"There's More Than Corn in Indiana"
Driving Question:
What kind of things are there to see and do in Indiana?
Project Overview: 
The learners will identify places on maps and use resources to learn about Indiana.  They will create an online resource after researching to educate others about the places, people, and history of our great state.
Core Standards:
Social Studies
2.3.1  Use a compass rose and know cardinal and intermediate directions
2.3.4  Locate the equator and poles
2.3.5  Use map symbols
2.3.4  Use maps to identify physical features like rivers and lakes
2.3.7  Identify recreational areas
Language Arts
2.RI.1  Who, What, Where
2.RF3d  Prefixes/Suffixes
Math
2.OA.3  Odd and Even numbers
2.NBT.5 Adding and Subtracting with and without regrouping

Mr. Bill Snyder came in and talked to the second graders about fossils and the Ice Age..

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Tractors, Trains, Taxis
Driving Question:
Where would you like to live?
Project Overview:
The students will learn the differences between urban, suburban, and rural areas.  They will
create an online resource an outline resource to teach others about the three different areas.

Common Core Standards:
2.RI.5  Text Features
2.RF.3a  Long/Short vowels
2.NBT. 4 Comparing numbers using symbols
2.NBT. 1 Understanding Place Value
Narrative writing
Social Studies:  Standard 3- Locating places on a map and knowing your community

Health and Wellness

Indiana State Standards:Health and Wellness-     Standard 1:Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion & disease prevention to enhance health.

Physical Fitness-    
 Standard 6: Students value physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.

Math-
2.5.1    Measurement
2.5.11  Duration of Time
2.4.2    Geometry
2.5.12  Money
2.3.4    Number Patterns

Language Arts-
2.6.4  Nouns and Verbs
2.1.8  Compound Words
2.1.9  Prefixes/Suffixes
2.3.1  Plot. Settings, Characters

Project Overview:
The students will discover ways to keep ourselves and community healthy by learning about the importance of healthy food choices, physical activity, and germ prevention.
They will plan a full day of healthy food choices:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and snacks.  They will also create a daily exercise plan for our classroom.  The students will collaborate with our school nurse to brainstorm ways to prevent the spread of germs in our school.
Throughout the project, they will also be planning and managing a fundraiser to raise money for children's cancer.

Driving Question:
How can we, as elementary students, help ourselves and our community stay healthy?

Animals of the Yellow River Project

Indiana State Standards: 
Science-
        2.3 Observe, ask questions about, and describe how organisms change their forms and behaviors during their life cycles.

Language Arts-
       2.3.4 Identify the use of rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration in poetry or fiction.
       2.3.6 Recognize the difference between fantasy and reality.
       2.6.2 Distinguish between complete and incomplete sentences.

Project Overview:
       Mike Hite, Plymouth Park Superintendent, came to our classrooms informing us the Park Department is in need of a children's book highlighting the different animals that live in and around the Yellow River. He asked our students for help on this issue. 
      Our students gained information through guest speakers, books, and internet sources. They organized their research into slideshows that they presented to Mr. Hite, parents, and their peers. 
      Finally, the information was put into a book that will be printed and distributed around the town of Plymouth. Copies of the book will be for sale at Washington School.
  
Entry Event Video: Click on the link to view the project entry event.

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Final Product Page

Click the link above to see our students' final PBL products.

Educators

The following teachers have been and will continually be trained by the principles of the Buck Institute For Education for best practices using project-based learning techniques.

Alyssa Johnston
ajohnston@plymouth.k12.in.us

Teri Bair
tbair@plymouth.k12.in.us

Lindsey Risner
lrisner@plymouth.k12.in.us

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Want a better picture of PBL in action?
Melrose Elementary PBL Video
Buck Institue of Education Video Library
Edutopia