This week I am wrapping up our middle school Make A Difference project. Every year around this time, my students take a break from our regular Social Studies content to sharpen our critical thinking skills and our commitment to service as we plan and organize projects that can bring about positive change.

In a busy academic year, some might wonder how I can sacrifice important learning time for a project that is outside the scope of my subject area. But, education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it’s also about equipping students with the skills they need to make a difference in the world. What’s the point of learning from our past if we are not going to apply those lessons in our present?!

Investigation Stage

The project begins with the investigation stage – here, students brainstorm areas in their life, their school, their family, their friends, or in their community, where they could make a difference. Then, students zero in on the one area that really resonates with them. Students are challenged to really think about this area of focus. Is it something that can realistically be impacted? Can it be impacted by a lone middle school student? 

Once they make the commitment to this area, students dive into the realm of research. They need to really understand this topic. Here they make use of the MISO method – where you explore Media, Interviews, Surveys, Observation in order to develop your knowledge and expertise. Students practice scanning for relevant news articles, think about experts around them that they can talk to, behaviors they can observe (and measure), and the art of creating effective surveys. 

The investigation stage is a critical step in project development because it helps students build a strong foundation for their project, ensuring that their goals and strategies are well-informed and aligned with the real needs of their community or school. It also provides a clear roadmap for moving forward with their project, as they transition into the planning and implementation phases.

The Planning Stage

Next up is the planning stage. In this stage, students take the insights and data gathered during the investigation stage and translate them into a structured plan with clear strategies and a timeline for achieving their goals. This phase involves meticulous organization and the development of a step-by-step roadmap for their project. 

Students also consider the various ways they can attempt to have some positive impact. Some challenges are daunting and may not be feasible in terms of direct action. But, students can still find success through other pathways, such as indirect action, advocacy, and research. Afterall, making classmates and other school stakeholders aware of the scope of a problem can go a long way towards affecting that problem. 

The planning stage is essential for ensuring that the project is well-structured, organized, and has a clear path towards achieving its goals. By working backward from their primary goal to specific objectives and action plans, students create a roadmap that guides their project’s execution. 

The Culminating Task

In an ideal world, achieving their goal would be the best way to complete this journey of service and intellectual curiosity. However, sometimes hurdles can be insurmountable, or delays can hold up achievement. Unfortunately, there isn’t an infinite amount of class time to set aside, even for something as important as making a difference. 

So, for a culminating task, I have students create and present a public service announcement about their project informing classmates about the problem, sharing data they collected, warning people about the possible consequences, promoting possible solutions, directing people to agencies or organizations that are working on this problem, and inspiring others to get involved. 

Nevertheless, if a student is really engaged and captivated by their topic, they are encouraged to take it further on their own time. 

Empowering Future Changemakers

Teaching students how to create, plan, and organize projects for making a difference in their community or school is an investment in their future as engaged citizens and changemakers. By fostering critical thinking, responsibility, accountability, creativity, and innovation, educators can empower students to tackle real-world issues with confidence and purpose. 

Feel free to use the linked Google docs to kick-start your own difference-making initiative. Let’s inspire the next generation of leaders who will strive to create positive change in their communities and beyond.

Ed X!