Why do people yawn?
How has the skeleton changed as we have evolved?
These are among the questions Middlesex Middle School (MMS) Yellow Team students researched as part of an English and Science interdisciplinary project.
The sixth graders were asked to select a topic as part of the Human Body Unit and produce a research report and scientific model.
The culminating event was an Information Fair where students presented to staff and parents in the MMS Library Media Center. More than 100 attended the event.
Students at the Information Fair
“Students took pride in their projects because they had ownership of their topic and two classes to prepare and organize research,” said Amy Lareau, Social Studies teacher and team leader.
“They also enjoyed the fact that two seemingly different classes could pull together to show how skills apply to both subjects. And the use of technology helped facilitate the work across classes.”
The project was completed during Science classes and as part of an informational writing unit in English classes.
In Science, students investigated organ systems, brainstormed possible topics, collected notes in science journals, and built models.
In English class, students drafted using research, and worked on parts of an effective essay, including citing resources. Google Docs and Drive allowed sharing of work and annotated bibliographies between classes.
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— an announcement from Darien Public Schools
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Core academic Yellow Team members are Lareau, Science teacher Jackie Luginbuhl, English teacher Lindsay Wrinn, English teacher Trisha Mears, and Math teacher George Taylor.
“Not only did the project pull in skills from academic classes, the students bonded over the common experience and demonstrated their knowledge in a courteous, professional manner,” said Lareau. “The Fair really showed what project-based learning in an inquiry setting can do to inspire students to learn.”