Lakewood Farm Project
                                                                   By: Denise Smyk

Project at a Glance :

Students uncovered the history of the Lakewood Farm in Park Township for the Pumphouse Museum and Learning Center by creating a kid friendly website for visitors and other students in the area.      
 
Driving Question:

How can we (SAIL students) create materials to build excitement about Lakewood Farm for our community?             

Standards:

• CCSS-ELA Writing 5.1 Write informational pieces to convey ideas and information clearly.
• 5.2 Write opinion pieces to support view with reasons and information.
• 5.4, 5.5,. 5.6,  ELA Writing Production-Revise, produce and distribute cohesive writing.  Utilize technology
• 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10-Research- Build knowledge through resources, extend, connect, and use evidence to communicate.
• Informational Reading 5.1, 5.2, 5.3-Read critically to find key ideas in a variety of texts
• 5.4, 5.5, 5.6- Analyze and learn from a variety of text structures
• 5.7, 5.8 ,5.9-Draw, explain, and integrate information
• Communication 5.4, 5.5, 5.6  Effectively communicate and present ideas
• Employability Skills:  Teamwork, Achievement, Re-sponsibility
• Skills for Success:  Communication and Technology

Team / Culture Building:

• Creative DNA
• Tagul - 6 Word Memoir
• Hopes and Fears

​Entry Event:

• Visit current site of Lakewood Farm
• Introduce Lakewood Farm books by Donald Van Reeken and Valerie Van Heest. 
• Revisit insights gained from  Pumphouse Museum visit.

Stakeholders:

• Students
• Teachers
• Museum Board of Directors
• Community members
• Future teachers and students

Empathy Building:

• Empathy maps of all stakeholders
• Survey questions
• Reflections

Inquiry / Need to Knows:

•  AEIOU-asking questions of speakers
• Taking notes from speakers​​​

• Gallery Walk of Field Trip Findings
• Empathy maps
• Pains and Gains
• Stakeholder Map
• Interest Surveys
• Jigsaw by interest research of animals and historical events
• Informational writing
• Top 10 List

Incubation:

•  100 ideas​

• Combin-ide-nation
• Reflect on past projects​

• Brainstorm ways in which we like to learn​.

• Ask stakeholders how they like to learn

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Solution Building:

• Allow students Voice and Choice in their solution ideas
• Use interview information of Museum Directors
• Revisit Stakeholder Map
• Index card voting
• Prioritize ideas using the 100 Dollar Test
• NUF test

Critique and Revision: 

•  Pitch final ideas to the group for feedback
• Dot Voting - to narrow ideas
• Critical Friends with classmates
• Practice Elevator Pitches​

Authentic Audience:​

• Parents
  
• West Ottawa School Board members
  
• West Ottawa administrators ​
  

Final Presentation:

• Jigsaw- students will work within their interest area to build their final webpages.  They will narrow down to the top 10 pieces of information the public needs to know.
• Students will brainstorm technology presentation ideas that they think the stakeholders will like.  ​

Click here for teacher's full plan.

​Reflection and Feedback:

• Speaking/presentation rubric/checklists for audience.
• Reflection discussions daily
• Turn and Talk
• Revisit Hopes and Fears
• Rating of productivity daily- Show me with your hand...
• ​Speaking rubric (students already created)
• Writing rubrics​

Click here for the teacher's Journey through PBL on Padlet . . .

Meet the Educator:

Denise Smyk teaches K-5 Advanced ELA and is a PBL Facilitator at Lakewood Elementary, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI

     "The PBL journey invigorates and motivates both my students and myself.  The enthusiasm, curiosity, and growth in academics, personal characteristics, and employability skills ignites beyond the classroom to the school, home, and community."