A PBL unit for year 11 text connections based on the theme of overcoming adversity. Updated for use with a BYOD class.

1. THEME STUDY
Updated for use with 1:1
devices 2014
English 1.8: Explain
significant connection(s)
across texts, using
supporting evidence
Credits: 4
Christine Wells

2. PROJECT BASED LEARNING
1. Open ended driving question or challenge
2. Creates a need to know essential content & skills
3. Covers significant content
4. Requires inquiry to learn and create something new
5. 21st Century skills: collaboration, critical thinking,
communication and creativity
6. Allows student voice and choice
7. Revision and reflection
8. Create a product to share publicly
2

3. DRIVING QUESTION
What can we learn about
human behaviour and society
from the theme of overcoming
adversity?
3

4. DISCOVER
1.
Learning
Intentions
2.
3.
4.
To read/view a range of texts with the theme
of overcoming adversity
To explore the theme and find evidence to
support your ideas from the studied texts
To analyse what we learn about human
behaviour/society from these texts
To discover how make your blog scannable
4

5. DISCOVER: YOUR MISSION…
This year you will study a variety of texts in class.You will need to
choose three texts studied in class and one text that you have
selected independently to write about.
Your teacher will guide you in your choice of the independent text
to ensure that your text is at an appropriate level.
You will present a report, which shows how all your texts are
connected thematically. The theme we will look at is Overcoming
Adversity.
5

6. DISCOVER: OVERCOMING
Gathering
ADVERSITY
Processing
Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, text and symbols
Managing self
Participating & contributing
Applying
1. Google what this term actually means. Report your findings to the class.
2. Use YouTube to find an example of someone overcoming adversity. Share with
the class.
3. Create a new page on your blog and answer the following:
Explain your understanding of overcoming adversity.
Include the YouTube clip that you have found.
Think of a time when you have had to overcome a challenge. Write a
paragraph to describe and explain what happened and how you dealt with it.
6

7. DISCOVER: MAKE YOUR
BLOG SCANNABLE
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006
/02/20/scannable-content/
1. In pairs, read the above link to learn how to
make your blog easier to read and more
appealing to the reader.
2. List 5 ideas from the article that you will
include when you create your blog.
Gathering
Processing
Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, text and symbols
Managing self
Participating & contributing
7

8. CREATE: RESPOND TO
EACH TEXT Gathering
Processing
Applying
After you have studied each text, answer the following:
Identify and describe an event which clearly shows the theme of ‘overcoming adversity’.
List the characters that are involved in this event.
Explain why this situation developed.
Thinking
Using language, text and symbols
Managing self
Record a quote which clearly shows the theme of overcoming adversity.
Explain why this quote is important.
Explain what this situation teaches us about human behaviour/society.
Explain why the author/director included this event. What does he/she wants the
reader/viewer to learn or realise?
8
List the ways that this text is similar to other texts you have studied.

9. CREATE: PRESENTING
YOUR EXPLANATION
Using the significant connection across texts which you have chosen, write a report (which is
at least 350 words long) in which you:
Identify the connection which is significant across your texts.
Explain how the connection is significant across your texts by expressing your ideas about
the connection.
Give evidence from each text which illustrates the connection across your texts.
Note: You may identify more than one connection across some of the texts.
Your report should:
Have an introduction which identifies your texts and the connection between your texts.
Explain how each individual text is connected to the theme and/or each other.
9

10. SHARE
A developed piece of writing which clearly
explains the connections between 4 texts is
published on a blog
Success
Criteria
The report clearly explains what we learn
about human behaviour/society
The writing has been edited and uses
conventions correctly
The writing uses the correct structure and a
format appropriate for a blog
10

11. SHARE
Applying
Once you have completed your report you need to
publish it on your blog.
Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, text and symbols
Participating & contributing
11

12. 12

13. REFLECT
Thinking
Using language, text and symbols
Managing self
Applying
1. Did I get my blog finished by the due date? If not, why not?
2. Did my blog explain the connections between texts well and include
appropriate evidence?
3. Have I completed work on this issue in other subjects? If yes, in
what ways was this helpful?
4. Do I see any patterns in how I approached my work - such as
following an outline, keeping to deadlines? Was this efficient?
5. Did I do an effective job of explaining what we learn about human
behaviour/society? Explain why?
6. How can I use what I have learnt to make a difference in my life?
13

14. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adapted from NZQA task
peterpappas.com
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/20/sc
annable-content/
pinterest.com
14