Middle School Makeover: A PBL Project

Have fun exploring school design through this hands-on, STEAM-based PBL:

A local middle school has not had a major renovation in many years and is in need of an extensive makeover. The school board has requested student input in order to design a school that meets the needs of every student. The new school will start small and be designed to be added on to later as the population grows. Your students will work through a planning packet and then create their designs for a new middle school!

As part of this project, students will:

• Create a detailed map of the new school. A list of required rooms and elements are provided. Students are asked to consider efficiency and logistics in their building.
• Create detailed close-ups of several elements, including one "core" classroom (either Language Arts or Science), one elective classroom, and one bonus element (a collaborative meeting space or outdoor classroom).
• Provide supply lists and written justifications of their classroom designs.
• Research sustainability in schools and create a sustainability plan.
• Create a school safety plan.

Teacher instructions, including an implementation timeline, are provided. An editable Word document for written components is provided- this can be used as a physical copy or digitally for students to type their answers and submit online via Teams or Google Classroom. The planning packet is a PDF. The planning packet includes a scoring rubric for easy assessment.

This product was designed as an independent final exam for Gifted and Talented students, but can be used in partners or groups at any time during the year!