Project approach is a style of active learning and inquiry-based learning. It is a method of guiding instead of teaching, where students have the foundation of the information they need to learn, and they're able to continue to learn content through their specific interests. We use the project approach as a way to have student-led, hands-on, inquiry based learning. This style helps them have ownership over their learning and gives them more intrinsic motivation to succeed. In addition, presenting your hard work to other students and parents allows you to be proud of your accomplishments and work to make sure you are prepared.
Different grade levels do project approach units at different times throughout the year. Your child's teacher will communicate specific project information with you!
During a typical school year, all project work happens at school. These are not at home projects! However, during this unconventional school year, we will be embedding project skills and project-like units that will be done in whatever way we're currently learning!
These time frames vary by grade level. Kindergarten students might spend less time in each section than fifth graders would.
Pre-Project
We build skills necessary for the upcoming project. This can include concept-related prep work like getting acquainted with vocabulary and concepts, or project-related prep work like working on research/note-taking skills or observational drawings (1 - 2 weeks)
Phase 1 - Prior Knowledge
Students share what they already know about the project topic in class, bring in stories from home, share vocabulary they already know, and come up with questions they currently have about the topic. (About 1 week)
Phase 2 - Research and Creation
Students will do research on a subtopic of their choosing within our major topic. They will do online research, text research, we will meet guest experts and have field experiences when possible. Students will also come up with ways to show what they've learned and teach others. (4 - 5 weeks)
Phase 3 - Culmination and Reflection
Culmination - In this phase students will finish their presentations/creations to use to teach others. This is also where they will practice their teaching (something they will have done throughout the process with sharing what they've learned with each other). At the end, students will then teach other students, teachers, and their parents about their topic. (About 1 week)
Reflection - After culmination, the students and teacher will discuss what they thought went really well, what they can try to do better next time, and what they really enjoyed. Students will reflect on their own work, their experience, and give feedback to each other and the teacher. During this time students also complete appropriate assessments of learning.