Last Monday, Jan. 23, 2011, the 5/6 started an in depth Case Study with architecture expert Ms. Schillberg. This Case Study, with a focus on mathematics will last approximately 5 weeks and together we should have a very interesting product-- a real portico for the 5/6 classroom.
We started with a week long BBK. One of the most telling ways of seeing academic growth is with the BBK process. BBK is Expeditionary Learning language for “Building Background Knowledge.” The goal of a BBK is to get the kids to have the same working knowledge of some concept before a case study or expedition starts.
The process is fascinating to watch and absolutely thrilling to be part of.
Here's how this one went:
Ms. Schillberg showed a slide after she wrote the word “Portico” on the board. The kids talked for a couple of minutes. The kids got into groups of 4 and wrote the word “Portico” in the center of huge piece of chart paper and started writing all the things they thought they knew about that word. Every group is doing the same thing. Most important- with each group, the words the write on the chart are all written in the same color by every member of the group. So imagine a web of words in red around the centerpiece word “Portico”.
The next step was to bring them all together and show a bunch more slides. They noticed lots of features about each. Ms. Schillberg shows about 10 more slides. The kids go back to their group and to the chart paper, and this time, write in a new color-- imagine blue and write new information they are figuring out.
Then the kids read from “Common Text”. They received four articles. We read them together. That's why it is common, they all share it. After reading together and sorting vocabulary, figuring out relevant information, and organizing the new data into a timeline, the murmuring really begins!! The feeling of understanding about “Portico” is being verbalized.
Back to the chart paper for one last time. A final contrasting marker color is chosen by the group.
They all add the new words that express what “Portico” really is. They return to their tables and Ms. Schillberg shows the first slide from the first day. BIG “OH YEAS”... And she shows lots of porticos. The discussion really begins about “Portico” and the kids have realized that we will be building one.
On Friday, the last day of the BBK, each group presented one summary sentence from their chart to the others about what a “Portico” is. These ideas are collected as notes and written on the overhead for all to see. All 6 groups have summarized their learning and all have the same definition and understanding.
THE BBK IS A TOTAL SUCCESS!!
We finished the BBK with them drawing their dream “Portico” for the 5/6 crew thinking about how it could represent us. They diligently start drawing in their case study notebook using. They needed to have 5 adjectives in their drawing to describe their portico. Colored pencils are on fire!
Next, we start a Writers' Circle for all to share and to begin the process of coming up with a shared vision.
