“Project learning, also known as project-based learning, is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges, simultaneously developing cross-curriculum skills while working in small collaborative groups.”  Edutopia, article originally published on 2/28/2008

At BIS, students can choose to sign up for a variety of PBL classes.  Most classes are a trimester in length, meaning students will experience three PBL classes per year.

Below is a brief description of the classes we are currently offering.

Sixth Grade -

·       Art in Action- Explore art from ancient civilizations. Students design Egyptian stele, draw Mesopotamian animals, experiment with Chinese brush painting, and practice detailed incising in their creation of clay mummiform figures.
 

·       Speech and Debate –Students will be introduced to the elements of public speaking as well as impromptu, extemporaneous, informative and persuasive speeches. Whether bold or shy this class can help all kinds of students be prepared to use the communication skills important in most careers today.

·       Science Exploration- Students dive into an ocean of information as members of FISH (Federation for Inner Space Habitats) working on the New Atlantis project. They work in jigsaw groups to solve undersea survival problems and design two-or three-dimensional workstations that illustrate their solutions.

Seventh and Eighth Grade

·       Stock Market- Explore basic economic principals to become savvy investors. Students will have the opportunity to invest “money” into their choice of stocks and track their individual investments through the trimester.

·       Marine Biology- Explore the San Francisco Bay and coastal ecosystems in this exciting PBL.  Learn about the seals, otters, crabs, whales, sharks, etc. that live in the waters off our coasts.

·       At The Movies-

·      Solve This- .

·       Design Challenge- In this PBL students will be learning about a variety of tools and then use them to create projects.  Students will build things similar to the design challenges on the Tech Museum website and Instructables out of wood, PVC pipes, small DC motors and whatever else we can find..