Project-Based Learning at St. Albans City School
St. Albans City School has long believed in using project-based learning to enhance the educational experience of all our school's age groups. With this method of learning students work on a project over an extended period of time in a way that engages them in solving a real-world problem. Ultimately, they demonstrate their knowledge and skills through a public product or presentation for a real audience. The goal is for students to develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. It is meant to be an authentic and meaningful process.
St. Albans City School uses project based learning in every classroom. Here are several examples:
St. Albans City School uses project based learning in every classroom. Here are several examples:
School Mall
In the Fall of 2017 the entire student and teacher population of St. Albans City School engaged in massive project-based learning experience. Every learning community from Pre-K up through 8th grade was asked to develop a product that they could market and sell at our School Mall held on December 14th, 2017. Product ideas had to be presented to a diverse project committee of administrators and teachers for approval before starting work. Products and packaging needed to be manufactured by students using environmentally friendly materials and methods. The school's Maker Spaces with their laser cutters, vinyl cutter, heat press and other equipment were offered to those learning communities who wanted to use them. At a minimum extensive research on products had to be conducted on-line. Whenever possible, communities were asked to make products associated with their stewardship projects, for examples; products associated with the wetlands, or maple sugaring.
Requirements:
The makerspace staff created a website showcasing the learning community products several weeks prior to the evening of the School Mall. LINK TO SCHOOL MALL PRODUCTS AND STORIES by learning community.
Requirements:
- Environmentally friendly product(s) and packaging. Recycled materials highly recommended.
- Written background story for the product(s)
- Online brochure
- Pictures of the product(s)
- Production of a commercial, preferably a video commercial to market their product(s)
- Affordable (< $10) and in enough abundance to stock a sales table at School Mall evening
The makerspace staff created a website showcasing the learning community products several weeks prior to the evening of the School Mall. LINK TO SCHOOL MALL PRODUCTS AND STORIES by learning community.
Here are links to the school mall project pictures and media associated with each learning community:
Pre-K Kindergarten - Recycle & refreshed crayons
Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Explorers 1-3 grades - Lavender and Mint Scented Soaps Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Imagination 1-3 grades - Rock Keepsakes to Protect Lake Champlain Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Travelers 1-3 grades - Kindness Travels Cards Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Investigators 1-3 grades - Healthy baked dog treats Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales |
Discovery 4-6 grades - Crocheted hats with donated yarn
Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Incredibles 4-6 grades - Stress reducing boredom blocks and cushions Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Triumph 4-6 grades - Maple syrup and pancake mix Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Voyagers 4-6 grades - Wetlands ornaments and hotplates Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales Renaissance 7-8 grades - Inspiring wooden signs Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales USA 7-8 grades - Patriotic Star Boxes & Flannel Feeling Dolls Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales |
2018 National STUDENT VOICES Award for the school mall project and technology use
The School Mall project was deemed a success! Products sold out at School Mall night and kids and teachers were proud of their work and learning. Here is a link to St. Albans Messenger newspaper article on the subject.
This Student Voices award is one marker of the School Mall project's success:
The SETDA Student Voices Award honors an outstanding K-12 school or district that has leveraged technology to dramatically improve the educational experiences and achievement of their students. Winners receive the Elsie Brumback Scholarship, which allows the winner to bring a team of students and educators to attend the annual SETDA Leadership Summit and tour Washington DC. SETDA also profiles the winning school/district at the Summit through presentations delivered by their students on stage in front of state and national education leaders.
LINK TO WEBSITE explaining how St. Albans City School won the award
This Student Voices award is one marker of the School Mall project's success:
The SETDA Student Voices Award honors an outstanding K-12 school or district that has leveraged technology to dramatically improve the educational experiences and achievement of their students. Winners receive the Elsie Brumback Scholarship, which allows the winner to bring a team of students and educators to attend the annual SETDA Leadership Summit and tour Washington DC. SETDA also profiles the winning school/district at the Summit through presentations delivered by their students on stage in front of state and national education leaders.
LINK TO WEBSITE explaining how St. Albans City School won the award
Examples of Projects:
Kindergarten Butterfly Project
Every year our 100+ kindergarteners raise painted lady butterflies in their classrooms and then release them on school property. They also learn about monarch butterflies through a simulated monarch migration to Mexico. Both butterfly experiences solidify learning more effectively than through book or video instruction alone. Kids like caring for and then physically releasing the butterflies. The migration experience involves art, reading, math concepts and travel around the exterior of the building before arriving at "Mexico". Once there they learn about Mexican foods and a little about the cultures Mexico. Link to butterfly migration project page. Link to butterfly migration pictures. Link to the butterfly garden page.
Imagination Pumpkin and Farm Learning
Since the start of the farm to school program at St. Albans City School, team Imagination embraced using farm content to spark academic learning among their 1st - 3rd graders. In first grade, pumpkins serve as a platform for teaching children about measurements and properties of addition. The pumpkins are weighed and their girth and height assessed with measurement equipment that children can relate to. The anatomy of the pumpkins are taught and then the pumpkins are dissected. The seeds are collected, dried and used for counting lessons. Kids love the handling all aspects of the assessment process. In 2nd and 3rd grades assemble farms. Farm buildings, animals and equipment cost money and children have to learn how allot their funds to be effective as farmers. Working on this project gives them a deeper understanding of all the components involved in farming and food production.
Link to lesson on measurements associated with pumpkins
Link to pictures on counting lessons with pumpkin seeds
Link to pictures on farm economics
Link to pictures on counting lessons with pumpkin seeds
Link to pictures on farm economics
Renaissance Rainwater Runoff
In 2015, the 7th and 8th grade team, Renaissance, took on the problem of dirty roof and parking lot runoff into lake Champlain. Their team asked experts to come and speak to the students and staff about runoff and water management and they helped find $25,000 in grant funds to build two rain gardens, and then they helped plant the rain garden site. The students were the ones who communicated with experts on the subject, researched local native water-loving plants, and did the planting. To summarize, Renaissance's meaningful project now filters runoff water beautifully and addresses moisture problems in the school's orchard, community and market gardens. Their rain garden is a definite success. Here is a link to further information about the project.
USA Veterans Day Celebrations
The 7th and 8th grade team USA has made patriotism and community engagement their stewardship mission. The cornerstone of their work is the job of organizing the largest annual Veterans Day celebration in Vermont. This team contacts veterans groups, community leaders, all the local schools, student speakers from each school, school bands and chorus, and Franklin county parade participants for a gathering of thousands in downtown St. Albans each November 11th. This large event requires developing real-world communication and event organizing skills. Their yearly project is deeply appreciated by Franklin county's military and veteran members and their families. Check out the link to the Veterans Day page describing their work.