Social studies thematic units are designed as projects which typically take one to three months. These thematic projects are rotated on a three to four-year cycle.
What is Project Based Learning (PBL)?
Project-based Learning (PBL) is a model for classroom activity that shifts away from the classroom practices of short, isolated, teacher-centered lessons and instead emphasizes learning activities that are:
- long-term
- interdisciplinary
- student-centered
- integrated with real world issues
In the Youngers (K-2) classroom, social studies themes include:
- Learning about self and family
- Our community
- Florida History
- Native Americans
- Dinosaurs
Project Based Learning provides opportunities for students to pursue personal interests and questions and make decisions about how they will find answers and solve problems.
Students are frequently responsible for designing projects they work on, as well as the criteria and assessment used to judge these.
Middles (3-5) topics are typically a year long study of a time period. These include:
- American History 1492 – 1775
- American History 1776 – 1900
- Middle Ages 500 - 1500 CE
- Ancient History 3000 BCE – 500 CE
In addition, Current Events and basic government/civics are studied each year.