Project-Based Learning: Assignment 3B

For this assignment, we were instructed to design a lesson utilizing PBL to meet Common Core Standards in our content area. The Common Core Standard for high school ELA that I have decided to focus on:
College and Career Readiness: Anchor Standards for Writing
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. 
*This is a found lesson (ccusd93.org) that I have adapted to meet the needs of this assignment.

Lesson unit topic: Dark Ages to Renaissance
Purpose: 
Students will analyze the similarities and differences between various forms of culture (art, music, people's lives, and religion) in the time periods of the "dark ages," Renaissance, and Reformation. 
Project: 
Students will work in groups of 2-3 to create a virtual museum using information gathered in class, internet research using Google Chrome books, and Google Slides to create the museum. 
Students will create the museum based on an assigned topic, including art during the dark ages, early Renaissance art, high Renaissance art, northern Renaissance art, Renaissance literature, Renaissance music, society of the dark ages, society of the Renaissance, society of the Reformation.
Students will create a 10 slide presentation on their topic which effectively explains the unique aspects of their topics. 
Following the presentations, students will finish the project by completing an essay on the various cultural impacts.
Project Goals:
By the end of the project, students should be able to define various cultural forms, identify various examples of art and music, explain the similarities and differences between the various forms of culture, and effectively write an essay about the topic. 
Differentiated Instruction:
Students will have options to choose from on the topic that they present. For example, they can request a topic in art, music, literature, or society. The more specific topic will then be selected by the teacher.
Groups can design their projects based on individual strengths, abilities, and interests. Group projects also allow for more help from peers and teacher facilitation which will allow for proper scaffolding.
Verbal-linguistic learners will learn through the construction and presentation of the project. Visual learners will learn from the "museum" presentation which will include images. Audio learners will learn through class lectures/discussions and student presentations. Interpersonal learners will learn from working in groups with their peers.
Students are presented material in a variety of ways and are being taught through various learning styles.