| Unit Objectives |
| While completing this PBL Unit, the learners will accomplish the following objectives: * The learners will complete Semantic Maps in order to tie together prior knowledge, relate new information to existing schemata, and map existing knowledge about a topic and related concepts. * The learners will post their Semantic Maps in their Groups' folder in the Germ Team Forum. *The learners will form a research strategy in order to analyze and evaluate the problem. * The learners will use the Internet to research the problem concept in order to activate existing schema, start to build a foundation for new knowledge, and develop research skills. * The learners will identify ways germs are contracted, how they spread, their effects, and how to prevent them from spreading by. * The learners will use the web and other reference materials to research the problem concept. * The learners will post the data they obtained during their research session. * The learners will input the research data into a database in the Germ Team Forum. * The learners will compare and contrast their research data to the data collected by the other group members. * The learners will observe students in the restrooms, at lunch, and on the playground and document their findings using an Observation Log. * The learners will input their research data into the Observation Log Database located under Databases in the Germ Team Forum. * The learners will compare and contrast the data compiled and entered into the Observation Log by their group members. * The learners will watch a video in order to build a foundation for conceputalization of the problem concepts. *The learners will complete a simple experiment to visualize germs on their hands and the importance of proper handwashing to prevent the spread of illnesses. * The learners will complete website reviews. * The learners will demonstrate what they have learned in this unit by chosing a higher-order thinking activity. |