Science

Use the page to share ideas regarding PBL in Science:

1. In AP Biology, students must research a disease caused by a malfunction in cell to cell communication. It is an activity that involves students working in pairs to create a poster relating to the disease. There are certain criteria that must be met and questions that must be answered. Students receive a rubric prior to the actual project. This project allows the students to apply the information learned in class to a real-world situation - a disease, as well as reinforce the concepts discussed in the content area. Besides creating the poster, students give a short oral presentation on the disease and how it is caused by faulty cell communication via a poster session. I always learn something new during the presentations.

Below you will find the project requirements, rubric and grade sheet used to evaluate the students' work.



2. [|Collaborative Science Projects]

3. Another project that my AP Biology students do is what is known as the "Biome Project". This is in lieu of a final exam. Each student chooses a biome (a large geographic area characterized by certain type(s) of biotic and abiotic factors) and then chooses a specific ecosystem within that biome. I suggest they choose a National Park because it will be much easier to find information about the ecosystem. Students are given a schedule of mini-deadlines during the course of the project and they submit completed work. I give them suggestions in order to make the project better. I do not give them a lot of information about the terms and the technology they need to use to complete the project. It is definitely a learning process. Students must contact experts in the field to gain information. They must also learn and apply new technology skills. At the present time, students create an "Ecotourism" Power Point presentation, but I plan on having them create a website in the future. I learn a lot myself and have created an extensive list of places I want to visit in the future!

Below you will find the project requirements, rubric and grade sheet used to evaluate the students' work.