Similar to how students work in heterogeneous (sometimes homogeneous) literature circles, students here worked in heterogeneous grammar groups, where they completed various exercises using a variety of tools, including workbooks.
The reasons students do such lessons in groups are multiple and include increased student engagement, practice teaching others and greater depth of understanding from teaching others.
Because if people learn most through teaching, students should do more of the teaching.
VIDEO: Grade 9 Grammar Group
Student-Created Puppet Shows Based on Homer's The Odyssey
In order to demonstrate their deep understanding of a chosen scene from The Odyssey, students in Grade 9 English each wrote and designed a puppet show. This particular student, who was shy about presenting to the class, uploaded his puppet show to youtube.
VIDEO Grade 9 Puppet Show
Student-Crafted Digital Stories
As an intro to working with PhotoStory, Grade 7 students divined short autobiographies.
DIGITAL STORY: Grade 7 Photo Story
Reenactments of Competitions for Territory
Students in Grade 7 history class chose a medieval competition for territory, wrote a script, made costumes and props, rehearsed and presented their reenactments in class.
Students use their knowledge of one concept to understand and explain a new concept.
Similar to Lit Circles, students work in groups to unearth the mysteries of a text. They use as their guide teacher-created "How to Read a Narrative."
AP Students were asked to demonstrate their understanding of a concept, such as satire, using a medium that makes thematic sense. They were not not allowed to simply put up posters or PowerPoints. This student's project was called "Body of Satire." She sewed into various body parts the titles, descriptions and emblems of satirical works. For example, she sewed into the brain Don Quixote because of the protagonist's delusions. And the entire presentation was a parody of the TV show Grey's Anatomy.
