Creating PBL Activities

For my last discussion on PBL in my graduate class, we had to create PBL lessons. One lesson had to integrate Math, Social Studies, and Art. The other had to integrate Science, English, and Music. I think through creating these lessons and reading my classmates comments on creating PBL, many found that PBL is much easier to use with integration in the elementary level classes. Collaboration is much easier when the teacher teaches the majority of the subjects being taught. In Middle and High School, many of the subjects are departmentalized, which involves a lot more collaboration when planning an integrated PBL. Time seemed to be another issue. I often say to myself...If only there was more time in the day! Think of how many projects and fun engaging activities we could do in the classroom if we had more time or if standardized testing wasn't so pressured. I feel that PBL is a great way for students to learn, but it also hard for many teachers to see past the "fun activities" that engage students to see that they really are learning the same if not more than if they were doing a worksheet or work from the textbook. PBL definitely makes students take more ownership and makes them much more involved in their learning, as well as excited to learn new concepts. I really enjoyed viewing my classmates' activities that they created for the PBL discussion and would love to hear any other ideas or PBL activities anyone out there has tried in their own classroom! It always helps to hear what works for others!