What was your driving question?
Grades Involved
How did this project connect to your local or regional community?
What PBE principles were highlighted in this project?
Standards: List standards or competencies that the project addresses
Social studies standards included being able to research a topic and create a presentation to share with the class. Writing skills were also used in their research time. Students working in groups to present needed to be able to negotiate and work together.
Project Description
Students read about MO features in their social studies textbooks and learned how to research a topic using reliable resources. They made observations of the features they learned about while walking on Cliff Cave Trail. Using their research skills they learned more about Cave County Park and created a product of their choice to share their knowledge with the class. Then a Park Ranger from St. Louis County Parks came in and talked about the actual cave in the park and the endangered bats that live there. This also allowed them to ask other questions about the park.
How did this positively impact the community? How was it shared?
Reflection: What was the biggest challenge? What was the most rewarding aspect of this project?
Any advice for a teacher or student that is implementing a PBE project for the first time?
The teachers shared that they saw this as an opportunity to try out a place-based project right away when school started. They were excited about how it all came together and felt good about a first attempt. Next year they will consider doing it again and have some more ideas about how to improve the project. The students loved it and many said it was fun to get to learn about the park and also go for an exploratory hike. They enjoyed learning about the bats as well from the ranger and liked having an expert explain things to them.
