February 1, 2017
Hello 4th grade STEAM parents,
We are writing to tell you about an exciting project we are about to start.
As you might know, in our school we use the teaching method of Project Based Learning, or PBL, to help students learn better. A project motivates students to gain knowledge, and they remember it longer. Projects give students the chance to apply the skills they learn in school to personally relevant and real-world situations. Your child also learns skills in PBL such as how to think critically, solve problems, work in teams and within a time constraint and make presentations. These skills will help students succeed in the future, both in school and in today’s work world.
Our project is called Every Kid in a Park and it will last about three weeks. Students will learn about the five regions of the United States, physical and human characteristics, use maps and practice math operations with large numbers. The project’s Driving Question, which focuses our work, is What national park would be the best fit for my family and me for a vacation? What route would we take, what would we see along the way, how much would it cost, how long would it take? Students will be involved in using paper and digital maps, researching regions of the US and National Parks, calculating costs and distances, writing about their upcoming journey and creating a commercial for a National Park. Your child will work in a team, guided by all the 4th grade teachers.
At the end of the project students will make presentations at our Spring Expo. This presentation will take place at A2STEAM and is scheduled for March 30. We hope you will be able to attend.
Students will be assessed individually on their content knowledge, their collaboration skills, and their presentation skills. As parents or guardians, you can discuss the project at home, encouraging your child to think hard and ask questions about the topic.
We are seeking any parents with photos of National Parks or anyone with a AAA membership who could help us get materials. Please contact Ms. Culver (culverhallt@aaps.k12.mi.us) if are able to help in these two areas.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the project!
Sincerely,
Ms. Culver, Ms. Bertelson, Ms. Huntely and Ms. Jones
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