The BUCKET list

Greg here - and it's my return to the blog! Becky has dominated the posts recently (for which I am greatly appreciative), but I insisted on contributing this week.

No, this is not an IMDB review of the popular 2007 film The Bucket List. Although meeting Jack Nicholson or Morgan Freeman is certainly on my extended list of things to do before I kick the bucket. I'm referring to a new project I started this year with my AP US History class.

For those of you unfamiliar with the CollegeBoard or Advanced Placement courses, they made a concerted effort to shift the emphasis away from content and to historical thinking skills. Although I integrated long-term projects in to my AP curriculum for the past several years, the AP course revisions afforded me an unique opportunity to experiment with new ideas.

I wanted students to do research and writing on a regular basis. I also wanted students to see the value and potential experiences that exist in our community (before they leave for college). The bucket list project combined the two and reinforced a litany of standards from the Common Core, PDE, and the CollegeBoard.

Common core

PDE

collegeboard

The result is a blog that highlights the students work with weekly contributors and links that push out to each of the students' sites. (Check out the about section for a full description of the project.)

The students embraced the concept and have checked off a variety of items from their list. Some of the most interesting are a visit to the Shoe House, volunteering for a local organization, and praying at an abortion clinic. I am humbled by their efforts and am considering items that I need to check off my own list.

Have a great weekend!
Greg