8th Grade English PBL

Driving Question:What Makes Your Community Unique?

Project Idea

We explored, for our research-based narrative, a typical day for immigrants arriving at Ellis

Island. Those who were legally and medically fit entered the United States and built or

settled in communities with countrymen/women who shared a common language and

culture. More than half a century later, in The Outsiders, the gang relies on their small group of

Greasers for family, sense of community and survival. We are all part of a greater

community made up of many smaller communities. We tend not to realize how unique

and important our communities are.

Entry Event: Research Based Narrative Essay Contest

TOPIC FOR THE 2014-2015 AMERICAN HISTORY ESSAY CONTEST Title: "A Child's Journey through Ellis Island"

Topic: The year 2015 marks the 125th anniversary of Ellis Island as an immigration station. On a typical day, immigrants arriving on the island could expect to spend up to seven hours in processing activities intended to determine whether or not they were legally and medically fit to enter the United States. Imagine yourself as a child traveling through Ellis Island in 1892. How would you describe your experience to your cousin who has never heard of Ellis Island? Narrative needs to be 600 to 1000 words.

Class Discussion ● Students researched and wrote their Ellis Island narratives for the Daughters of the

American Revolution contest. Many included, within their narratives, what occurred to the immigrants once they were officially allowed to enter the United States. These immigrants went on to build communities unique to various aspects of their cultures.

● The class also discussed the unique community of the Greasers in The Outsiders.

● The above topic led to a classroom discussion regarding community, and the idea that we are all part of a greater community made up of many smaller communities. Our larger and smaller communities are unique as well, whether they be sports, food, family, neighborhood, school activities and electives, video-gaming, sneakerheads, colleges, music, science, religion, technology, among other hobbies and interests.

Driving Question

What Makes Your Community Unique?

Purpose and OutcomesPersonal OutcomeTo research and analyze a community and convey its ideas, concepts, and important information in order to fully understand it.

Academic Purpose This PBL addresses the Reading and Writing Informational Text Common Core Standards. As well as the technology based standards.

Universal OutcomesTo introduce, inform and explain a community, its members and traditions to a broader audience.

Need to Know Types of Communities

● Students brainstormed large communities and the smaller communities within them to narrow the subject of their project.

● Students chose a community that they belong to or one they wanted to learn more about. In both cases students researched their community of choice.

Group Multi-Media Presentation

● The purpose of the multi-media portion of the PBL is for self-chosen groups of students to inform/explain to their audience, in detail, their community of choice through a technology based medium.

● Students chose their own and are in the process of completing their multi-media project.

● Apart from researching their community, they have conducted interviews of community members and some will be visiting particular sites such as colleges, SPCA and various areas of San Carlos with the purpose of gathering and further understanding their community of choice.

Group Multi-Media Project

Multi-Media Presentations include one or a combinations of the following:● Videos Presentations● Elaborate Slideshows/Powerpoints that include pictures, videos,

music, informational graphs and tables. ● Photography and Visual Journalism● Infographs● Maps and Collages● Google Based Sites and Blogs (Accessible only to scsdk8 email

accounts)

Technology

Students have used the following technology:● ChromeBooks ● Ipads● MacBook Pro - Imovie● Iphones● Digital Cameras● Google Slideshow/PowerPoint/Spreadsheet/Drawing● Google Spreadsheet● Downloaded and learned to use an array of educational Google Apps including

(among various others):● Wevideo● FloorPlanner ● Loupe-Collage● LucidChart Education● Photography Apps

Students Have Read and Analyzed Informative Articles, Poetry, Infographics, Photographic and Visual Journalism, Websites, and Youtube Videos.

● “Football” Informative Essay● “The Old Man and the Sea” Informative Essay● “For Young Traders, a Market Where Air Jordans Are Blue Chips”● “So Much Life on a Little Patch of Earth”● “Informational - Infographs”● “My Hometown - Photography and Visual Journalism”● “Growing Together: Food Communities”● “Ellis Island Informational Websites” ● “United Behind a Son’s American Dream, No Matter the Consequences” (Article)

and “November for Beginners” (Poetry) - Comparing Two Texts/Genres

Informational Reading/Media

Writing - Informational Essay

Students Have Analyzed and Written Short Responses to the Analyzed Informative Articles, Poetry, Infographics, Photographic and Visual Journalism, Websites, and Youtube Videos.

● Students will write a full length Informational Essay in the coming weeks based on their Multi-Media PBL.