The third-grade students at Crossroads Elementary recently took the reins on their learning through a Project Based Learning Experience that truly brought the BCPS Graduate Profile components to life.
After a recent field trip experience led students to have very strong opinions on what was included in their sack lunches, these young students embarked on a project to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement to our district’s Department of School Nutrition. Throughout the project, the students used this as their driving question: "How can we, as students, use our opinions to make suggestions for new items in the sack lunch?"
Their teacher, Kayla Broughton, commended the students for taking charge of their learning. “They leveraged their experience on a field trip into meaningful learning and leadership,” she said. “I’m inspired by their drive to create positive change, and I could see the fire in them to take charge of this issue,” said Broughton. “PBL provided the perfect framework to turn their engagement into leadership and real-world solutions.”
To kick off the project, BCPS Director of School Nutrition, Todd Crumbacker, visited CES to teach students about “My Plate” – a visual that educates on the 5 food groups and how much food should be eaten from each food group daily. Through this collaboration, students learned proper portion sizes, along with the federal regulations involved with preparing a field trip sack lunch. Todd then called the students to action by requesting their opinions and feedback on how BCPS could improve the quality of sack lunches and still maintain compliance with federal regulations. Todd shared, “Spending time with our 3rd grade students at Crossroads Elementary was a delightful experience”.
These motivated students immediately dove into action – researching, collaborating, and creating both persuasive writing pieces and physical models to share their ideas. Through surveys, interviews, and critical thinking, they honed academic skills while developing authentic solutions.
“Their teamwork, creativity, and presentation skills showcased Graduate Profile competencies that will serve them for life,” said Broughton. “But most of all, I’m blown away by their self-direction and drive to improve their school community.”
The students’ approach to answering their PBL’s driving question embodied several key competencies that BCPS aims to instill in all graduates:
- As the students collaborated in groups, wrote persuasive pieces, and created models, they acted as Productive Collaborators. This competency focuses on working with diverse groups to achieve common goals through compromise and constructive feedback.
- Their critical thinking, questioning, research, and presentations also showcased their Innovative Problem Solving. By gathering information and developing creative solutions, they analyzed data to advocate for real change in our school district.
- The project allowed students to hone their Effective Communicator skills as they tailored messages for different audiences and contexts. The students were able to be effective communicators by employing public speaking skills and engaging with those to whom they presented.
- By taking the initiative to make a difference in their community, they truly became Community Contributors.
BCPS developed the Graduate Profile in collaboration with our community and parents to ensure our students leave us equipped with lifelong skills. As Superintendent Dr. Jesse Bacon explains, “These competencies empower our students to succeed in an ever-changing world by connecting our classrooms to life outside our walls.” The third graders’ creative efforts to improve their community demonstrate these competencies in action.
Crossroads Principal, Julie Wright, shared, "The students’ attention to detail and creativity was inspiring and represents a huge step toward exemplifying our BCPS Core Values and Graduate Profile. I cannot wait to see the great things that these students accomplish next."
The students’ work will now be shared with our Director of School Nutrition, Todd Crumbacker, to help impact real change in the district. “Student voice should be paramount in my work; student feedback plays a role in the quality of customer service we provide to students in our School Nutrition Department.”
Through projects like this, BCPS strives to inspire students and equip them with the Graduate Profile skills they need to thrive beyond graduation. The third graders set an example for students of all ages on what it means to be community-minded, collaborative problem solvers.
You can check out photos from the event here!