Student Debate News Segment PBL This resource is one news segment of my student run newscast Project Based Learning Enrichment Packets. This segment focuses on opinion and persuasive writing, reading informational texts using textural evidence, debate, research and the Universal Constructs. This resource is complete with job descriptions, graphic organizers and the writing process. Each job is centered around completing tasks that when put together, create a complete news segment. Students choose a question/topic with their partner but work through their jobs individually. All jobs, when put together, create a debate news segment. Each segment is centered around engaging tasks that give students a voice and choice in their investigations that are highly engaging and motivating! Project Description: Debate is designed to teach students about the importance of a good debate. Students are required to create persuasive speeches related to a controversial topic of their choosing. Students will develop and defend their opinion with facts while preparing for arguments from the opposing view. Students will learn that there are always two sides to every story. In this project, students work with a partner to engage in investigations on a topic of their choice. They will choose a topic together to debate against their partner. Each partner chooses an opposing position and will conduct research using facts to back up their claims. Both students will build a strong argument using facts, protect their claim and develop possible counterclaims and rebuttals. Both partners will present in a debate fashion. This project may be completed in a few weeks with a focus on a specific issue, or may be spread out across a semester or entire school year to using multiple issues.

Project Description: Check out our final Math Is Everywhere News Segment All too often math is seen as a subject that is in a world of it’s own, taught in isolation with little to no real world connection. Math is all around us. Often we don’t realize it. This project focuses on how the math skills that the students are learning in their everyday math instruction are used in the real world. Math can help us shop wisely, read maps, plan travel, buy the right car, keep us healthy, excel in sports and follow our dreams. In this project, students engage in investigations on a topic of their choice of how the math skills they are learning in the classroom are used in real life. They work to complete individual tasks as well as work together as a group to collect data and research the real world application of how math is used in our community, nation and across the world. Students reflect and engage in conversations about different jobs that require a specific math skill and how knowing the math skill helps within that job. They work to find specific real world examples of how math is used in life. This project may be completed in a few weeks with a focus on a specific math skills, or may be spread out across a semester or entire school year to capture more real world examples of how math is used in our world today. Final Product(s): Students use what they learn about how math is used around the world to create a print, digital or video to share with their class, school, community or the world. Each student completes a job that will become a section of the final presentation. Their jobs include a visual and written and spoken description related to math is everywhere. Students are required to use 2 sources, report facts, cite sources and will get their stories approved by the teacher before reporting. Considerations: •Students MUST keep their audience in mind in choosing stories to report on. If it doesn’t interest them, it won’t interest their audience. •This project focuses on answering the the following questions. •Why is this math skill important? •Why do we need to learn this? •When will I ever use this? •Where can I find a real world example? •How does this math skill help people in our community, throughout our nation and across the world? Type of Project: Simulation/ real student run News Program Driving Question: How does a newscast help us communicate with one another? How is math used in the real world? Tangible Outcomes: Student Newscast Segment: Math Is Everywhere Timeframe: This project is designed to take 2 weeks but may be extended over a longer time period) We produce a new broadcast every 2 weeks for the entire school year. Materials Needed: Video camera, laptops, PowerPoint, projector, tripod, iPad, lanyards, video creation tool such as iMovie, segment props. This can be adapted as an individual or group presentation.

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The Secret Service Agents: Secret Acts Of Kindness PBL is a project-based learning opportunity where students become secret service agents who complete random acts of kindness at home, school and throughout the community. Students are given a TOP SECRET envelope that includes their missions. Task #1: Setting up and stuffing student envelopes (including envelope tags, RAK bingo, 7-day kindness challenge, mission reflection forms and Secret Agent badges) Task #2: Intro: Hype It Up! and Student TOP SECRET 7 day kindness challenge, RAK ideas, TOP SECRET RAK brainstorming, and Mission Reflection Forms Task #3: 7 Kindness Vocabulary Posters and Recording Forms Task #4: Classroom Kindness Agents Project (Tag, You’re It! Tags, Classroom Kindness Brainstorm, Classroom Kindness Ideas) Task #5: Community Kindness Agents Project (Community Kindness Brainstorm, Community Helper Ideas, Community Helper Kindness Ideas, Community Helper Project Task #6: Kindness Narrative and Random Acts Of Kindness Award