In middle school, we were tasked with finding a problem, researching it, and writing an editorial to the Chicago Tribune. Having just completed a health program at the end of elementary school, a friend and I were interested in if this program was as effective as it boasted. We surveyed our peers regarding their attitudes towards the health issues and the program. We found that the results it was guaranteeing were not holding true amongst fellow students. Information in hand, we set to work to write up our editorial with our findings, and lo and behold an edited version was published in the Chicago Tribune! As the years have gone by, peer reviewed studies have backed up our initial findings on the ineffectiveness of the program, and I’m always brought back to that initial excitement of picking a topic, researching, and discovering my own answers. While I’m sure our survey was not up to quality research standards, it sparked an interest and empowerment that if I had a question I had the ability to find the answer and do something about it.
Early experiences such as my middle school example, immediately came to mind as I was presented with the opportunity to work with the Kohl Children’s Museum Early Childhood Connections Program. The program focuses on the Project Approach in early childhood classrooms. This specific approach varies from my personal experience with a structure and techniques to help build investigation skills in early childhood classrooms. Through the program, I have been able to see how project based learning using the Project Approach can occur with students as young as toddlers!
To further expand the reach of the Project Approach and provide a network of people invested in the movement, our education team has built out the Project Approach Connections website and forum. Project Approach Connections is a space to further share and collaborate around project work. Looking for more information on Projects? Check out our project examples page!
Written by Amelia Troutman