Designing Our Space

6th Grade, Orchard View Middle School

How can we design spaces at our school that help our community thrive, inspired by what makes our local environment special?

In this project, students delved into the intricate relationship between space and community. By applying frameworks like POEMS (People, Objects, Environments, Messages, and Services), they visited and toured their local environment and community spaces, identifying its strengths and weaknesses. They explored how spaces can foster a sense of belonging and community, and how design choices can significantly impact individual and collective experiences.

Inspired by these insights, students turned their attention to their own classrooms and school. They proposed ideas to the school administrative team to enhance the learning environment. These suggestions were presented to school administrators and are now being implemented, transforming the classroom into a more engaging and inspiring space for all.

Resources

Designing Our Space PBL Reflection Booklet (includes links to resources and slides)

Community Partners

  • The Lakeshore Museum
  • Hackley Library
  • Muskegon Visitors Center
  • Funky Punk

Standards Alignment

English

  • W 6.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
  • W 6.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
  • L 6.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
  • SL 6.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
  • SL 6.2: Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

Mathematics

  • 6.SP.B4/5: Displaying and Analyzing Numerical Data
  • 6.RP.A2/3: Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems

Social Studies

  • G.6.1.2: The World in Spatial Terms: Geographical Habits of Mind: Geographical Inquiry and Analysis
  • G.6.5.1: Environment and Society: Humans and the Environment

Science

  • MS-LS2-1: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
  • MS-LS2-3: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
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The Third Coast Learning Collaborative is a collective project of Orchard View Schools, Reeths-Puffer Schools, Human Restoration Project & Open Way Learning. This work is independently evaluated by RAND.

All resources and information are registered under a Creative Commons attribution, non-commercial, share-alike international license unless otherwise noted.

‍The contents of this website are developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government. This grant is 100% directly funded through federal funding totaling $3,995,537 beyond in-kind matching funds. All involved parties will contribute in-kind time to make the project a success at an in-kind rate of $429,173.