The Project Approach

1. The Project Approach Curriculum Planning that Makes Sense Presenters: Kellie Cole, Gwen Simmons, Mary Wadeson SDAEYC/SDHSA 2006 Annual Conference Spearfish, South Dakota

2. Provides for all areas of child’s development: physical, emotional, social, linguistic, aesthetic and cognitive.  Children directly participate by conducting experiments, writing, solving problems, performing, collecting and analyzing data. Adapted from Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, Revised Edition, NAEYC Important and worthwhile Builds on what children already know Makes meaningful connections and provides opportunities for in-depth study Promotes knowledge and understanding, process and skills Supports children’s home culture and language Goals are challenging but achievable Constructing Appropriate Curriculum

3. Progressive Education movement – British Infant Schools 1960’s and 1970’s Lillian Katz 1989 Reggio Emilio History

4. What is a Project? • A project is an in-depth investigation of a topic worth learning about. • Usually taken by a small group of children within a class, sometimes by a whole class, and sometimes by an individual child • (The Project Approach, Katz, 1994)

5. Practical Considerations • Concrete vs. abstract • Familiar topic • Easily related to prior experiences • Field sites easy to visit

6. Getting Started • Phase 1 • Selecting the topic • Anticipatory teacher planning • Finding out what children know • Building common ground • Phase 2 • Developing the Project • Preparing for investigation • Investigation • Field site visits • Phase 3 • Concluding the Project • Documentation • Evaluation

7. Phase 1 • Opening Event • Story, video, object • Topic Web Plan • Collecting ideas, what do they already know? • Listing Questions • Investigation, what do they want to know?

8. Phase 2Developing the Project • Reviewing the “anticipatory web” • Preparation for field work and field experts • Investigation

9. Phase 3Concluding the Project • Culminating the event • Personalizing the knowledge • Documentation

10. Benefits of Projects in Early Years • Academic Achievement • Minds On! Feelings On! Hands On! • Social and Emotional Development • …”a relationship between the role that children have in determining their own learning experiences and the development of social skills” (Devries, Reese-Learned, I Morgan , 1991) • Parent Involvement • Parents’ involvement in their children's education is significantly related to children's success in school (Henderson & Berla, 1994). • Volunteering, learning at home, communicating with the home, and collaborating with the community (Epstein 1995)

11. THE TRUCK PROJECT • By: Jennifer Heaton • Beech Hill Elementary School, Summerville, SC • A class of 5-year-old kindergartners undertook this project in February and March of 1999. Our class began a unit on transportation, during which my students became interested in "big trucks".

12. The Truck Project • Opening Event

13. The Truck Project • Field Work Investigation Representation

14. The Truck Project • Visiting Expert

15. The Truck Project • Concluding the Project • Documentation

16. The Apple Project • By Mary Wadeson and Staff • Banana Bunch Child Care and Preschool, Rapid City, South Dakota • This was a collaborative effort between the director and preschool teacher.

17. The Apple Project • Preparation for Field Work

18. The Apple Project • Field Work

19. The Apple Project Field Work Follow Up

20. Teacher’s Role • Researcher • Provide resources • Sustain • Enrich

21. Resources • www.project-approach.com - The Project Approach • www.naeyc.org - The National Association for the Education of Young Children • zerosei - the municipal infant-toddler centers and preschools of reggio emilia - Reggio Emilia • www.earlychildhoodconnections.com • Gsimmons@rushmore.com