THE PROJECT APPROACH
What is the Project Approach? / Why do we do it?
Project-based learning is a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach in which it is believed that students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. ... It is a style of active learning and inquiry-based learning. We use the project approach as a way for students 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.
What will we be studying during this Project Approach unit?
How long does a Project Approach unit take?
Project work takes about 6-8 weeks total. We do project work in the following phases:
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 (About 1 week)
Phase 1 - Prior Knowledge - students share what they already know about the project topic in class, bring in stories from home, 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. They will do online research, text research, we will meet guest experts and hopefully go on a field experience trip (ie. mechanics, train conductors, trucking instructors, motorcyclists, bicyclists, etc). Students will also come up with ways to show what they've learned and teach others. (about 4 weeks)
Phase 3
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 I will sit down and discuss what we thought went really well, what we can try to do better next time, and what we really enjoyed. Students will reflect on their own work, their experience, and give me feedback on what I could do to be a better guide. I will also reflect on the successes of the project and outline things for us to work on when we do our other project in quarter 4.
Where will project work happen?
Project work will happen almost 100% at school. This is not an at home project; however, sometimes it will spill over into literacy homework or students may just want to work on it at home. Sometimes students have materials/resources at home that they don't have at school.
Project-based learning is a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach in which it is believed that students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. ... It is a style of active learning and inquiry-based learning. We use the project approach as a way for students 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.
What will we be studying during this Project Approach unit?
How long does a Project Approach unit take?
Project work takes about 6-8 weeks total. We do project work in the following phases:
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 (About 1 week)
Phase 1 - Prior Knowledge - students share what they already know about the project topic in class, bring in stories from home, 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. They will do online research, text research, we will meet guest experts and hopefully go on a field experience trip (ie. mechanics, train conductors, trucking instructors, motorcyclists, bicyclists, etc). Students will also come up with ways to show what they've learned and teach others. (about 4 weeks)
Phase 3
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 I will sit down and discuss what we thought went really well, what we can try to do better next time, and what we really enjoyed. Students will reflect on their own work, their experience, and give me feedback on what I could do to be a better guide. I will also reflect on the successes of the project and outline things for us to work on when we do our other project in quarter 4.
Where will project work happen?
Project work will happen almost 100% at school. This is not an at home project; however, sometimes it will spill over into literacy homework or students may just want to work on it at home. Sometimes students have materials/resources at home that they don't have at school.
PHASE 1: PLANNING AND PREPARING / sharing prior knowledge
What do we already know?
What vocabulary do we need to be acquainted with?
What are some questions we have?
What should we study to best learn about this topic?
What vocabulary do we need to be acquainted with?
What are some questions we have?
What should we study to best learn about this topic?
PHASE 2: RESEARCH - CREATING ITEMS TO USE TO TEACH OTHERS
Using resources to answer our questions.
- Books
- Internet
- Experiments
- Observations
- Guest experts
- Field visits
What can we create to teach our information to others?
- Creation of items
- What is our target audience?
- Books
- Internet
- Experiments
- Observations
- Guest experts
- Field visits
What can we create to teach our information to others?
- Creation of items
- What is our target audience?
PHASE 3: CULMINATION - TEACHING OTHERS
Finishing creation for teaching
- What is our target audience?
Culmination
- Teaching others
- Reflecting on the project, the process, and the culmination
Assessment if applicable
- What is our target audience?
Culmination
- Teaching others
- Reflecting on the project, the process, and the culmination
Assessment if applicable