When my kids were younger, they loved putting on shows for us. Not only would they sing and dance, but they
would spend hours setting up chairs, making tickets and programs, designing costumes, looking up songs, practicing dance moves, and making snacks to sell at intermission. What they didn’t realize at the time was that they were doing a beginning version of project-based learning! Project-based learning is a creative learning experience in which students collaborate with others to solve problems in a real-world situation. It makes
learning exciting, relevant, and purposeful. Instead of just reading about a topic, students use multiple subjects, like math, science, engineering, art, social studies, and writing, along with other important skills like critical
thinking, investigation, problem-solving, communication, cooperation, and imagination to work their way through a project challenge. Each project-based learning challenge lasts several weeks allowing students time to
delve deep into a problem or situation and gain a better understanding of it.
For example, students might be challenged to create an amusement park. This would involve designing and planning the layout of the park, building a prototype of a ride, proposing a budget, planning a food menu and
developing a marketing campaign. They would research to see what type of rides are popular, what type of jobs would need to be filled, what foods work best at amusement parks, how things like weather and seasons might
affect the park's attendance, then create solutions to each problem. Whether they're tasked with running an ice
cream stand, organizing a charity drive, building a city or planning a European adventure, project-based learning is a fantastic way to introduce your child to the behind-the-scenes aspect of the real world!
* Please note – If your child has previously taken Project Based Learning with me, all new projects are planned, keeping it interesting and exciting for returning and new students alike!