Fall 2017 PBL Projects

Kindergarten ~ What's in My Heart? ​What's in Your Heart?

This project allowed our kindergarteners to strengthen their speaking and listening skills to learn about each other and explore ways we are  similar and different. We then used literature to look beyond our classrooms out into our world, noticing that in spite of our differences we all have hearts that hold love, hopes, worries ... Students created "In My Heart" books and used their iPads to share them with others. They also created rocks that invited others to share what is in their heart with us.

1st Grade ~ ​Cities!​

In this project first graders studied the systems that make up a city.

After identifying the problems that residents face, groups of students researched and designed a city that would improve the quality of life for it’s residents.

2nd Grade ~  How Can We Impact Our Community?

In second grade, students learned about what a community is and got to know their own communities. We looked at maps and talked about where we go in our communities, what communities need and why we need those things. We examined the school, our neighborhoods and the city to compare different sizes of communities and find their similarities and differences.  

Next, students looked at problems communities face, and what local organizations are doing to solve them.  We toured and brought food and clothes to the 45th St. Food Bank.  We also had guest speakers come to talk to our classes about programs like Urban Rest Stop and Tiny Houses.  

Finally, students thought about how they could positively impact their community through various projects such as a food drive, helping their family with extra chores, or picking up trash in their neighborhood.

3rd Grade ~ We Are Seattle

The third graders explored the history and contributing voices that have come together to create Seattle.  We began with researching our own family history through conducting an interview and understanding our family migration story.  We visited the Wing Luke Museum and Daybreak Star Cultural Center to hear more about two of the many important communities that 

helped create Seattle. Lastly, we learned more about immigration and refugees through both statistics and literature that brings their story and experience to life.  ​

4th Grade ~ Passion Projects

4th graders combined their own passions and interests with the question, How am I making an impact on the world? to create Passion Projects. Each student’s project was centered around a driving question, used a variety of sources, some even connecting with experts in their field, and included actions people can take to learn more or contribute. Learning was shared in a variety of ways including models, 

presentation boards, websites, audio and visual media, products, brochures and flyers. 
Examples of driving questions: 

• How can I establish a classroom composting system at QAE?
• How can I conserve water and help others conserve water?
• How can I help the world see that we should accept the Duwamish people as a federally recognized tribe?
• How can I plan a cost efficient trip to Hawaii for my family of four?

Student created websites for Passion Projects: 

Urban Wild

wilderness savers

really fun math

Duwamish recognition history

The Force Of Us

5th Grade ~ Food Justice

For us, food is so much more than sustenance. We make memories with our friends and families over food. For many people around the world, that's not the case. Food insecurity (not knowing when your next meal is coming) and hunger affects a huge chunk of the world's population. Big businesses sell their sugary, processed foods to poor families around the world who don't have other choices.  There are families in every country in the world who don't have enough food or who don't have access to healthy food. In 5th grade, we wondered: How can we impact the disparity of food quality and availability around the world? We raised money for food for kids in our country and other countries, we studied how people live and what causes hunger and unhealthiness, we wrote books and painted murals to raise awareness, we imagined companies and farms...and we hope to keep teaching others that there are ways we can bring healthy food to more people.