Projects are underway at CCPA! This week, the 11th and 12th grade classes wrapped up a Mock Election unit that focused on the following question: What strategies and resources can we use to become an informed and educated voter who makes thoughtful and responsible decisions in elections? The night had a great turnout, with families and members of the community from El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and the greater Sacramento area participating. They practiced voting after listening to students present their research on assigned propositions, using argumentative reasoning, research, and rhetorical devices. The 11th and 12th graders also shared election campaigns for the fictional characters “Jack,” “Piggy,” “Ralph,” and “Simon” from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, discussing who they believed would be the best leader for a group of boys stranded on a deserted island. This project is a prime example of CCPA’s hybrid high school approach, integrating project-based learning with critical thinking.
Meanwhile, the 9th and 10th grade classes are in the middle of their “Growing Solutions” project, which challenges them to construct a raised bed with vegetables and other plants to answer the essential question: How can raised bed gardens be used to promote community engagement, environmental stewardship, and food security? Students have been exploring the development of our food system and evaluating perspectives on its current state. They are addressing food needs by designing and constructing raised garden beds, embodying the project-based learning model that CCPA’s hybrid high school is known for. Additionally, students will create a website for a restaurant—including menus and a restaurant history—based on the produce they choose to grow in their garden beds. At the mock election night, our CCPA community members were able to preview prototypes of the raised garden beds showcased in the Innovation Lab.
This unique approach to learning emphasizes community engagement and hands-on projects, embodying CCPA’s mission to deliver meaningful, project-based learning experiences to students in the El Dorado, Sacramento, and Placer counties.
