PROJE CT C A L E NDA R
Project: Building for the Future
Notes: This unit is written to be spread out over about 8 weeks. However, depending on the background of the students, it may take less than 8 weeks.
This unit will be differentiated in several ways, including partner and small group work, 1:1 with the instructor, adapted, and modified assignments PRN, etc.
Entry Event
Natural Disasters
(Nearpod)
Pre-Assessment
(Nearpod)
Setup KidBlog
o Introduce blog
expectations
Create project folder in
Google Drive
Create G+ Form/Sheet to
collect data on disasters
Civil Engineer
Skype/Hangout with a
civil engineer
Discuss building
principles and design of
disaster resistant
buildings and structures
Develop a plan for a
resistant structure
Post plan to blog for
suggestion and then
comment on others
For more FreeBIEs visit bie.org Adapted from the B UC K I NS T I T U T E FOR E DUC AT ION
page 1
PR OJE CT (~1.5 - 2 WEEKS)
Inquiry Questions Natural Disasters
Introduce guiding Science lessons
question/begin research Disaster Research
Overview of Disasters Print and digital
Write a blog post with collections
an initial answer to the Take notes using a
guiding question technology tool
Respond to the blog o Google Docs
posts of at least three o Lucidchart
others o Google Keep
Select disaster for Use EasyBib to collect
project citation information
PR OJE CT (~1.5 - 2 WEEKS)
Building Principles Building Principles
Science experiments on Science experiments on
designing structures building strong structures
Use iPad to document Create a short (2-3 mins)
successful designs and podcast that explains what
materials - import into makes a strong structure -
Google Docs and post to blog
summarize Listen and comment on at
Submit Doc to supervisor least three other posts
Refine structure plan Further refine structure
Post updated structure to plan
blog for feedback Feedback from engineer
Time Frame: 7-8 Weeks
Natural Disasters
Science Lessons Create Venn Diagrams
Continue research
Continue digital notes
and citations
Create infographic that
explains the causes of
your natural disaster
and the damage it does
Post to blog, respond to
others
FEMA questions
Building Design
Use Google SketchUp to Based on feedback,
design a disaster resistant
structure
Submit structure to
supervisor, civil engineer,
city planner, and
colleagues using blog
Respond to feedback
from experts
Refine building design
Natural Disasters
Compare and contrast the
damage of hurricanes,
tornadoes & floods
Create a VoiceThread
of the diagram for blog
Prepare at least five
questions to ask the civil
engineer for Skype
Develop a natural
disaster Kahoot!
Building Design
refine SketchUp design
Create a screencast using
Camtasia to explain your
building
Post to blog
View and respond to at
least three other posts
 Project: Building for the Future
FEMA
Skype/Google Hangouts
with FEMA supervisor
(natural disasters)
Create an presentation
explaining the major
responsibilities of a
FEMA employee & how
they help during
disasters
Receive feedback from
FEMA and your
supervisor
Storyboard/Final
Using a digital tool,
storyboard your proposal
and procedures
Collaborate with a partner
to critique each other's
storyboards
Post the draft storyboard to
blog
Comment on the two
strengths and one weakness
of at least three other
storyboards
For more FreeBIEs visit bie.org Adapted from the B UC K I NS T I T U T E FOR E DUC AT ION
page 2
PR OJE CT W E EK (~2 WEEKS)
City Planner American Red Cross Interactive Map Interactive Map
Skype/Google Hangout American Red Cross visit Research cities that have Continue the
with City Planner (how to Learn about disaster been affected by your collaboration with
plan buildings and cities) preparedness natural disaster colleagues to finish the
What emergency What makes procedures Google Form/Sheet for interactive map
procedures in place to are in place in city disaster information Post the map to blog
keep cities safe? communities to keep Create an interactive Comment on the
Google Doc to people safe? map interactive maps for each
supervisor summarizing Create a short video 2-3 o Google My Maps of the other three groups
the the job of a planner minutes that explains the o Google Earth Use feedback to improve
and explaining how to type of disaster policies o Google Tour your map
plan your rebuilt city that should be in place Builder
for your rebuilt city
PR OJE CT (~2 WEEKS)
Storyboard/Final Final Presentation
Update storyboards based Create final presentation
on feedback Practice presentation
Collect digital images for Receive feedback on
presentation presentation
Use EasyBib to cite Give final presentation
sources
Script out the final
presentation using
Google Docs