Mr. Jamie Bourland’s and Mrs. Emily Simmons’ have undertaken a project-based lesson in their Integrated Science classes.  The boys are designing three-dimensional plans for furniture that can be built with “found” materials. These plans and necessary hardware will be sent to our sister school in Haiti.

Throughout the project, the students are working in teams of three or four, and each student has at least one responsibility: project manager, press liaison, photographer/documentarian, materials officer, safety officer and draftsperson.

“We are striving to have boys use the scientific method in real-life situations such as this furniture project,” says Mr. Bourland. “This incorporates the very important skills of logical thinking and unequivocal writing,” he adds.

The scientific method includes:

• Stating the problem: furniture needed in the Haitian school
• Hypothesis:  build them a simple desk
• Procedures: precisely how to build the object
• Materials: identify the materials needed
• Gather Data: construct the furniture
• Results/Discussion: progress reports, instructions for cloning
• Conclusion: thoughtful reflection, improvements and finally a class presentation

Each team must produce a finished object, diagrams, kit assembly instructions, written lab-style report (with all the sections listed above), posted progress reports at least four times per week, and interim presentations throughout the projects as well as a final presentation.

For more photos, click here.