PROJECT OVERVIEW
Name of Project:              Book-eBlog                                                                                         Duration: 2 weeks
Subject/Course: English Language Arts                                Teacher(s): Juan Ramirez                                    Grade Level: 7th and 8th

Other subject areas to        None other than technology education
be included, if any:


Project Idea                  The issue at Virgil Middle School is that 50% of students are not reading novels. The question then arises: How can we spark
Summary of the issue,         students to read more? How do we allow students to share information and opinions about books that teenagers might like? If
challenge, investigation,     students like a particular book, then they are more likely read that particular book to take an Accelerated Reader test and thus
scenario, or problem:         increase reader participation. This would also increase curiosity and interest in reading what students might like. This project also
                              holds students accountable and provides a sense of


Driving Question              How can we build a website to share opinions about novels that teenagers might like?
                              How can you get your peers excited about reading books?

Content and Skills            Summarizing, Defining Elements of Plot, Critiquing and Evaluating works of literature. In essence, narrative standards relating to
Standards to be               narrative will be assessed via the
addressed:
                                                                                       T+A       E                                                           T+A        E
21st Century Skills           Collaboration                                            A              Other:
to be explicitly taught and
assessed (T+A) or that        Presentation
will be encouraged (E) by
                                                                                       T/A
project work, but not
                              Critical Thinking:                                       T
taught or assessed:

                                                                                                                                      Presentation Audience:




                                                                                                                                      © 2008 Buck Institute for Education   1
Group:          A pair of students read a book together and they present a video book review                                                 x
Culminating                        critiquing and evaluating the relevance of its work with peers. Students work                      Class:
Products and                       collaboratively by pre-writing a script that addresses the elements of the book that
Performances                       focus primarily on character analysis, plot development and resolution and climax.
                                                                                                                                     School:


                                                                                                                                  Community:
                                   Student must read novel individually to critique and evaluate the novel with their                Experts:
                   Individual:     partner. Students will work on advice of the teacher and technology coordinator .
                                                                                                                                       Web:                     x
                                                                                                                           Other: Students post reviews on
                                                                                                                           www.virgilms.net eblogger and a
                                                                                                                           digital portfolio on Google Docs.

                                                     PROJECT OVERVIEW
Entry event to
launch inquiry,     Show book trailers for most popular books. This provides examples and immediately hooks the readers.
engage students:
Assessments                            Quizzes/Tests                                                Practice Presentations
                      Formative
                     Assessments       Journal/Learning Log                                    x    Notes                                                            x
                        (During
                        Project)       Preliminary Plans/Outlines/Prototypes                   x    Checklists                                                       x
                                       Rough Drafts                                            x    Concept Maps/ Thinking Map                                       x
                                       Online Tests/Exams                                      x    Other:

                                       Written Product(s), with rubric:                        x    Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with rubric:
                      Summative        Book Review                                                  __________________________________________________
                     Assessments
                    (End of Project)   Oral Presentation, with rubric                          x    Peer Evaluation                                                  x
                                       Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test                            Self-Evaluation                                                  x
                                       Essay Test                                                   Other:
                                                                             .




                                                                                                                               © 2008 Buck Institute for Education       2
Resources    On-site people, facilities:                 Mr. Herrero head computer technician and advisor
Needed
             Equipment:                                                Laptops , Hp or iMac
             Materials:                              Book, Partner, Google Docs, “How to Write a Book Trailer”
             Community resources:          Non-applicable

Reflection                    Journal/Learning Log                       x   Focus Group
Methods       (Individual,
             Group, and/or    Whole-Class Discussion                     x   Fishbowl Discussion
             Whole Class)
                              Survey                                     x   Other:




                                                                                                   © 2008 Buck Institute for Education   3
PROJECT TEACHING AND LEARNING GUIDE
Project: Book Trailer                                        Course/Semester: Fall/ Narrative


           Knowledge and Skills Needed By Students                  Scaffolding / Materials/ Lessons To Be Provided
        to successfully complete culminating products and             by the project teacher, other teachers, experts,
      performances, and do well on summative assessments                     mentors, or community members
Students must be able to read and comprehend the plot            Students pair up in two or threes to read and complete a
of a novel to successfully begin the process of creating a       novel together. Reading time will be assigned in class for
book trailer                                                    two weeks. Independent reading is highly suggested.


Students must be a able to summarize and paraphrase a            Students will watch movie trailers to help and guide in the
novel’s plot. Plot development and summary is important          development of creating their own book trailers. However,
in order to create a book trailer.                              students will create a movie trailer of their favorite movie.
                                                                 This will be done in class. Students will present whole
                                                                 class.
Students have to write in 3rd Person Omniscient to               Students will write out a script for the screen or create a
present the plot of the movie.                                   short written book trailer. Once students write, review,
                                                                and edit script. They will rehearse or write script
                                                                 numerous times.

Students will have to know how to upload video and               Teacher will dedicate an entire day to teaching students
written documents online to e-blogger. Video and internet        how to upload video and scripts to e-blogger using their
skills are a must                                               google docs user sign in name (student e-mail).




                                                             




                                                                                                    © 2008 Buck Institute for Education   4
PROJECT       CALENDAR
Project:                         Start Date:

     MONDAY   TUESDAY      WEDNESDAY             THURSDAY                     FRIDAY
                        Project Week One
                        Students pair up        Students learn
                          And go to the        the elements of
                        library to choose           plot to
                          a book of their      understand the
                              liking.          structure of the
                                                    novel


                        Project Week Two




                        Project Week Three




                                                                  © 2008 Buck Institute for Education   5
Project Week Four




                    © 2008 Buck Institute for Education   6
© 2008 Buck Institute for Education   7

First PBL Project: Book trailer

  • 1.
    PROJECT OVERVIEW Name ofProject: Book-eBlog Duration: 2 weeks Subject/Course: English Language Arts Teacher(s): Juan Ramirez Grade Level: 7th and 8th Other subject areas to None other than technology education be included, if any: Project Idea The issue at Virgil Middle School is that 50% of students are not reading novels. The question then arises: How can we spark Summary of the issue, students to read more? How do we allow students to share information and opinions about books that teenagers might like? If challenge, investigation, students like a particular book, then they are more likely read that particular book to take an Accelerated Reader test and thus scenario, or problem: increase reader participation. This would also increase curiosity and interest in reading what students might like. This project also holds students accountable and provides a sense of Driving Question How can we build a website to share opinions about novels that teenagers might like? How can you get your peers excited about reading books? Content and Skills Summarizing, Defining Elements of Plot, Critiquing and Evaluating works of literature. In essence, narrative standards relating to Standards to be narrative will be assessed via the addressed: T+A E T+A E 21st Century Skills Collaboration A Other: to be explicitly taught and assessed (T+A) or that Presentation will be encouraged (E) by T/A project work, but not Critical Thinking: T taught or assessed: Presentation Audience: © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 1
  • 2.
    Group: A pair of students read a book together and they present a video book review x Culminating critiquing and evaluating the relevance of its work with peers. Students work Class: Products and collaboratively by pre-writing a script that addresses the elements of the book that Performances focus primarily on character analysis, plot development and resolution and climax. School: Community: Student must read novel individually to critique and evaluate the novel with their Experts: Individual: partner. Students will work on advice of the teacher and technology coordinator . Web: x Other: Students post reviews on www.virgilms.net eblogger and a digital portfolio on Google Docs. PROJECT OVERVIEW Entry event to launch inquiry, Show book trailers for most popular books. This provides examples and immediately hooks the readers. engage students: Assessments Quizzes/Tests Practice Presentations Formative Assessments Journal/Learning Log x Notes x (During Project) Preliminary Plans/Outlines/Prototypes x Checklists x Rough Drafts x Concept Maps/ Thinking Map x Online Tests/Exams x Other: Written Product(s), with rubric: x Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with rubric: Summative Book Review __________________________________________________ Assessments (End of Project) Oral Presentation, with rubric x Peer Evaluation x Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test Self-Evaluation x Essay Test Other: . © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 2
  • 3.
    Resources On-site people, facilities: Mr. Herrero head computer technician and advisor Needed Equipment: Laptops , Hp or iMac Materials: Book, Partner, Google Docs, “How to Write a Book Trailer” Community resources: Non-applicable Reflection Journal/Learning Log x Focus Group Methods (Individual, Group, and/or Whole-Class Discussion x Fishbowl Discussion Whole Class) Survey x Other: © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 3
  • 4.
    PROJECT TEACHING ANDLEARNING GUIDE Project: Book Trailer Course/Semester: Fall/ Narrative Knowledge and Skills Needed By Students Scaffolding / Materials/ Lessons To Be Provided to successfully complete culminating products and by the project teacher, other teachers, experts, performances, and do well on summative assessments mentors, or community members Students must be able to read and comprehend the plot Students pair up in two or threes to read and complete a of a novel to successfully begin the process of creating a novel together. Reading time will be assigned in class for book trailer  two weeks. Independent reading is highly suggested. Students must be a able to summarize and paraphrase a Students will watch movie trailers to help and guide in the novel’s plot. Plot development and summary is important development of creating their own book trailers. However, in order to create a book trailer.  students will create a movie trailer of their favorite movie. This will be done in class. Students will present whole class. Students have to write in 3rd Person Omniscient to Students will write out a script for the screen or create a present the plot of the movie. short written book trailer. Once students write, review,  and edit script. They will rehearse or write script numerous times. Students will have to know how to upload video and Teacher will dedicate an entire day to teaching students written documents online to e-blogger. Video and internet how to upload video and scripts to e-blogger using their skills are a must  google docs user sign in name (student e-mail).  © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 4
  • 5.
    PROJECT CALENDAR Project: Start Date: MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Project Week One Students pair up Students learn And go to the the elements of library to choose plot to a book of their understand the liking. structure of the novel Project Week Two Project Week Three © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 5
  • 6.
    Project Week Four © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 6
  • 7.
    © 2008 BuckInstitute for Education 7