Scribd
Upload
16 views

Project Based Learning: Plan A Camp Out!: Dr. Lori Elliott

This document provides a step-by-step guide for teachers to implement a project-based learning unit where students plan and carry out a camp out. It outlines the essential elements of PBL and provides specific activities and steps for teachers to launch the project, guide student research and planning, and allow students to present and experience the camp out.

Uploaded by

Azizah SN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views

Project Based Learning: Plan A Camp Out!: Dr. Lori Elliott

This document provides a step-by-step guide for teachers to implement a project-based learning unit where students plan and carry out a camp out. It outlines the essential elements of PBL and provides specific activities and steps for teachers to launch the project, guide student research and planning, and allow students to present and experience the camp out.

Uploaded by

Azizah SN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 24

Project Based Learning:

Plan a Camp Out!

Dr. Lori Elliott


drlorielliott.com
Thank you for checking out my Project Based
Learning unit plan. This document is used as a
handout for my PBL workshops. It is a simple,
step-by-step guide for getting started with
PBL. I hope you enjoy learning and using the
ideas presented.

Copyright © 2016 Dr. Lori Elliott Educational Consulting


All rights reserved by author.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only. 
Not for public display.
PBL Must Haves!

•  Standards Based
•  Essential Question or Big
Question
•  Project Launch/Challenge
•  Students DO the questioning,
research, creating, and sharing!
•  Ongoing Assessment
•  Real, Public AUDIENCE for the
learning!
•  Teacher Scaffolding &
Conferencing
•  Reflection
PBL or Thematic Unit?

PBL Thematic Unit


•  Real World •  Themed
•  Has an essential Worksheets
question or Big •  Random themed
Question that activities strung
drives the learning. together
•  Student Centered •  Teacher Directed &
•  Students Created
RESEARCH •  Cutesy (That’s not a
•  Students create a bad thing.)
product and share •  Lacks a driving
with others. question or
•  Real Audience for challenge.
the learning •  No Audience for the
learning.
PBL: Plan a Camp Out

Standards/Big Ideas:
•  Research Skills
•  Speaking & Listening
•  Animals & Habitats
•  Developing a Plan

BIG QUESTION:
How can we
plan
a successful
camp out?
Steps to Success!

STEP ONE: Project Launch!


Get creative! This is where you get kids
excited about the project!

Here are some ideas:


•  Visit an outdoors store.
•  Guest Speaker: conservationist, camping
gear salesperson, camping enthusiast, etc.
•  Read a great book about camping.
•  Show pics or a video.
•  Bring in camping items and let students
explore them.
•  Decorate the classroom in a camping
theme or just set up a small tent.
Step Two:
Discuss & Challenge
Talk with the students about camping based on
your launch activity. Get an understanding of their
background knowledge and interest.
Roll out the project with a Challenge!

CHALLENGE:
Students,
Today you are going to become official Campers! You
have a very important job to do in the next few days/
weeks. You are going to learn everything you can about
camping in our area and then plan a camp out we can
have right here at school on ________________. You
will need to know about the weather, land, and animals in
our area so that we can be safe and have a successful
camp out. You will need to find out what campers need
and do on campouts so you can plan the best campout
ever!

** For kicks you can give badges or something fun to


commemorate the project launch if you want.
Step Two:
Expectations
1.  Each team of students will research camping
and make a plan for a class campout.
2.  Each team will decide how to present their
plans to the class. (This could be posters,
presentations, drawings, lists, etc.)
3.  The class will vote on the Campout Plan they
would like to use for the actual camping day.
(They may decide to take ideas from several
teams and that is great also.)
4.  THIS IS IMPORTANT!
There must be a public audience for the project.
Decide if you want others to attend the
presentations of the plans such as room moms and
the principal or will you include others at the actual
campout day such as parents, other teachers and
students, etc.
Step Three:
Question & Need to Know
Anchor Chart time!
Gather students together and brainstorm together
what questions they will need to ask and what things will
they need to know in order to plan the camp out. You
may have to assist students by helping them think
through the process. Here are some questions/need
to knows you might want to include:
•  What do you do on a camp out?
•  What will we need?
•  Where can we get tents?
•  What animals live in our area?
•  What will the weather be like at this time of the
year?
•  Will we be inside or outside?
•  Why do people like to go camping?
Step Four:
Teams
Establish your teams for the
project. Each team will be
responsible for doing research
and coming up with a plan for the
camp out that they can present
to the class.
OPTIONAL:
Animal Research
Need to include animal/habitat
research and writing with your
unit? Sounds like a good plan to
me!

You can have students work alone


or in pairs to complete this
section. You might want to make it
part of the Team Presentation.

You decide what works best for


your class.
Step Five:
Research
Research with little guys can be done
successfully! Here are some tips:
1.  Model everything! Show how to look at
books, videos, pictures, websites, etc. and
take notes.
2.  Supply students with a graphic organizer.
3.  Model, model, model! (Have I already said
that. LOL)
4.  Provide age appropriate resources such
as pictures, guest speakers, videos,
picture books, websites, apps.
5.  Conference with students DAILY!
Step Six:
Make a PLAN for the PLAN!

Meet with each team daily. Here


are your goals:
•  Determine they understand the
topic based on their research.
•  Find out what they want to
include in the Camp Out Plan.
•  Help teams determine how they
will share their plans with the
class. What will they create/
present to the class?
•  Polish the plan and product/
presentation.
Step Seven:
Students at Work!
Remember, this is the students
work! Let them be creative and
do things on their own.

No Helicopter Teachers! It
doesn’t matter if it is cute or
perfect. It matters if it is the
students’ own work!!!
Step Eight:
Presentation of Plans
•  Students will present their plans to
the class. The class will decide on the
plan they want to follow or a
combination of plans.

•  If you included Animal/Habitat


research you will want to share
those final products also one day!
Step Nine:
Camp Out PREP
Based on the plan selected, have
students help with the camp out
preparations. They may need to
accomplish some of the following:
•  Write notes home to ask for
supplies.
•  Ask other teachers or students
to attend the camp out.
•  Gather supplies or make things
for the camp out.
Step Ten:
CAMPING DAY!!
Celebrate the hard work and
creativity of your students! They
have researched, planned,
presented, and prepared for
today! Let them shine and don’t
forget to take lots of pictures!
Step Eleven:
Reflection
You aren’t finished yet. Take time
to have students reflect on their
learning. What do they know now
that they weren’t aware of
before? How did they work
together as a team? What were
the highlights of the Camping Day?
Assessment

•  Observations
•  Conference Notes
•  Written Reflection of Project
•  Rubric for Plans/Product/
Presentation
•  Quizzes over animals/habitats
•  Speaking/Listening Rubric
•  Writing based on Camping Day
Camping Notes
What do people do on campouts?

What do we need to campout?

What animals live in our area?


What will the weather be like during our campout?

Our Plan:
Possible Camping Day
Activities
•  Nature Walk
•  Camping Obstacle Course
•  T-Shirt painting with leaves
•  Campfire Songs/Stories
•  Reading in Tents with Flashlights
•  Putting Together Trail Mix
•  Gallery Walk of Animal/Habitat
Projects
•  S’mores
•  Camp Outdoor Games
•  Stations: Outdoor Experts
and animals
Camping Unit
Resources
Camping by Nancy Hundal
S is for S’mores by Helen Foster
Goodnight Underwear by Harriet Zeifert
Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins
Bailey Goes Camping by Kevin Henkes
Camping Day by Patricia Lakin
Camp Out: The Ultimate Kids’ Guide by Lynn Brunelle
Sleeping in a Sack by Linda White
Smokey Bear App
Credit:Graphics

You might also like