Project Based Approach

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start/Home Based staff will use the Project Based Approach on lessons with the students through engaging topics that allow integrating topics that are engaging and that allow learning throughout multiple domains.

PROCEDURES:

1. Project based approach supports students to develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills.
2. Teaching staff will work with the students during group times to create a web on a topic that the students are interested in.
   1. First the teaching staff will work on deciding on a topic that the students are interested in.  After having the initial topic, teachers and students will break it down to smaller topics from the main one.  As the students come up with more ideas, the teaching staff then can discuss how the class can explore and learn about the idea.
   2. The teaching staff and the students work together to plan on how they want to explore the learning topic and what they would like to create.
   3. The teaching staff will document each step of the process that the students are working on with the project.  This is through taking pictures and written documentation.
   4. Materials will be incorporated into the classroom to help facilitate the project for the children.
3. Students will work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to several weeks – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question.  When the students’ interest starts to wane and develop towards another topic, which is when the project will be concluded.  Children will have the opportunity to share with others what they learned.

Forms and Additional Guidance: