Investigations
and Other
Activities

House B Investigations, Activities, and Field Trips

The students will be given the driving question How does population impact the quality of life? They will use this question to form their own driving questions in their cooperative groups. They will work together to investigate this question using some of the following activities. (Keep in mind that population can be broadened to mean the population of plants, animals, or humans.)

The following activities will pique the students' interest levels and provide basic background knowledge.

All students will:

take field trips to a water treatment facility and a landfill,

participate in other activities/guided instruction based on their needs throughout PBL,

use a webquest to help them with the research portion of their project.

Social Studies and Language Arts

Mini-Economy: Entrepeneurial experience in building/running an imaginary society within the classroom and house (team). The students will utilize this activity to determine how the number of students in their society affects their quality of life.

Language arts students will learn how to construct persuasive essays, letters to an editor (business letter), commercials, and possibly advertisements for their businesses in the mini-economy.

Math and Science

Materials will be provided for students to perform "experiments" relative to their driving question. Teacher will guide students through the steps for the scientific method when appropriate.

Population simulation activities from ZPG unit plan(available for free download on materials/resource page). Statistics, fractions, decimals, etc. will be addressed in these activities.

Any additional math questions will be dealt with on an as-needed basis. Basically students will be on individualized learning plans that support their research around their driving question.

Projects

create a visual aid poster to teach an aspect of the driving question.

complete a powerpoint presentation surrounding their driving question.

letter to the editor

optional commercial/advertisement

Page created by Kami Phelps.
Last updated: July 13, 2001.