CLEVELAND AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  

Project Based Learning  

Design Guide 
Unit 2 /Project Title: Emergency Alert System  Duration: 7 weeks 
Content Focus: Emergency Sound and Light  Teacher(s): Cason, Salahuddin  Grade Level: 1st 
Other subject areas to be included:  
KEY KNOWLEDGE: 
Significant Content  NGSS: ​1-PS4-4. Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve
  the problem of communicating over a distance.
 
Science: ​S1P1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to investigate light and sound. 
a. Use observations to construct an explanation of how light is required to make objects visible.  
b. Ask questions to identify and compare sources of light.  
c. Plan and carry out an investigation of shadows by placing objects at various points from a source of 
light.  
d. Construct an explanation supported by evidence that vibrating materials can make sound and that 
sound can make materials vibrate.  
e. Design a signal that can serve as an emergency alert using light and/or sound to communicate over a 
distance. 
 
Math: MGSE1.MD.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by 
using a third object. 
MGSE1.MD.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple 
copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an 
object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. (Iteration) 
 
SW compare different lengths of string in order to determine which instrument will produce the best 
sound.  
 
 
Writing/ ELA:​​ Informative Writing 
ELAGSE1W8: With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather 
information from provided sources to answer a question. 
SW interview first responders about how they use light and sound in emergency situations and 
document their responses. 
  
ELAGSE1W2: Write informative/ explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about 
the topic, and provide some sense of closure. 
 
After learning about light SW construct an explanation of how light is required to make objects visible 
and how their tool uses light to make objects visible. 
 
 
Technology: 
SW create a digital story that documents their journey through learning about light and sound. 
 
Engineering:  
SW Use materials to design a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over 
a distance.  
 
 

21​st​​ ​ Century Competencies  Collaboration  x  Creativity and Innovation  x

(to be taught and assessed)  SW work in collaborative teams (4 or 5 groups SW design a tool that can communicate 
of 4 or 5 students)to design an emergency alert over a distance. 
light and sound system using various materials  
which will allow the students to communicate
to the nurse that there is a medical need in the
classroom.

 
Communication  x  Other: 
SW interview first responders about how they 
use light and sound in emergency situations 
and document their responses. 
 
After learning about light SW construct an 
explanation of how light is required to make 
objects visible and how their tool uses light to 
make objects visible. 
 
Critical Thinking  x   
Based on what students have learned about   
different materials that produce light and sound   
 they will plan how they could utilize this prior 
knowledge to their sound/light device 
Project Summary  Oh no! ​Recently, there was a storm that caused a power outage in the school. It has become very dark and
(include student role, issue,  difficult to see. We have a sick student in our classroom that needs medical attention from the school nurse.
problem or challenge, action taken,  Due to the lack of light we are unable to take the student to the nurse so we will need to figure out a way to not
and purpose/beneficiary)  only see within our classroom but alert the nurse that we have an emergency. We will need design a tool that
  will send sound to alert her of our emergency and a tool that will illuminate light which can lead her to our
  classroom.
 
 
 
 
 
CHALLENGING PROBLEM OR QUESTION: 
Driving Question: 
  How do we communicate with light and sound? How is sound and light useful? What are different ways we
can communicate when there is an emergency using light and sound?

SUSTAINED INQUIRY: 
Need to Know:  What is sound? What is light? What are different types of light and sound? Why is sound important? Why is
(​​Remember to create a list of  light important? What does alert mean? What is an emergency? How do you know when something is an
“​Anticipated”​ ​Need to Know  emergency?
questions prior to Entry Event. 
AUTHENTICITY: 
Project Problem  Light and sound are all around us in our home, school and community. We observe and
(How does this relate to the real  interact with light and sound in a variety of ways . Having light and sound are important to
world? What problem exists in  how we communicate during certain situations especially emergencies. In the event of an
their lives, school, community, or  emergency within our school we need to determine ways to communicate to others using
world? )  light and sound.
Entry Event:  Emergency First Responders (Fire Department, Police Department and Paramedics) 
 
STUDENT VOICE & CHOICE: 
Products: ​Must include ED  Individual : Student writings  Specific content and competencies to be assessed: 
Process in at least one of the    ELAGSE1W8: ​With guidance and support from adults, recall 
products.  Investigations:​​string telephone using  information from experiences or gather information from 
  everyday materials, Firefly w/ Wings, noise  provided sources to answer a question. 
Engineering Design Process:   
 ● ASK ​questions- Introducing  making instrument i.e. Kazoo for emergency  ELAGSE1W2: ​Write informative/ explanatory texts in which 
the project (i.e.30 minutes)  alert purposes  they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and 
● Conduct ​RESEARCH​​ ​(i.e.    provide some sense of closure. 
1 or more class periods)     
● Draft a ​PLAN​​ (i.e. ​3 class   
periods)  Students will be ​assessed on responsibility, problem 
● CREATE​​ a  solving, decision making, leadership and communication. 
model/prototype (i.e. 5 class  Team Product:   Specific content and competencies to be assessed: 
periods)  Emergency Alert Tool  1-PS4-4. Use tools and materials to design and build a
● TEST/EVALUATE​​ ​the    device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of
communicating over a distance. 
model (i.e 1 class period)  Emergency Alert Light/Sound System Plan 
 
● IMPROVE​​ the design (i.e  (How they will use the tools during an 
2 class periods)  Students will be ​assessed based on teamwork, leadership, 
emergency) 
● COMMUNICATE​​ project  communication, problem-solving, and responsibility. 
 
to a public audience (peers,  Digital Story 
other grade levels, parents,   
experts, etc. This part is 
crucial and extremely 
important) 
 
PUBLIC PRODUCT: 
Public Audience  ● other students, same grade level 
(​​Experts, audiences, or product  ● other students, other grade levels 
users students will engage with  ● adult guests 
during/at end of project)  ● local community 
 
Resources Needed  On-Site Experts:  Off/Site Field Experience: 
  Emergency First Responders 
  Equipment: ​IPad cart, Chromebooks, Digital Camera 
   
   
  Materials: ​ rocks, small bells, buttons, cubes, flash lights, mirrors, bike lights, other light toys, 2- liter bottles, 
  milk cartons, different types of cups (i.e plastic, paper, aluminum), different types of materials that carry 
  vibrations (i.e different types of string), glow sticks, sound producing materials  
   
   
Community Resources: First Responders (i.e. police officer, EMT, firefighter, safety vehicles) 
CRITIQUE, REVISION, REFLECTION 
Reflection:  Journal/Learning Log  x  Focus Group  x 
(Individual, Team, and/or Whole  Whole Class Discussion  x  Rubric  x 
Class)  Survey