With the school year wrapping up, it is time for programs to reflect on what worked, opportunities for growth, and summer planning. Many early learning programs experience an influx of children who require care for the summer months. This is a great time to consider enhancing the learning opportunities and methods that align with the interests and skills of these youngsters.

One teaching tool that programs can incorporate is called project based learning, or PBL, for short. According to the experts at Buck Institute for Education/PBLWorks, PBL can be defined as:

…a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.

You may recall completing projects, either as part of a group or as an individual, when you were in school. If you participated in a science fair, created a public service announcement video, or built a miniature representation of your town as a student, you are familiar with the idea of completing a project.  Using a project-based learning framework takes traditional projects to a completely new level.

In this month’s newsletter, we will explore elements of PBL and provide project ideas that you can use to engage children in meaningful and active learning experiences this summer. With any luck, the experience and confidence you gain planning projects over the next few weeks will empower you to incorporate PBL year-round!

For the article Elements of Project-Based Learning, CLICK HERE

For the article Benefits of Project-Based Learning, CLICK HERE

For the article Getting Started and Project Ideas, CLICK HERE

For the article Director’s Corner – Supporting Project-Based Learning, CLICK HERE