The focus of the November issue of The Science Teacher is Project-Based Science (PBS), and it includes several articles written by science teachers and researchers.  In addition to articles on the theory underlying PBS, there are three articles that focus on specific classroom examples of projects: How Do Geckos Stick?; The Herpetology Project; and Investigating Invasives.

For many years I have worked with colleagues on Internet-based PBS, and have found that involving students in investigative activities with students in other cultures can have powerful consequences.  This work has been summarized in various publications, including Teaching Students to Think Globally and Environmental Science on the Net: The Global Thinking Project.

In our work we saw problem-based science as an authentic model of teaching in which students planned, implemented and evaluated learning activities that have real-world contexts, and applications.  In this sense, these kinds of projects depart from traditional science curriculum efforts which typically lack real-world contexts, resulting in many students being turned off to science.  Context-based or science-technology-society (STS) are the basis for our approach to PBS, and indeed underscore our efforts a humanizing science teaching. 

There are many examples of project-based science teaching.  Here are some that I think you might find helpful, and worth pursuing.

iEARN: The International Education and Resource Network (iEARN) is a global network of educators that enables youth to use the Internet and other resources to engage in collaborative projects that in words of iEARN, “enhance learning, and make a difference in the world.”  

Investigating and Questioning Our World Through Science and Technology.  This site investigates middle school science curriculum materials based on PBS.

Project-Based Learning Projects at WestEdRTEC.  The consortium has identified many projects such as the Human Disease Project, Online Science-athon, & Science Fair Projects. 

Web-Based Projects, including Hurricane Katrina, Project Ozone, and Mission to the Blue Planet