PBL in Early Elementary - Identity

If you've been at Summers-Knoll for any length of time, you know we describe our philosophy as project- and theme-based, where students are taught to collaborate in a community of learners. But what does that look like with our youngest learners?

Project Based Learning (PBL) is loosely defined as

"a student-centered pedagogy in which students learn about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem. Students learn both thinking strategies and domain knowledge."

This type of authentic learning looks very different in middle school than it does in 4th grade, and different still in the early childhood classroom. In the 1st and 2nd grade, Tate and I have to facilitate more, and actively instill curiosity and wonder about a topic (usually through the use of picture books and stories). We do more whole-group project work toward a common goal rather than each child doing their own separate project. We - using academic jargon for a moment - are scaffolding, leading children closer to the next step, which will be more individual work, setting up their own rubrics for assessment, and so on. This starts happening more in the 3-4 classroom, and continues on from there.

Since the beginning of the year, we have been doing a lot of reading, writing, crafting, science - all exploring the theme of identity. We've shared chapter books like A Boy Called Bat, along with a slew of picture books, and special poems. We've written poems and stories. We filled our identity cabinet and did story telling about the items we chose - why they were chosen and why they reflect our identity. We thought of where we live, and how that is part of our identity - and then created a town made of our "dream houses." We studied genetics and fingerprints. We talked a lot about gender identity and a lot of other ways we are alike and different - all with a hope to create a closer community and deep understanding.

Our final project came to fruition yesterday with our Art Gallery Opening. The children in both first and second grades were so excited to share some of the art and writing they worked on. In my class, we chose our Identity Cabinet, our self portrait, and a writing/photography piece called The Best Part of Me. We also made snowflakes to decorate the space along with a quote by Donald L. Hicks - Every snowflake is unique, yet there are each perfect.