Exploring North Carolina through Project-Based Leaning includes 50 well-thought-out projects designed for grades 3-5. In assigning your students projects that dig into North CarolinaÕs geography, history, government, economy, current events, and famous people, you will deepen their appreciation and understanding of North Carolina while simultaneously improving their analytical skills and ability to recognize patterns and big-picture themes. Project-based learning today is much different than the craft-heavy classroom activities popular in the past. Inquiry, planning, research, collaboration, and analysis are key components of project-based learning activities today. However, that doesnÕt mean creativity, individual expression, and fun are out. They definitely arenÕt! Each project is designed to help students gain important knowledge and skills that are derived from standards and key concepts at the heart of academic subject areas. Students are asked to analyze and solve problems, to gather and interpret data, to develop and evaluate solutions, to support their answers with evidence, to think critically in a sustained way, and to use their newfound knowledge to formulate new questions worthy of exploring. While some projects are more complex and take longer than others, they all are set up in the same structure. Each begins with the central project-driving questions, proceeds through research and supportive questions, has the student choose a presentation option, and ends with a broader-view inquiry. Rubrics for reflection and assessments are included, too. This consistent framework will make it easier for you assign projects and for your students to follow along and consistently meet expectations. Encourage your students to take charge of their projects as much as possible. As a teacher, you can act as a facilitator and guide. The projects are structured such that students can often work through the process on their own or through cooperation with their classmates.

By designing projects that move students from surface to deep and transfer learning through PBL, they will become confident and competent learners. Discover how to make three shifts essential to improving PBL’s overall effect: Clarity: Students should be clear on what they are expected to learn, where they are in the process, and what next steps they need to take to get there. Challenge: Help students move from surface to deep and transfer learning. Culture: Empower them to use that knowledge to make a difference in theirs and the lives of others.

Exploring South Carolina through Project-Based Leaning includes 50 well-thought-out projects designed for grades 3-5. In assigning your students projects that dig into South CarolinaÕs geography, history, government, economy, current events, and famous people, you will deepen their appreciation and understanding of South Carolina while simultaneously improving their analytical skills and ability to recognize patterns and big-picture themes. Project-based learning today is much different than the craft-heavy classroom activities popular in the past. Inquiry, planning, research, collaboration, and analysis are key components of project-based learning activities today. However, that doesnÕt mean creativity, individual expression, and fun are out. They definitely arenÕt! Each project is designed to help students gain important knowledge and skills that are derived from standards and key concepts at the heart of academic subject areas. Students are asked to analyze and solve problems, to gather and interpret data, to develop and evaluate solutions, to support their answers with evidence, to think critically in a sustained way, and to use their newfound knowledge to formulate new questions worthy of exploring. While some projects are more complex and take longer than others, they all are set up in the same structure. Each begins with the central project-driving questions, proceeds through research and supportive questions, has the student choose a presentation option, and ends with a broader-view inquiry. Rubrics for reflection and assessments are included, too. This consistent framework will make it easier for you assign projects and for your students to follow along and consistently meet expectations. Encourage your students to take charge of their projects as much as possible. As a teacher, you can act as a facilitator and guide. The projects are structured such that students can often work through the process on their own or through cooperation with their classmates.

Embark on an educational journey to discover the wonders of North Carolina this summer with the North Carolina Summer PilotPackage! This one-of-a-kind guide is designed to enrich family learning experiences with hands-on learning adventures. Designed for learners of all ages, the North Carolina Summer PilotPackage transforms ordinary trips into unforgettable educational adventures. From serene landscapes to historical corridors, this book offers over 15 planned field trips and activities to ignite curiosity, foster a love for learning, and build lasting memories. Perfect for homeschooling, or other family trips. What's Inside: State Exploration: Dive into North Carolina's fascinating history, geography, and culture with sections like 'Explorer: Uncovering State Symbols, ' 'Cartographer: Mapping The State, ' and 'Historian: Crafting a Timeline.' Interactive Adventures: Visit iconic destinations such as Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Historic Bath, The North Carolina Museum of Art, and more, with guided activities that bring each location to life. Trip categories include Nature, Science & Technology (STEM), Creative Horizons (Art), History & Civics, and Local Legacy. Hands-On Learning: Engage with fun and educational exercises, from investigating the natural world as a Biologist to exploring economic drivers as an Economist. Final Project: Create a comprehensive project that integrates the learnings from your North Carolina summer adventures, culminating in a presentation or creative work that showcases your newfound knowledge and experiences. Season Specific: Combine the Summer PilotPackage with its Spring, Fall, and Winter companions for year-round learning! Family Fun: Emphasize quality family time with projects and activities that encourage teamwork, curiosity, and togetherness. Go beyond textbooks, use North Carolina's rich landscapes and history as your learning canvas. This guide is a passport to creating unforgettable memories with your family, deepening bonds as you learn and explore together. Ideal For Parents looking for educational activities that offer both learning and bonding opportunities. Homeschooling families seeking to supplement their curriculum with real-world learning. Educators and group leaders seeking resources for educational outings and field trips. Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches, 131 pages, Paperback Transform your educational approach and pilot your child's learning adventure with the NC PilotPackage Summer Edition. Get your PilotPackage today and turn every outing into a family learning opportunity!

In this richly illustrated love letter to the wild places and natural wonders of North Carolina, Tom Earnhardt, writer and host of UNC-TV's Exploring North Carolina and lifelong conservationist, seamlessly ties deep geological time and forgotten species from our distant past to the unparalleled biodiversity of today. With varied topography and a climate that is simultaneously subtropical, temperate, and subarctic, he shows that North Carolina is a meeting place for living things more commonly found far to the north and south. Highlighting the ways in which the state is a unique ecological crossroads, Earnhardt's research, insightful writing, and stunning photography will both teach and inspire. Crossroads of the Natural World invites readers to engage a variety of topics, including the impacts of invasive species, the importance of forested buffers along our rivers, the role of naturalists, and the challenges facing the state in a time of climate change and sea-level rise. By sharing his own journey of more than sixty years, Earnhardt entices North Carolinians of every age to explore the natural diversity of our state.

Introduce your young learners to the North Carolina's history, going back to the pre-European era; moving through early colonialism, agrarian society, the Civil War, industrialization, and the civil rights movement; and ending with the current events that shape the state today. Over the course of five chapters, readers encounter the geography, history, people, economy, and government of the Tar Heel State. African American and Native American histories and contributions are explored.

This unique book combines state-specific facts and 30 fun-to-do hands-on projects. The Current Events Projects Book includes writing a current event news story that takes place 100 years from now, creating a timeline of recent state events, editing state stories in a current newspaper, writing and broadcasting a short news story and more! Kids will have a blast and build essential knowledge skills including research, reading, writing, science and math. Great for students in K-8 grades and for displaying in the classroom, library or home.