How can texts support a PBL unit? Integrating ELA and PBL can feel challenging. But these few examples will help you tackle effectively and authentically integrating texts into your PBL plans.
1. As an Entry Event
Texts are a great way to introduce a problem or challenge to students and kickstart a PBL brainstorming session. Possible texts to read as an entry event include…
- A chapter book with guided discussions throughout
- A segment from a chapter book that presents the main problem
- A picture book that presents a larger problem that can be solved similarly or in a different way than the main character. Think of major issues like pollution, feeding the hungry, saving a specific animal, etc.
- A letter from a community partner that states a problem for your students to solve
2. As a Re-Entry Event
Re-entry events are an important tool for a PBL facilitator to have in their toolkit. After a long break, or when students return from unforeseen cancellations, a re-entry event can be instrumental in re-energizing your students about the topic of your unit. Read more about how to use texts to “Re-Enter” your PBL units in my blog post here.
3. Answer a ‘Need to Know’
After students create their Know and Need to Know list, answering the Need to Knows becomes the driving force behind PBL unit planning. By providing students with texts that have many of the answers to their Need to Knows in literacy stations and during mini-lessons, PBL can become integrated with your ELA seamlessly.
Asking and answering questions about the PBL unit topics connects well with ELA standards, particularly with informational texts.
4. Plant Seeds
Planting seeds is an important component in a successful and standards-based PBL unit. By using a properly timed text, a facilitator can help guide students in a specific direction during the unit through “seed planting.” A text can help plant seeds in the following ways.
- Introduce a problem or challenge before the entry event to help the students establish a deeper interest and passion once the unit begins
- Showcase a unique way to answer the driving question and encourage students towards a specific culminating event or solution
- Read about a location or expert who knows about the topic of your PBL unit, to get students thinking about potential locations and people in their community
- Segway into a new section of your PBL unit using a text as the bridge or introduction
5. Encourage Questioning
It’s no secret that higher-level questioning is an important component of any inquiry-based learning model. The Project Based Learning methodology is no exception. A stronger and deeper text can encourage discussion and model critical thinking skills that help establish a culture of questioning in your PBL classroom.
6. Introduce a Community Partner
Community Partners serve many different roles in a PBL unit. We might need their expertise to answer a specific Need to Know. Or perhaps we would like for them to mentor our students while guiding their work. No matter the role, it is important for students to know the adults whose careers make real-world connections with our standards and content. A text can lead students to a specific career, from which they can ask for help. Also, a text can explain the profession of a community partner before they arrive to help students get the most out of their time.
7. Kickstart a segment within your unit
Once your students have begun, you will probably plan tentatively using a calendar. You will notice that your unit is broken into benchmarks or “big moments”. Sometimes it is beneficial to “kickstart” a smaller portion of the unit with a mini-entry event.
A book or article is a great resource for opening a specific sub-topic within your larger unit idea. Introduce an idea or make a connection between PBL components, with new Need to Knows or relevant content discussed in the texts you provide.
8. Support PBL Classroom Culture
A strong classroom culture is an important component for any PBL classroom. Building and maintaining that culture is a year-long task. Here are a few ways that reading texts can establish and support your PBL classroom culture.
- Teach your students about the components and power of a PBL with a text that showcases a PBL classroom. Read my original story “Pedro Makes a Difference” here.
- Try Julia Cook’s books to support your students in learning about feedback, sharing, group work, and so much more.
- Give a classroom “I Wonder” board a chance by utilizing texts that encourage students to be curious.
- Pay close attention to Social Emotional Learning lessons, including Growth Mindset. Texts can support lessons in these areas as well.
A strong and well-timed text can make all the difference in your PBL unit’s ELA content. As you plan your next unit, consider one, or many, of the ways you can utilize texts in your PBL unit from this post.
Learn more about literacy activities that can support your PBL unit in this FREE video.
