peru Day
Launch 60m
Artifact Research and Exploration
Activity 50m
Weaving Workshop
Activity 45m
Spanish Language Exploration
Activity 45m
Spanish Language Workshop
Activity 45m
Community Partner Interviews: Preparation
Activity 60m
Sustainable Practices Discussion
Activity 50m
Empathy Map Development Workshop
Deliverable 45m
Preparation
Week 2
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Phase
Empathize
Activities
Illustrated Journal Creation Session
Activity 60m
Failure Analysis Workshop
Deliverable 45m
3D Model Creation Session
Activity 60m
Feedback Circle: Empathy and Culture Insights
Deliverable 45m
Garden Enhancement Brainstorm
Activity 45m
Artifact Presentation Rehearsal
Deliverable 50m
Preparing Video Reflections
Activity 45m
Preparation
Week 3
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Phase
Empathize
Define
Activities
Journal Writing Reflection
Activity 45m
Sustainable Gardening Proposal
Assessment
Empathy Map Presentation
Assessment
Reflection Journal Entry
Assessment
Peruvian Culture Artifact Presentation
Assessment
Illustrated Journal & Video Reflection
Assessment
Cultural Storytime with Local Expert
Launch 50m
Mapping Peru's Landforms
Activity 60m
Mapping Peruvian Traditions
Activity 60m
Cultural Exploration Stations
Activity 75m
Sustainability Journals
Activity 30m
Interactive Timeline Creation
Activity 60m
Preparation
Week 4
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Phase
Define
Activities
Peer Feedback Session on Weaving Projects
Deliverable 45m
Expert Feedback Session
Deliverable 45m
Cultural Connections Exploratory Workshop
Activity 60m
Garden Insight Reflection Journal
Deliverable 30m
Mapping Refinement and Journaling
Activity 45m
Landform Model Construction
Activity 90m
Spanish Language Cultural Skits
Activity 75m
Preparation
Week 5
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Phase
Define
Ideate
Activities
Peer Journal Review
Deliverable 30m
Final Map and Presentation Preparation
Activity 60m
Timeline and Model Review
Deliverable 45m
Peruvian Traditions Mapping
Assessment
Cultural Connections Journal Presentation
Assessment
Final Performance Rehearsal
Activity 60m
3D Landform Model and Timeline Presentation
Assessment
Community Expert Feedback Session
Assessment
Spanish Fiesta Performance Participation
Assessment
Cultural Treasure Hunt Launch
Launch 60m
Passport to Peru Event
Launch 60m
Preparation
Week 6
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
Phase
Ideate
Activities
Exploring Peruvian Landforms Through Art
Activity 45m
Sustainability Principles Workshop
Activity 45m
Spanish Phrases Dance Collaboration
Activity 45m
Sketching Ideas for Garden Enhancement
Activity 60m
Peer Feedback on Garden Plan Sketches
Deliverable 45m
Garden Plan Peer Review
Deliverable 45m
Reflective Journal Entry: Cultural Connections
Activity 30m
Peruvian Landform Model Workshop
Activity 45m
Preparation
Week 7
Day 31
Day 32
Day 33
Day 34
Day 35
Phase
Ideate
Activities
Integration of Cultural Elements into Garden Ideas
Activity 60m
Interactive Geography and Culture Discussion
Activity 45m
Composting Activity and Reflection
Activity 45m
Spanish Skit Feedback Session
Deliverable 45m
Final Ideation Share Out
Deliverable 60m
Timeline Creation and Crafting Session
Activity 45m
Refining Ideas for Presentation
Activity 45m
Garden Plan Revision Workshop
Deliverable 45m
Enhanced Garden Planning Presentation
Assessment
Garden Plan and Feedback Integration
Assessment
Final Presentation Preparation
Activity 45m
Preparation
Week 8
Day 36
Day 37
Day 38
Day 39
Day 40
Phase
Ideate
Prototype
Activities
Cultural Reflection Journal
Assessment
Spanish Fiesta Presentation
Assessment
Peruvian Culture Reflection
Assessment
Kickoff: Exploring Peruvian Landforms
Launch 45m
Garden Enhancement Launch
Launch 45m
3D Model Prototyping Workshop
Activity 60m
Designing with Culture
Activity 60m
Cultural Landmark Research Day
Activity 45m
Build and Explore: Prototyping Workshop
Activity 60m
Peer Feedback on 3D Models
Deliverable 45m
Peer Feedback Circle
Deliverable 45m
Preparation
Week 9
Day 41
Day 42
Day 43
Day 44
Day 45
Phase
Prototype
Activities
Timeline Creation and Reflection
Activity 60m
Refining the Prototypes
Activity 60m
Sustainability in Garden Design
Activity 45m
Community Feedback Integration Session
Deliverable 60m
Peer Review: Personal Timeline Drafts
Deliverable 30m
Finalizing Designs
Activity 60m
Self-Reflective Journaling
Activity 45m
Garden Design Critique Session
Deliverable 45m
Prototype Showcase Preparation
Activity 60m
Preparation
Week 10
Day 46
Day 47
Day 48
Day 49
Day 50
Phase
Prototype
Test
Activities
Final Touches on 3D Model and Presentation Prep
Activity 60m
Rehearsal Day: Garden Design and Timeline Sharing
Activity 60m
Garden Design Peer Review
Assessment
3D Landform Model Presentation
Assessment
Peer and Community Feedback Integration
Assessment
Personal Timeline Reflection
Assessment
Prototype Refinement Reflection
Assessment
Garden Enhancement Presentation
Assessment
Garden of the Future Expo Launch
Launch 60m
Garden Design Reflection
Activity 45m
Enhancing 3D Landform Models
Activity 45m
Cultural Exhibition Preparation
Activity 60m
Preparation
Week 11
Day 51
Day 52
Day 53
Day 54
Day 55
Phase
Test
Activities
Personal Timeline Creation Workshop
Activity 45m
Sustainable Practice Enhancement
Activity 45m
Peer Review Gallery Walk
Deliverable 45m
Prototype Revision Workshop
Activity 60m
Early Feedback Session
Deliverable 45m
Speaking Skills Practice
Activity 45m
Cultural Insights Sharing
Deliverable 45m
Preparation
Week 12
Day 56
Day 57
Day 58
Day 59
Day 60
Phase
Test
Activities
Practice Presentation Day
Deliverable 45m
Feedback Analysis Session
Activity 45m
No activities added
Final Refinement Session
Activity 45m
Final Presentation Practice
Activity 60m
Personal Timeline Reflection
Assessment
3D Landform Model Presentation
Assessment
Prototype Presentation and Feedback Analysis
Assessment
Peer Feedback Session
Assessment
Sustainable Practice Demonstration
Assessment
Final Exhibition: Garden of the Future Expo
Assessment
Cultural and Geographical Insights Explanation
Assessment
Preparation
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