Project based learning ideas are numerous, but what makes them successful? There will be no success for project-based learning without student buy-in. When I say buy-in, they have to be all in. Your students need to care about it deeply, and feel compelled to do the work. Once you get the buy-in, a design process must be implemented for students to work through during the project. The Engineering Design Process and Design Thinking are wonderful for project-based learning. I want to share with you 7 project-based learning ideas that have been successful year after year at the school where I work at in south Georgia. When you are ready to start with STEM/STEAM and PBL at your school or in your classroom, download my FREE Guide.
Project-Based Learning Ideas for Elementary
I work at an elementary school that consists of grades PK-5. Each grade except for PK works diligently on a project for the entire year. Every year the project based learning ideas get better and better. Each grade level keeps the same project for the most part from year to year. We have had a few changes here and there, but no major changes. So how do we create buy-in? Well…. now that the projects have been going for about 3 years, they sort of sell themselves. Students can’t wait to find out what they will be working on next. However, teachers present their projects with a need for a call to action. They truly do a great job expressing to their students how powerful the project they will be working on can be.
Community Based Learning Project Ideas
Each project involves community partners. Many times, students are first introduced to the project from a community partner. This is an amazing strategy for student buy-in. For instance, the first idea I want to present to you is the 5th grade project…. Composting. The fifth graders actually get introduced to the project by their community partner who happens to be our Assistant Principal. He has quite the background in composting from studies at the University of Georgia. This really gets them pumped that he comes in to teach a lesson. Then, when they find out how compost will benefit the rest of our school gardens, and that they can sell it on our annual Market Day, it’s hook, line, and sinker for them.
That brings me to my second project based learning idea that fifth graders worked on a couple of years ago with community partners. When you hear this idea, it will be clear how student buy-in happened. It didn’t take much. The fifth grade students worked with surveyors and our county roads and bridges department to fix an erosion problem that was causing our outdoor basketball courts to be covered by sand. Boom! Basketball courts… all we had to say. Fixing a problem on the playground is a call to action in itself for all students. However, when the problem was solved. They needed a new project and so entered composting.
Project-Based Learning For Career Exploration
Our fourth grade students, who study ecosystems each year, have worked on creating on-site animal habitats for project based learning ideas. Through these habitat creations, they have gotten to explore many different career avenues like working for the Department of Natural Resources. The first habitat they created was amazing!
Students worked with DNR to learn more about gopher tortoises which are beneficial to many other species in Georgia. They figured out how to create the habitat that would best suit one of these animals with a DNR representative, built it with the help of a local brick and foundation company, and then waited and waited. What were they waiting on? They were waiting on a permit for a gopher tortoise, and for DNR to have one ready. DNR often rehabilitates gopher tortoises and afterwards, they have to place them because they cannot be introduced back into the wild. For further information on gopher tortoises, check the Natural Resources Conservation Service page through the USDA.
Project-Based Learning Ideas Math
Almost every project based learning idea includes mathematics. Our third grader’s project is teaming with data and calculations. Third grade took a different approach to their project. They use more of an investigation process followed with a call to action. Each year they collect data on their classmates’ eating habits. It usually leads them to find out that they eat more junk food than healthy food. Their project encompasses the driving question: How can we start a healthy lifestyle movement? A big part of their project is the incorporation of a hydroponic tower garden. These students make it fun to grow “greens” and learn to like eating them.
It isn’t the only part of their project. They also work on exercise and many other healthy habits. The most important action they take is sharing their findings with the public. The numbers and data that they collect are ever growing. Recently, they began also using aquaponics which is a hdryoponic garden over a fish containment system. This year when our school hosted a community Market Day to feature our students products from projects, the third grade booth worked harder than any group at the school. Green smoothies, healthy snacks shaped like butterflies, and friendly faces were served, and they passed on their call to action all day.
Project-Based Learning Ideas Examples that are Stellar
One of my absolute favorite project based learning ideas our second grade students work on is our Pollinator Garden and #5 on my list. Their driving question is, ” How can we increase the number of pollinators at our school?” This project-directly affects all of our outdoor gardens as vegetables and fruit need pollination for growth. The data collected in the first year on our blueberry garden was phenomenal. Our blueberry bushes put out the greatest number of blueberries ever once the pollinator garden was flourishing! It’s the most beautiful thing to witness in the summer months when the native plants are growing in full bloom. This is a must do project!
Project-Based Learning Ideas for 1st Grade
#6 on the list of project based learning ideas is a raised bed garden. Everyone participates, but our first graders grow specific produce to create products from. They make pickles and pepper jelly. On Market Day, they literally sell out in 45 minutes!!!! I have never seen so much excitement from little ones working on this project. They love it, love it, love it! You don’t have to have extreme raised beds to get started. Start small even if it’s just a large oversize planter container!
Project-Based Learning Ideas Art
Finally, #7 on list for project based learning ideas our recycled art project. Kindergarten collects water bottles all year and create art in the style of Chihuly to sell on Market Day. They encourage our students to keep trash picked up year round and collect data on trash that they find around the campus. It is clear to see that all of our projects have an environmental impact. Teaching students to care for the environment is a habit that must start when students are little. Bad habits are hard to change! We start early with students in hopes that it will infiltrate into their home environment!
If you would like more information on creating successful PBL with STEM/STEAM download my Free STEM/STEAM and PBL Guide
Need more information about the outdoor projects in this post read on in my Outdoor Classroom post!
What about help with outdoor learning? Checkout my Outdoor Classroom products for grades 3-5 and Outdoor Classroom for grades K-1. Want to give composting a try as a project? Everything you need is available in my All About Composting Unit.
