  Piedmont students arrive in character to play two of the many roles in the trial. Each year characters are different according to the students' trial notes and decisions made while reading the novel. Some teachers say " Don't bring your drama into my classroom" Mr. Milligan requires it. His Pigman reenactment is a Piedmont tradition. Over the years Mr. Milligan has honed the Pigman Trial project into a complete interdisciplinary lesson that encapsulates the best of IB, reading comprehension, creative thinking, multiple intelligences, and real-world skills development. That's a pretty impressive list from just one unit but it is an all-encompassing one that is true PBL, project based learning. Even if you don't want to copy Mr. Milligan's full unit (and honestly who else could?) you can easily adapt pieces of dramatic-based learning to help your students master your content. It could be as simple as having students perform skits to explain units of a text, vocabulary charades or as complex as putting an aspect of your own content "on trial" or having students create a character from your content area and remain "in character" through a full class of interaction. See Ms. Gurthie for more ideas or to plan together.
 A student videographer prepared this full-length documentary video of this year's Pigman trial. Sure it's three hours long, but anywhere you click will show students thinking and arguing their point, and helping each other develop understanding in the process.
Thanks, Mr. Milligan, for using your own gifts in designing this active learning experience for Piedmont's seventh grade! For more information you can view some of Mr. Milligan's unit from his presentation on the Pigman Trial PBL year's North Carolina gifted conference here . Related Posts:
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 Is it crazy to want a little relaxation before exams? I think not! Tomorrow begins our end of year testing. Due to outdated competitive attitudes and well-intentioned conscientiousness, many teachers use the last day for last minute-review blast of facts. I used to do that, too, even after I knew it was not proven effective educational practice. But Ms. Lyttle and Ms McCarthy have what researchers say is a better idea. You can easily adapt their lesson for your own class to help students recognize and combat the stress that has been shown to hamper test performance by shutting down thinking and even restricting blood flow to the brain. There are plenty of resources online for all age levels that you can cull to share with students: from yoga videos and guided relaxation music to stress-busting suggestions and rate your anxiety quizzes. Here is a step by step of the Pre-Test Day Stress-busting lesson their students experienced, in photos:  Step 1: Push the desks aside and lay out yoga mats and cushions.  Take off your shoes and get comfy (fun socks are a plus)  Prepare review resources for students who wish to review the traditional way. (They can still relax and take off their shoes, wherever they go!)  Ms. McCarthy had students assess their stress level and discussed ways to combat anxiety so it won't affect thinking on test day.  Be as comfy as possible while honestly assessing your stress level. Blankies from home help this process.  Bring out your teddy bears for comfort and reassurance. You're never too old for a cuddly friend.  Find a relaxing yoga for kids video and have students play along with the instructor.  Relax and breathe #chill  It is entirely possible to chill and still be colorful, as these young ladies prove.  Think back on all you've learned this year. You are well-prepared and that is something to celebrate!
Related Posts:
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/test-review-game-ideas http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/scavenger-hunt-test-prep http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/photos-of-the-week http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/back-to-school-at-piedmont http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/6th-grade-active-learning http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/overlooked-test-prep http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/incorporating-vocabulary |
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Author I am Lisa Gurthie the PD facilitator at Piedmont IB Middle School. She specializes in tech and arts integration, interdisciplinary, holistic education, and unschooling school to make it more real and relevant. One day I will modernize my "about" page. Check out the other blogs on this site for Lesson Ideas, Celebration of Good Teaching, and Piedmont PD Archives
February 2021
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