Thinking 'Bout Owl Features

My scientists were eager to continue their owl study by learning all about the physical and survival traits of owls.  

They used that knowledge as they organized their thinking into a Brace Map about survival traits and a Circle Map about owl behavior.  

Using their Thinking Maps, and their PK, they took it "Off the Map" and wrote about the features that help owls survive.

Finally, the scientists each referenced owl photographs and then created their own illustrations of owls and then labeled them.

I'm so proud of their learning and the ways they are proving what they know!

Thinking 'Bout Food Webs

I don't know about y'all but with the range of levels I have in my 2nd grade classroom, I'm all about small group instruction across content!

We are all enjoying our small group science time so much! As we continued our study of owls, my little scientists focused on learning all about food webs and food chains. After some brilliant instruction, sparking prior knowledge and reading Who Eats What? the real fun began...

The scientists completed a fun food chain sort as a small group and then independently proved their learning with a food chain flow map. 

Finally, these little scientists compared and contrasted predators and prey using a Double Bubble Thinking Map.

Thinking 'Bout Owls

My little scientists gathered together to discuss what they know and want to learn as we delve into our unit on owls.

My students came up with some great questions about owls and they are super excited to learn all about them. We read a lower level text and a higher level National Geographic magazine to learn more about these amazing birds.

The scientists worked together to create a Flow Thinking Map about the life cycle of an owl and a Double Bubble to organize their thinking about describing an owl.

Thinking Like a Business Community

My students learned that business community members come together to plan and hold celebrations. The Main Street Business Community collaborated on the elements of a good celebration and decided to work in groups on Food, Decorations, and Music. Totally student-led #PBL! 

The community members in charge of food decided to feature foods from the local businesses and made sure to have lots of trashcans ready - they really learned from that Loitering/Littering problem!

The community members in charge of music worked together on a song list that would appeal to all ages - thinking about how to get and keep customers by providing goods and services that people want.

The community members in charge of decorations planned and created decorations by hand! They decorated the space before the celebration...

My students spent about 3 Social Studies sessions planning, writing invitations and preparing for the big event. I know Main Street will stay in their hearts for a long time!

Thinking 'Bout Problem 4

During our Social Studies #PBL, our Main Street Business Community was faced with another problem. We received a letter from Walmart!

Walmart wants to join our business community and the community members had a lot of opinions about that. They followed our Business Meeting Norms to gather, argue and discuss ways to solve this problem.

The community members used the same thinking as they did with the vacant lot to determine the costs and benefits of Walmart coming. They collaborated to consider the goods and services that each provide and considered issues like pricing, space, traffic and customer choice. 

One of the community members gathered the group together to make a class cost/benefit chart, and finally vote on whether to allow Walmart to come.

The students then worked with their businesses to write a letter to Walmart, letting them know their decision and the reasons behind it.

This project continues to allow my students to work for an authentic purpose as they are part of - and creating - their own Social Studies story!

Check out a bit of our lesson...

Thinking 'Bout Problem 3

So, the members of the Main Street Business Community were excited to find a News Flash from our local business community news source! A new #PBL problem had arisen!

The business members  found that teenagers were loitering and littering in the community and even found the litter they left behind. Oh man, were they upset! But, they quickly got to the task of working together to solve the problem.

The community began the task of analyzing the rights of teenagers and the business community and I worked as secretary - taking notes! 

They decided one way to solve this problem was to collaborate to come up with rules for the community. They came up with some great ideas about spitting, weapons and littering and began posting signs. Another idea was to install some garbage cans within the business area and add goods and services that appeal to teens to get them to come inside to spend!

So very proud of my students and their ability to fully immerse in this Social Studies unit!

Thinking 'Bout Problem 2

During our Social Studies #PBL the students were faced with another problem. In the past the Main Street Business Community had worked well together to collaborate and evaluate options to solve their problems.

Our community has a vacant lot that could be used for a variety of purposes or left alone. We thought deeply about the costs and benefits of the vacant lot and the students business members came up with these thoughts...



Each business held their own meeting thinking about the costs/benefits and trade-offs of each idea and then voted on the types of businesses they'd like to propose for the lot.



They finally came to a consensus and decided to put in a tutoring center! Excellent choice!