PBL in High School Literature Class- It’s NOT One or the Other
English teachers often fear that embracing PBL will mean sacrificing all the things that make teaching literature wonderful. However, I argue that great literature was often written to inspire people to question, discuss, debate, and sometimes move into action. Making it the perfect way to move into project based learning!
PBL doesn’t mean replacing literature instruction but rather integrating it with real-world applications.
Literary works can serve as foundational texts that inspire deeper exploration of themes, characters, and literary techniques. Projects should complement traditional instruction by providing opportunities for students to apply their understanding in meaningful contexts.
First, it is important to remember what we KNOW about good literature- it can literally change everything!
Take a look at some of these classics that incited people to question, move into action, and change (exactly what we are wanting in good project/performance based learning).
Literature that Ignited Change
Great literature pushes people to question the status quo. Sometimes these questions lead to action! For example, look at the impact that Charles Dickens had on Victorian England’s social and political issues in regards to the poor and working class.
With Oliver Twist he, “wrote this book to bring attention to the true conditions of the orphanages, work houses, and the lower levels of society. England got a rude awakening. Because of this book, people began to look closer at the world around them and began to make changes” – Owlcation
Dickens later wrote A Christmas Carol because he worried how Victorian society was treating the poor, especially the many children who were very poor and often sick from poor nutrition and deplorable working/living conditions. In 1839, almost half of all the funerals in London were for children younger than ten, showing how serious the problem was. After its publication, charitable philanthropy grew exponentially!
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, is credited by many for being the spark that ignited the American Civil War. Much like Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man, Stowe’s novel forced many to question what they believed about current cultural and political practices.
The story of Uncle Tom, an African-American slave, brought the horrors of slavery to the attention of the public on a personal level for the first time, causing an uproar. The novel advanced the abolitionist cause in the north, ratcheted up tensions with southern slaveholders and, as Lincoln suggested, possibly even helped tip the country into civil war.
These are just a couple of instances in which great literature lead to real-world projects that we are trying to expose our students to!
Sharing these instances with our students can even emphasize to them the real world applications they can tackle. What problems do they want to fix?
PBL Ideas for Your High School Students
Incorporating literature into PBL may seem challenging at first glance, but it’s entirely feasible and incredibly enriching. For instance, consider the timeless appeal of Disney movies. By having your high school students analyze fairytales and Disney films through critical lens analysis, they not only hone their literary analysis skills but also delve into cultural representation and narrative construction.
However, taking this a step further and having students investigate how Disney now spends years researching and piecing together new animated hits that not only have powerful messaging but positive cultural reflections can take your students on a whole new journey. You can check out this post to see how I have had hundreds of students work on crating a fresh Disney movie pitch after weeks of exploring and creative problem solving.
Similarly, exploring the history and cultural impact of the comic book genre alongside a comic book study unit provides insights into cultural influences and societal issues. Students analyze artwork, delve into the history of the genre, and even create their own comic heroes (and villains) tackling contemporary problems of their choosing. When I completed this project with students, I was intrigued by how many of them chose to create a new comic book hero that would tackle mental health issues and HOW they would go about creating change for everyone to have access to mental health care. POWERFUL stuff indeed!
Moreover, classic literary works serve as foundational pillars for real-world connections in PBL. For example, Antigone can be a powerful springboard for discussing social justice issues, prompting students to envision and enact meaningful change in their communities.
Frankenstein sparks conversations about the ethics of artificial intelligence, advances in artificial biology, encouraging students to explore the intersection of science and morality or criminal psychology to determine if the creation should be held accountable for his actions.
Novels like Frankenstein and Just Mercy are also the perfect ways to jump into discussion about the justice system and the death penalty. Using projects like this to encourage students to dig into accounts in which people were wrongly convicted and discovered innocent after their execution.
You could try using Gothic or Dark Romantic literature and the psychological understandings of fear to inspire your students to design a haunted house attraction, linking literary themes with practical design and entrepreneurial skills.
A study on Transcendentalism and modern psychology’s understanding of how being in nature impacts mental health can lead to students to research and consider how they would tackle a modern-day Walden experiment.
By intertwining literature with PBL, educators can create dynamic learning experiences that foster critical thinking, empathy, and creativity.
In essence, it’s not a matter of choosing between literature and PBL but rather embracing the synergy between the two. By leveraging the rich themes and narratives found in classic works, educators can seamlessly integrate literature into project-based learning, making learning more engaging and relevant for students.
In upcoming posts, I will delve deeper into structuring PBL projects to align with ELA demands, ensuring that students receive a well-rounded educational experience that combines literary exploration with real-world application. Stay tuned for more insights and practical tips on enriching classroom experiences through integrated learning approaches.
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