Sparking Interest in Non-fiction Text Features
By:  Alexandria Pratt

Project at a Glance :

During this PBL project 5th graders will be using their knowledge of non-fiction text features to design a new text feature that could be added to Energy Alley at the Holland Energy Park. The project ties into a nonfiction reading unit, and addresses reading, writing, and speaking standards. The project should take about 2-3 weeks. ​       
 
Driving Question:

How can we use text features to teach others about energy?             

Standards:

• Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
  

Team / Culture Building:

• Hopes, Fears, & Norms​ ​

• Creative DNA
  

Entry Event:

• The project kicked off with a field trip to Holland Energy Park where students went on a scavenger hunt to discover text features to teach others about energy.

Stakeholders:

• Visitors to the Holland Energy Park
• Holland Energy Park employees

Empathy Building:

• Stakeholder Map

• Create Empathy Maps for various stakeholders.

Inquiry / Need to Knows:

• Students interviewed Ms Ashley from Holland Energy Park to gain insights for their project.

• While at Holland Energy Park students also engaged in a scavenger hunt exploring the text features at various displays in the building.

Incubation:

• Students used the Idea Quota protocol to generate solution ideas.

• Followed by the Rule of Thirds protocol to illustrate what the solutions might look like.

Checking in:

• The Crazy 8's protocol for was used as a way to check in with students.

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Solution Building:

• The NUF test helped students narrow down their solution ideas.
• Dot Voting was used to further narrow down ideas.
• Elevator Pitch​

Critique and Revision: 

• Critical Friends

Authentic Audience:

• Holland Energy Park employees

Final Presentation:

• Students shared their final pitches with classmates and authentic audience.

Click here for teacher's full plan.

​Reflection and Feedback:

• Students completed feedback forms for each team's final presentation.
• They also used Two Stars and a Wish as a reflection tool.

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

Meet the Educator:

​Alexandria Pratt teaches 5th grade ELA and Social Studies at White Pines Intermediate in Grand Haven. I teach ELA and social studies. 

     "I love working through the Creative Sequence in the classroom. It is so fun to watch students grow and adapt as problem-solvers."