Project-Based Learning

"Project-based learning is an excellent way to develop intentionality because it builds on the child's knowledge and background experiences and provides opportunities for children to extend these," writes Judy Harris Helm in her article, "Best Brains in Science Under Five: Helping Children Develop Intentionality," which is one of the articles included in the Exchange Continuing Education Unit kit, "The Intentional Teacher."

"Children learn strategies for directing their own learning in project work.  When children found a big garden spider during The Garden Project, enthusiastic, inquisitive comments such as 'He's got long legs!' 'He's got knees!' 'How many knees does he have?' led to questions such as 'How does it eat?' or 'Will he bite?'  An interview of an expert on spiders, the reading of many books, the creation of a spider web, and the building of model spiders enabled the children to learn many strategies, experience the thrill of discovery, and develop confidence in their ability to direct their own learning.  Problem-solving events also occur in project work such as how to work as a team, how to make a model stand up, or how to obtain needed materials.  While reviewing documentation (photos, drawings, and teacher notes of their conversations), children become reflective and learn to think about how they learned and what was helpful.  They think about what worked, what did not work, what they did well, and what they could do next.  This kind of thinking, at a preschool level, is a lot like the thinking process of the top scientists."

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