ELEMENTARY Brian Xu, grade six. Elecktra Gallegos, grade six. WHO WILL I BE in Twenty Years? Jeff Lonnett T 32 he transition from elementary to middle school offers a rich oppor-tunity for students to reflect on prior experiences, how those experiences have shaped their iden-tity, and how they can also serve as a launchpad for future plans and dreams. Students at Mosby Woods Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia, explore these themes through a Project-Based Learning (PBL) unit that focuses on a challenge: How can you create an installation for a public exhibit that will showcase your life in the year 2038, as well as how you got there? Cross-Curricular Components This cross-curricular project has foun-dations of a “regular art project,” but utilizes an inquiry-based approach. While most art teachers are considered to be project experts in their building, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are doing PBL. A PBL unit has elements that differ from traditional art projects: • An engaging task that comes before instruction. • An opportunity for student-led inquiry and creation. • A focus on formative and summa-JANUARY 2019 SchoolArts
School Arts Magazine JAN 2019: Page 36
