To supplement their skill building and learning around local farming, students completed a research paper on types of farming in Canada. The paper was assigned simultaneously with the Farm Project, allowing students who were ready to work ahead, or for students who were waiting to solder their lights to work on their paper during class time.
Running the two projects in unison allowed for me to work individually with each student on their paper and their farm building project. Each class, I would divide students into groups based on their progress at the end of the last class. For example, if students were falling behind in their reserach, they would be assigned to work in one area of the classroom and given a specific task/goal to complete by the end of the class. Other students, who had made strides on their research, were given the opportunity to build their farms and conduct investigations based on the results of their farm experiments (for example, changing the pH levels of the water to see if it assisted in nutrient uptake).
The research assignment itself also included built in options for students, based on their readiness. The assignment provided students with a choice of three research questions, each somewhat more difficult than the first. The first question was designed for students who have struggled with research and essay writing in the past. This question was accompanied by graphic organizers to help them conduct research and devise a solid thesis.For students who were ready for a challenge, the third question required students to use their higher-order thinking skills to synthesize evidence and make deductions to draw conclusions. There was less scaffolding around this question, and the research required was more in depth.
Student were permitted to self-select these questions, with my guidance. I recommend which question I thought they were ready for, although not all students followed my advice. In the future, I think I would make this decision for the students, to ensure that everyone is reaching their maximum individual potential for success.
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