Part 1 - Check out this snapshot of a World Geography Project developed by teachers in Texas!
What I like - It's content rich, it creates a strong need to know, while the scenario is fictitious, the teacher has created an authentic connection with experts for the creation of authentic products. What a great way to contextualize an otherwise seemingly boring scope of fact-based content...
PROJECT TITLE: Z.A.P. (ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE PREPAREDNESS)
GRADE: 9
SUBJECT: WORLD GEOGRAPHY
CONTENT
Map Skills
Map reading skills
Understanding keys & map symbols
Using and reading map scales
Migration/Trade
Historical Trade
Trade Routes & Disease (with historical examples, e.g. Black Plague)
Impact of Globalization on spread of diseases
Migration, lifestyle and disease spread (living quarters, water sources and consumption, etc.)
Aspects of a Community
Location, geographically
Government
Economic Shifts
Natural resources
Resource Management
LawsSocial Contract
CONTEXT: DUE TO A LETHAL AND VIOLENT ZOMBIE VIRUS RAPIDLY SPREADING ACROSS THE GLOBE, YOU HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH A WORLD-SAVING MISSION. AS RADIO BROADCASTERS, YOUR TEAM MUST DEVELOP A SERIES OF EMERGENCY RADIO BROADCASTS AND ACCOMPANYING TOOLS TO MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL HUMAN SURVIVAL. YOU WILL NEED TO DRAW FROM YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL EXPERTISE, MAP-MAKING SKILLS AS WELL AS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF MIGRATION, GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES, GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND MUCH MORE TO COMPLETE YOUR TASKS.
DRIVING QUESTION: HOW CAN WE HELP HUMANS SURVIVE THE SPREADING ZOMBIE VIRUS AND REBUILD SAFE, UNINFECTED COMMUNITIES?
MAJOR PRODUCTS:
Radio Broadcasts (recorded as podcasts) updating uninfected humans with survival recommendations.
Outbreak Maps with directional escape routes and safe zones – must be kept up-to-date with changing conditions!
Outbreak origin map with writing on possible spread routes and susceptibility factors
New community blueprints with laws, planning, and global implications.
AUTHENTIC AUDIENCE: Students will work with actual radio broadcasters to learn about scripting, recording, voice and production.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in which I share the continued planning process! The development of the project alignment guide to align products to learning outcomes to instruction.
Want to dive deeper? Visit our PBL Consulting Services Page to learn more about our immersive workshop on Project Based Learning.
See additional examples of educator created Project Based Learning Units on our PBL Sample Project Resource Page.
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