PBL Project Ideas

6th Affecting Change - Me PSA – Affecting Change – persuasive writing, global and local community issues, communicating ideas with supporting information, CDVs

6 – H1.4.3 Use historical perspective to analyze global issues faced by humans long ago and today.

6 – G6.1.1 Contemporary Investigations – Conduct research on contemporary global topics and issues, compose persuasive essays, and develop a plan for action. (H1.4.3, G1.2.6, See P3 and P4)

W.GN.06.02 write a personal, persuasive, or comparative essay that includes organizational patterns supporting key ideas.

S.DS.06.04 plan a focused and coherent informational presentation using an informational organizational pattern (e.g., problem/solution, sequence); select a focus question to address and organize the message to ensure that it matches the intent and the audience to which it will be delivered.

Trailer Teasers in Literature Book Trailers – creating trailers – movie trailers for books to entice students to read them. Reading appreciation, understanding story elements, persuasive writing S.DS.06.04 plan a focused and coherent informational presentation using an informational organizational pattern (e.g., problem/solution, sequence); select a focus question to address and organize the message to ensure that it matches the intent and the audience to which it will be delivered.

L.RP.06.07 identify persuasive and propaganda techniques used in television, and identify false and misleading information. R.AT.06.01 be enthusiastic about reading and do substantial reading writing on their own.

R.CM.06.02 retell through concise summarization grade-level narrative and informational text.

Masters of Disasters Natural Disasters Create a historical perspective as well as info on how to keep safe. Either through radio show, brochure, commercial, etc.

6 – G6.1.1 Contemporary Investigations – Conduct research on contemporary global topics and issues, compose persuasive essays, and develop a plan for action. (H1.4.3, G1.2.6, See P3 and P4)Natural Disasters – Investigate the significance of natural disasters and describe the effects on human and physical systems, and the economy, and the responsibilities of government. 6– G5.2.1 Describe the effects that a change in the physical environment could have on human activities and the choices people would have to make in adjusting to the change (e.g., drought in northern Mexico, disappearance of forest vegetation in the Amazon, natural hazards and disasters from volcanic eruptions in Central America and the Caribbean and earthquakes in Mexico City and Colombia). S.DS.06.04 plan a focused and coherent informational presentation using an informational organizational pattern (e.g., problem/solution, sequence); select a focus question to address and organize the message to ensure that it matches the intent and the audience to which it will be delivered. W.PS.06.01 exhibit personal style and voice to enhance the written message in both narrative (e.g., personi•cation, humor, element of surprise) and informational writing (e.g., emotional appeal, strong opinion, credible support). W.PR.06.02 apply a variety of pre-writing strategies for both narrative (e.g., graphic organizers designed to develop a plot that includes major and minor characters, builds climax, and uses dialogue to enhance a theme) and informational writing (e.g., problem/ solution or sequence). R.CM.06.02 retell through concise summarization grade-level narrative and informational text. R.CM.06.03 analyze global themes, universal truths and principles within and across texts to create a deeper understanding by drawing conclusions, making inferences, and synthesizing. R.CM.06.04 apply signi•cant knowledge from grade-level science, social studies, and mathematics texts. RESOURCES:

EPals or Skype with a person from that region to discuss that disaster.

GOOGLE EARTH Email: Andy Henry ([email protected])

Description Where – us and W Hemisphere Environmental Impact Human Impact Action Plan/emergency preparedness plan/ adjusting to change.

Driving Questions: How can we protect ourselves and others from natural disasters? http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/g68/hazards.html http://www.epals.com/projects/info.aspx?DivID=NaturalDisasters_elements great lesson with resources http://students.umf.maine.edu/~harveyjc/mathandscienceunit.html Resource: Includes tornado, hurricane, volcano, wildfire, earthquake http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/natures.html Web Resources on multiple disasters http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/web/ slideshow with disaster photos http://www.americanheritage.com/events/articles/web/20060905-natural-disasters- slideshow-7.html?thisSpeed=10000?forwardName=20060905-natural-disasters- slideshow Factual TV.com – great site for video clips http://www.factualtv.com

See the following websites: FEMA for Kids Disasters Area 5th-8th Grade Hurricane Weather Adventure Thunderstorm Weather Adventure Lightning Weather Adventure FEMA for Kids: Natural Disaster Photos 6th-9th Grade Blizzards and Winter Weather 7th-12th Grade National Geographic on Natural Disasters Volcano World Weather Disaster Links EM-DAT: Emergency Events Database Children in Disasters Network International Natural Disaster Situation Reports International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

Disasters (Click here for links to resource sites with information on disasters and catastrophes) Natural Disasters A 4th or 5th-grade unit.

Hurricane! A lesson plan for grades 6-8 from DiscoverySchool.com See also Understanding Hurricanes and Hurricanes Theme Page.

Surfing for Earthquakes and Volcanoes A brief unit for grades 6-8.

Landslides A lesson plan for grades 6-8.Avalanche! A lesson plan for grade 6-8.

The Impact of Natural Disasters Around the World A Internet-based middle-grade lesson plan. See also Natural Disasters Theme Page.

A Study of Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics An Internet-based junior high school lesson plan. For other lesson plans, see Earthquakes: Learn from the Past, Prepare for the Future and The Three Little Pigs in Earthquake Land. A Model of Three Faults An activity from the USGS.Earthquakes: causes and effects A 6th-grade lesson plan from Learn NC.

Disasters that Changed American History A high school level lesson plan.

Red River of the North Flooding 1997 A lesson plan for grades 7-12 on rivers and flooding.

Natural Catastrophic Phenomena A teacher's guide.