This past July, science teacher Emily Simmons attended a three-day conference called PBL (Project Based Learning) at the Ohio by the Buck Institute for Education.

The Blue Ridge School’s Integrated Science curriculum is moving to an entirely Project Based Learning approach this year. “In order to do this well, I researched professional development opportunities that focused on this particular teaching strategy,” said Mrs. Simmons.

During the conference, she spent three days designing her first big project. She received vauable feedback from other educators from around the world in order to make the project the best, most effective teaching tool it can be.

“I am very excited to implement my project with Mr. Bourland and our Integrated Science classes. The boys will be designing, building and presenting original wind and string instruments,” adds Mrs. Simmons.