This presentation covers the aspects needed to implement a project based learning experience for students dealing with global climate change.

1. A Global
Awareness PBL
By Jana Parkin

2. The following is a PBL designed for students in
grades 10-12 involved in biological or life science.
This fits under:
● the International IB curriculum in environmental
systems and societies.
● the Swiss curriculum under Lehrplan 9.3
Ökosysteme erkunden.
● the USA’s Next Generation Science Standards
HS-ESS3-6 Earth and Human Activity.

3. The Challenge
As a group, work together to plan and develop a project
for decreasing the amount of carbon that is added to
the atmosphere and educate the public about climate
change.

4. The Entry Event
An online and physical scavenger hunt has been designed to
introduce this topic. See the details here:

5. Need To Know
Students will understand the scope of the project as we discuss this BIE rubric. Emphasis will be
placed on the fact that students have the choice in what their project entails and the means of
communicating that project (Student voice and choice). Other rubrics such as group collaboration and
self assessment will also be used.

6. This visual display will help the students understand the overall unit. As a class we will
calender in the dates for benchmarks 1 and 2 which are more flexible. The final
presentations date will be clearly stated.
Need To Know

7. STructured collaboration
4 students will compose a group and be given one of the following assignments:
● Resource Managers
● Facilitators
● Recorder/Reporters
● The Task Manager
An excellent description of these assignments to share with the students can be found
here.
Student work contracts will be created and the process of being fired from the job after 3
warnings explained. Those fired must do the project on their own. Student group
assessments will take place multiple times throughout the project.

8. Inquiry
Student inquiry will begin with the creation
of their own questions. Generating
questions will also occur after each
benchmark.
Resources will include:
● a list of people from the community they can interview
● books on the topic displayed in our classroom including: 100 Under $100 by
Betsy Teutsch, How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Joanna Yarrow,
Environmental Studies: Experiments, Projects, Activities by Vidhu Narayanan
● Skype a Scientist list
● Computers for internet searches
● Some specific websites they may find useful. Here

9. Innovation
Various materials are available in our makerspace including:
● Electronic items to be recycled
● Cardboard and plastic items
● Robotic kits (includes solar cells)
● School garden
Additional resources may be need, students will
be encouraged to see what items could be
sourced from home as well as consider fund
raising activities.

10. 21st Century skills

11. Pacing Chart
This unit is expected to take approximately 10-12 class periods lasting 90 minutes each.
Students are encouraged to set their own deadlines for the benchmarks to build their time
management skills. Formal feedback is given at the end of each benchmark. Formative
assessments and feedback are given continuously throughout class. Summative assessment is
given after students have reflected on their learning.

12. This project was designed to give my students
experience with the 21st century skills that they will
need to be successful in their future careers. Global
awareness is part of the P21 framework. Solving the
climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our
time. This project is designed to deepen the learning of
my students as they explore, collaborate and innovate.
It is a student driven, largely self paced and well
structured unit. Feedback from the community attending
our presentation will be sought after as this unit is
refined and resources added.

13. References
Symbaloo (March 2017) Project Based Learning. Retrieved July 2017 from:
https://en.blog.symbaloo.com/project-based-learning/
Buck Institute for Education (2017) 6-12 Creativity & Innovation Rubric. Retrieved July 2017 from
https://www.bie.org/object/document/6_12_creativity_innovation_rubric_ccss_aligned
McCullough, Joan (June 9, 2014) PBL Role Descriptions For Beginners. Retrieved July 2017 from
https://joanmccullough.com/2014/06/09/project-based-learning-group-roles/
Discovery Middle School (n.d) 21st Century Skills. Retrieved July 2017 from
https://sites.google.com/a/fargoschools.org/discovery-library-technology/21st-century-skills
Additional images found on google images.