Recent Designs

create a challenge based project

I'd like to explain variance to the class. I want to connect it to their lived experiences, in and out of school, and their interests.

Colonial Interactions with Native Americans

This project will be focused on kitchen science that combines Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Each lesson should focus on a cooking technique, a food type (biology), what happens when cooking (chemistry), and how cooking happens (physics). The project should end with students sharing a recipe of their choice with each of the components explained (bio, chem, and phys). The recipe can be newly created or a family favorite. Ideally, it will be easy enough to create in the classroom, either fully or partially.

Create a two week lesson about the basics of cell biology and the central dogma centered around a phenomenon of of an ecoli infectious disease through food poisoning

This is a High School Biology and Physics integrated science course. Students will start the 5 weeks of this course in the role of biology researchers who have already learned about and compared body systems from different animal groups and plants to humans, including dissection. Students learned there was a zombie outbreak illness and used evidence to determine the cause of the illness. In this 5-week case study, students must use knowledge of simple machines to design a compound machine that can be used to kill zombies. Week 1 of the course should be focused on learning about simple machines and the forces involved. The remaining weeks should build toward the final project design and explanation. Final Project will be students creating the final machine using easy to access materials like cardboard. Additional project info: Guiding Questions How can we use knowledge of zombie anatomy and the physics of simple machines to create a trap device to protect us from a zombie attack? Learning Targets Design a compound machine composed of at least 2 simple machines as a trap to stop or kill zombies. Analyze the forces in the compound machine design to explain how the machine can be used to stop or kill zombies. Supporting Target/s Collaborate with teammates to achieve the desired goal of a fully explained and effective zombie stopping/killing machine. Project Summary In this project, students use their understanding of human body systems and the physics of simple machines to design a compound machine that stops or kills zombies in a fictional zombie attack at our school. Success Criteria Analyze hypothetical data about zombies to determine the needed forces in a machine to stop or kill a zombie. Construct a scientific explanation to justify the use of a machine design to stop or kill a zombie. Students should use systems thinking diagrams like stock and flow diagrams or physics forces models where appropriate. These diagrams will help students explain their learning and choices for their final explanation. The lessons should have lots of opportunity for sense-making through productive discourse protocols. There should be benchmark assessments to determine if students are on track for their final design with explanation of forces.

Students research the history of local Native American communities and how and why they were removed from their ancestral homelands. They produce a StoryMap that makes this history visible to their wider community, combining maps, primary sources, and narrative. Culminates in a community showcase where students present their StoryMaps to an audience beyond the classroom.

This is a High School Biology and Physics integrated science course. Students will start the 5 weeks of this course in the role of biology researchers learning about and comparing body systems from different animal groups and plants to humans. There will be a rat dissection activity. Students must gain an understanding of human body systems and knowing the differences in the kingdoms of life. During this unit, a zombie outbreak will occur. Students will gather data and explore possibilities about what might be the cause of the outbreak. Final Project will be students researching and choosing a causative organism (fungal, bacterial, or viral) for the zombie apocalypse outbreak. Their response will be supported with evidence from throughout the case study. Additional project info: Guiding Questions How can we compare body systems and plans among various organisms to better understand human body systems? How do scientists search for and determine the causative agent of a newly emerged illness? Learning Targets Connect similarities and differences among body plans and systems across kingdoms of life. Investigate the cause of a novel disease in human populations. Supporting Target/s Analyze multiple data sets and varied media (test, video, etc.) to better understand the causes and effects of a unique illness in humans. Project Summary In this project, students build upon their understanding of human body systems and various infectious organisms to determine the cause of a unique illness outbreak. By investigating the hypothetical causative agents, students will respond with a claim, supported by evidence and reasoning, as to the actual cause of the outbreak. Success Criteria Connect human body systems to the impacts of the outbreak illness. Analyze cause using a stock & flow model or anatomical model. Analyze data collected from the outbreak to understand the potential causes of the illness. Construct a scientific explanation that identifies the likely causative agent of the outbreak that includes a claim with evidence and reasoning. Students should learn about systems thinking diagrams like stock and flow diagrams. These diagrams will help students explain their learning and choices for their final explanation. The lessons should have lots of opportunity for sense-making through productive discourse protocols. There should be benchmark assessments to determine if students are on track for their final explanation.