Instructions for Project Planning

Step one:

Brainstorm a list of topics related to the Nittany Lion through the creation of topic webs. You will break into groups of 5. Each group will create an initial topic webs. Each group will be given a pack of post-it notes to record a list of potential ideas that are related to the topic.  Your list could include

·      Your interests for a topic

·      Potential interests for others (students) about the topic

·      Problems or needs that you want to address

·      Questions

·      Concepts

·      Local/ world events that relate to the topic

·      Places/ people that might be related

·      Other things that might connect us to the idea (television, film, books)

Basically, your additional brainstorming will include anything and everything that you can think of that relate to your topic.

Step 2:

You will merge the small groups into two subgroups and merge your thinking into a comprehensive visual web. Organize your post it notes to consider what kinds of similar threads you have found and think about what kinds of topics emerged and what subtopics might be included with that. Create a visual web (see page 94 in Katz and Chard)

Step 3:

Create a few overarching questions (3-5) that could potentially guide the investigation into the topic (this would be a “content question, in the space of a classroom, this kind of question would guide your plans as a teacher, rather than posing it as a question for students to answer).  In other words, look at your graphic web….

·      what kinds of things do you want to know about the Nittany Lion that emerged from the creation of your web?

·      Example, my question is: in what ways does the Nittany Lion represent the attitudes, abilities, and possibilities of Penn State and/or Penn State students?

Step 4

With your combined group, (if you haven’t all ready done so) make a list of potential ways to explore the topics that you have come up with. AT this point, think of everything but books and other forms of traditional print literature. Think of

·      Places you could go that would add depth and complexity to the idea

·      People that might be a good resource that you could talk to

·      Art projects that might be a way to engage thinking

·      Music, TV, or movies (real or fictional) that might provide some insight into your thinking

·      Ways that you could use your body to get at some of the information.

Step 5

Share visual maps with whole class.