Read or listen to this as a podcast.

You cannot survive PBL in total chaos - class management matters!

*structure
*time for deep work
*clear behaviour expectations
*noise shouldn't interfere with learning
*accountability through interdependence
*be proactive!

The 6 STEP PROCESS OF PBL is a Problem Solving Process that allows you to break down and organize the structure of a PBL Unit into six different stages: 1. Define the Problem, 2. Solution Criteria, 3. Solution Research, 4. Pick a Solution, 5. Create, Run, and Inspect Solution, and 6. Reflect on Solution.

This terrific resource has a FREE PDF file of this process and how to run each step. The site also includes many resources, blog articles, examples of the process in elementary, middle and high schools, rubrics, videos and more at each step of the process. A great one-stop shop!

Use YouTube-Like videos to inspire and engage your students! There are some amazing ideas in here.

The inquiry learning examples below will give you some ideas for launching a successful project or unit with your students. Moreover, they are engaging, motivating, and challenging for all grade levels.

A fabulous resource for K-12 students that makes connections to ELA, Social Studies, Science, Career Ed, PAA, Health, Art & Math.

Use the filters on the left of the screen to filter down to the grade and subject you're looking for resources for.

Featured resources include :
My Food My Story (Gr. K-4)
Saskatchewan Seed Kit (Gr. 3)
Global Food Security (Gr. 7)
Ag Careers (Gr. 7/8)
What is Growing Around Us? (Gr. 2-4)
Exploring a Healthy Relationship with the Land (ES20 or Gr. 10)
Ag in Sk: Past Present Future (Gr. 4)

There is much much more available as well!

Science Background:
An object in flight is constantly engaging in a tug of war between the opposing forces of lift, weight (gravity), thrust and drag. Flight depends on these forces – whether the lift force is greater than the weight force and whether thrust is greater than drag (friction) forces.
Lift and drag are considered aerodynamic forces because they exist due to the movement of an object (such as a plane) through the air. The weight pulls down on the plane opposing the lift created by air flowing over the wing. Thrust is generated by the propeller (engine) and opposes drag caused by air resistance. During take-off, thrust must counteract drag and lift must counteract the weight before the plane can become airborne.
If a plane or bird flies straight at a constant speed:
• lift force upwards = weight force downwards (so the plane/bird stays at a constant height)
• thrust force forwards = opposing force of drag (so the plane/bird stays at a constant speed).

This is available in website and app versions. This is a very user friendly way to make podcasts.  There are a variety of sound effects, clips etc to be used to make a polished more professional sounding podcast.  Students - make sure you have your school's and parent's permission before using this! 

Instructors can now freely access "App Development with Swift" through the Canvas Commons. The course includes lessons, teacher guides and developer tools for use in the classroom.
You will need to work with apple products or iOS for this resource.

During the first weeks of school, your goal as a teacher is to build a PBL classroom culture with your students.

Science Background:

Most nonpermanent markers use inks that are made of colored pigments and water. On a coffee filter, the water in the ink carries the pigment onto the paper. When the ink dries, the pigment remains on the paper.

When you dip the paper in water, the dried pigments dissolve. As the water travels up the paper, it carries the pigments along with it. Different-colored pigments are carried along at different rates; some travel farther and faster than others. How fast each pigment travels depends on the size of the pigment molecule and on how strongly the pigment is attracted to the paper. Since the water carries the different pigments at different rates, the black ink separates to reveal the colors that were mixed to make it.

Chromatography is one of the most valuable techniques biochemists have for separating mixtures. It can be used to determine the ingredients that make up a particular flavor or scent, to analyze the components of pollutants, to find traces of drugs in urine, and to separate blood proteins in various species of animals (a technique that's used to determine evolutionary relationships).

Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.

Science Background:
• Sulfuric acid removes water from the sugar (Dehydration).
• Reaction is very exothermic (releases heat)
• With water removes you are left with elemental carbon
• Much of the water is boiled off as steam

Materials: Sulfuric acid, sugar, beaker, glass stir rod, dish to collect overflow

Directions:
1. Fill beaker 2/3 full of sugar. 100-250 mL is a good size
2. Add concentrated Sulfuric Acid so it just covers sugar
3. Mix with glass stir rid (you may need to add some more acid)
4. When beaker heats up (sugar turns brown) stop stirring.
5. Reaction may take a few minutes. Be patient.

If you want to learn to program, you need to write (a lot of) code.
At CodeCombat, our job is to make sure you're doing that with a smile on your face.

Click "Play" then complete the pop up in the top right corner to create a free teacher account. Students can also get started without an account.

You can see some great ideas of PBL in action to use in your own classroom!

The projects are organized by elementary, middle and high school.

Science Background:

When a metal or metal salt is burned, the input of thermal energy raises the electrons in the metal atom to a higher energy state. These electrons cannot remain in this excited state for too long and will emit energy in the form of light to return to the more stable, grounded state. It is this light we see when a metal atom is burned in a flame. Each metal has a characteristic flame colour which has been found to be useful in identifying minerals.

Materials: wood splints, Bunsen burner or BBQ lighter, solutions of strontium chloride (red), cupper (II) chloride (blue), copper (II) sulphate (green), calcium chloride (orange), potassium chloride (purple), and sodium carbonate (yellow).

All humans and everything made by humans have disappeared without a trace from Ireland. The students will need to do decide on where they are going to build 3 communities based on the following:

i. What is daily life like in Ireland?
ii. What are the needs and wants of a community?
iii. What resources are found in Ireland?
iv. How are communities interdependent?
v. How does climate and environmental factors affect where people live?
vi. How does available natural resources affect where people live?
vii. How can wealth be distributed between communities?

Students examine consumer choices and fair trade in this excellent grade 7/8 project. Choices are available for I DO, WE DO and YOU DO.

Science Background:
Encourage students to be creative in their problem-solving strategies, within the scope of the rules. Students will discover that any strategy that increases the amount of heat or increases the surface area of the ice will result in a faster melt. You might ask students how they would change their strategies if the ice cube were doubled in size, if they were melting a large block of ice, or if they were melting an equal mass of ice chips.
Materials: one ice cube for each student
Directions:
Melt an ice cube as fast as you can, using the following three rules:
1. You cannot put the ice cube in your mouth
2. You must collect as much of the melted water as possible (decide how you will collect the water)
3. You can only use what is at your desk right now

Students in Grades 5/6 create novel studies that can then be done with Grades 1/2.

By signing up with your email address and clicking the yellow subscribe button, you will receive this great design thinking project that your students will love! It is part of a design thinking toolkit and includes a free design thinking project, an eBook, and a suite of assessments. You will also receive a weekly email with free, members-only access to the latest blog posts, videos, podcasts and resources to help you boost creativity and spark innovation in your classroom.