Several years ago, my husband and I had the privilege of cruising through the Panama Canal. I honestly did not understand how long the canal was until we journeyed through it. I was blown away by how difficult it must have been to dig the canal – the length, the heat, the bugs, just everything involved in this huge undertaking. And it was built over a century ago.
So many possible authentic projects, so many driving questions… Why was the canal built? Why were locks needed? Is the canal still important today? What is the economic impact of the canal. (Looking at the recent impact from the ship blocking the Suez Canal helps answer this question.)
So many authentic ways to present project findings… Create a brochure about the canal. Create a timeline for the canal. Build a model of the canal. Create a map of the canal. Draw a poster explaining how the locks work.
And remember, driving questions and authentic project ideas are only a starting point. If your learner becomes interested in another canal, or the country of Panama, or what is the typical journey of an international shipping container…that is authentic learning!
The Educational Journey 