Austin Creek Elementary School provides Project-Based Learning Elective Classes for Grades 4-6

Two times per year, upper grade students choose an area of interest to pursue. Their elective class meets 50 minutes per week.

2009-2010 options: (2012 Electives Coming in January)

Project-Based Learning Elective Class Descriptions

Cooking Around the World with Mrs. Byrum

Travel the globe through food! Students will learn proper cooking techniques while learning about cultures from around the world. Students will cook traditional recipes from Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and more! Students will gain culinary knowledge and build their cultural awareness during this food exploration.

Tile Mosaic Making with Mrs. Patten

Students will learn about the history of this ancient art form and examine modern and historical examples. Using their imagination, they will use a variety of materials to create several projects of their own. Each student will create a mosaic tile that will permanently adorn a wall on the Austin Creek campus!

Podcasting with Mr. Langley

Students will create Austin Creek’s very own internet podcast production. Writing and directing original broadcast material, recording and modulating one’s voice, and technological aspects of podcasting will be addressed as we collaborate to produce a high quality radio program. “Radio Austin Creek” will be uploaded to the internet for families and friends to download and enjoy.

Digital Photography with Mrs. Green

Students will learn to appreciate, analyze, and create photographic art using a digital camera. They will use Picasa, a photo software, to learn composition techniques, crop, adjust color, add captions and save digital images. Small teams will complete a digital scavenger hunt, and students will create a personal portfolio.

Musical Comedy Production with Mrs. Kinney

The class will put on a musical comedy, called “Tide Pool Condos,” which tells the story of a dispute between Elizabeth, who wants to erect luxury condominiums, and Poseidon, Greek God of the Sea. To settle the dispute, the two of them set out to visit the wonders of the ocean. The play will be performed at our school talent show this May.

Journalism with Mrs. Harryman

Students will become members of their monthly newspaper staff as they learn about interviewing, researching, reporting, writing feature articles, journalism terms, and more. Their learning will be showcased in their paper, “The Hawk Herald.”

Digital Presentation Design with Mrs. Aitchison

Using such elements as drawing, images, 3D, color, animation, sound, and text, students will experiment with visual composition techniques, explore styles, and use Storyboards. Students will demonstrate their new knowledge by making a presentation displaying these techniques.