This week I am trying a new way to teach my lesson on alternative energy.  In the past I had the students work with partners to research different energy resources.  They read articles, took notes, and made a presentation to share with the class.  After reviewing my notes from the H.E.A.T. workshop I attended last year, I decided to take a chance on a different kind of lesson.  This time the students are choosing the focus of their learning as well as the project they want to complete.  We began today with a poll question.  Using Edmodo.com students chose which of four problems was our greatest problem resulting from our use of energy.  We discussed some of the problems such as our dependence on foreign oil, acid rain, and climate change.  We then brainstormed ways an eighth grader could help make a difference.  Some talked about contacting legislators or helping to inform others about the issues.  Students wanted to make commercials or start a blog.  Others wanted to stage a protest or teach others how to conserve energy.   

While I need to be sure that the students learn the pros and cons of using different energy resources, I also want them to be engaged in the lesson and form a personal connection to the issues.  In addition to their reading I plan to show short video clips and use the response clickers to begin and end each class during the lesson.  I will try to help the students find ways to incorporate the content into their projects and use formative assessment to be sure they are getting the information they need. 

Before I began the lesson today I was very worried that I didn’t have a worksheet or a clear plan for where this was all going.  It felt very risky to run a lesson like this.  The enthusiasm and creativity that the students demonstrated, however, gave me confidence as we progressed through the poll, the brainstorming, and the group planning.  Each group of students will have a different learning experience but it seems as if they are already taking control of their learning and are eager to make a difference in the world.