Real-World Problems

Activity lists become even more powerful when you pair them with a real-world problem. If you send students home to solve a real-world problem, they'll become more engaged than compliant. Then, the activity list is less of an assignment and more of a path to their successful solution!

If your school is still open, consider launching a problem-based unit now to get the students started. The momentum will carry them through the school closing, if that occurs. If not, you and your students will have fun solving real-world problems!

Here are a few problem-based Authentic Learning Units from our product, MyQPortal.

If you are not a subscriber, just click through when prompted to get to the free content! Even though we're listing grade levels, you can modify a task to fit any grade level!

Can a Frog, Turtle, and Fish Help Us? - K and 1st grade students devise biomimicry inventions

Oh the Places We Can Go! - 2nd and 3rd grade students design a dream vacation

Butterfly Garden - 3rd and 4th grade students tackle butterfly extinction

Digital Serfs - Who's got your stuff? Who owns the cloud? Are we becoming digital serfs? MS students will tell you!

Globalized Patient Care - MS/HS students develop resources for local doctors' offices to communicate with patients who do not speak English.

Hydro-Electric Power Source - HS students design plans for a man-made waterfall in their area

Artistic Persuasion - HS students study artists who have made statements through their art and then create an original piece

Improve, Don't Move! - HS CTE students design blueprints to create an addition to a house or building (in this case, perhaps, their own!)