Parents and teachers may fear that the "summer slide" of 2020 will be even more pronounced than usual, due to COVID-19 school closures of the past three months. To address this concern, PBLWorks, provider of Project Based Learning tools, has created a free eBook with ideas and resources to help parents re-engage their children in learning throughout the summer.
“This Teachable Moment,” authored by PBLWorks CEO Bob Lenz and Curriculum and Program Manager Laureen Adams, provides an intro to Project Based Learning and features 21 easily-implemented PBL projects informed by educational research and designed for children of all ages and abilities. Using the projects as a roadmap, parents can create a simple summer routine that engages children and keeps their curiosity and love of learning alive.
To download the eBook, visit https://www.pblworks.org/ebook-parent-portal.
To help parents get started, PBLWorks is offering two free 45-minute webinars with the authors to discuss how to kick off the projects at home. Participants can choose from one of two sessions:
- Wednesday, 11 a.m. Pacific Time on June 23, 2020
- Thursday, 2 p.m. Pacific Time on June 24, 2020.
To register, visit: https://www.pblworks.org/for-families/webinar-teachable-moment
Projects are organized into three categories -- “Me, My Family, My Home,” “Our Community,” and “The World” -- and allow kids to flex the intellectual muscles that have been sitting dormant for the last few months. Example projects include: creating a cooking show focused on family recipes and the history behind them, enlisting the community in protecting the local environment for the future, or brainstorming a whole new reality--a world that supports the dreams they have for their lives.
The projects are clearly laid out step-by-step so children can do them independently or with a small amount of supervision. Each project also includes recommended adjustments for different grade levels.
After the pandemic eases, the projects can continue to be a resource for involved parents, caregivers, and homeschooling families, both in the classroom and in the home.
