A Future Focused Learning Project

The students in 4M have been participating in an innovative learning experience on Thursday afternoons in the library working with Mr McEvoy and me.

The lessons incorporated   project-based learning and provided the students with the opportunity to engage in real world connections. These connections were explored within the disciplines of STEAM i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

The aim of the project was to enable the students to embark on a learning task which would equip them with skills that they need to learn in order to become flexible thinkers, resilient problem solvers and socially aware entrepreneurs.

The students read the book The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan. They then watched the academy award  winning film adaptation  of The Lost Thing and, using their visual literacy skills, discussed and compared the elements in the transition of book to film.  The central theme of belonging was also explored.

The main character in the book is a collector of bottle tops. The students were given the task of designing a bottle top which had significant meaning. They were then filmed sharing their ideas with the class.

They then embarked on the design process of creating their own lost thing. They were required to bring a variety of easily accessible, inexpensive resources from home and were required to use the design process of Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create and Improve to complete their design. They were also required to write a character profile of their lost thing.

Mrs McEvoy and I were thrilled with the results of this design task and the innovative and creative ideas that came to light in the final filming session.