Debates, Documentaries, and Science Fair Projects - Learning is Alive at Bayside!

In the last few weeks I have observed students engaged in debates and presenting documentaries  and science fair projects at Bayside Middle school.  Students were assigned to read and analyze the book The Outsiders from different perspectives.  On the day of the debates, the students were dressed as either greasers or socials and they debated from their assigned perspectives.  In another activity,  students had an assignment that required them to research a specific historical event or person and develop a documentary, utilizing  technology to develop the videos.  Students used primary and secondary sources to develop the projects.  Last week students presented their science projects at an event that was held in the gymnasium.  The development of an hypothesis, the use of data and conclusions were very interesting.  In all three of these activities there was a lot of higher level thinking that required students to use the content in an authentic way.  There is a great amount of learning going on at Bayside on a daily basis and these are just some examples. Kudos to the faculty, staff and students on a job well done on these projects.