Project-Led Learning - Sample Projects

If you have read some of my project-led learning- Read great books.
articles and believe that project-led learning just- Write short stories.
might work for your child, I include here a list of- Write poetry.
possible project ideas under each of the ten- Write and publish a newsletter (this newsletter
learning categories. These are ideas only, you arecould be directly related to a project from a
more than welcome to use them or to extenddifferent category).
these ideas to other similar things your child mightVocational
be interested in doing.- Make woodworking projects.
Natural- Make metalworking projects.
- Take care of an animal (could include a 4-H- Do crafts.
project).- Take apart a car engine and put it back
- Study wild plants or animals of the local region,together again. (Note that this could also fall under
go wildcrafting, or searching for tracks and habitat.Technology).
- Mark off an area in the back yard or woods and- Learn to cook a variety of foods.
study the ecology of all life found in that area.- Make clothing and other sewing or knitting work.
- Plant and tend a garden, vegetables or flowers.Artistic
Put food on the table, or cut flower arrangements- Paint pictures.
to cheer the home.- Draw sketches.
- Plant, tend, and gather herbs. Learn the uses of- Play an instrument, join a band, or sing in a choir.
medicinal or culinary herbs.- Learn a style of dance. (Note that this also falls
Physicalunder Physical.)
- Learn and play football.- Learn acting with a theater group.
- Learn and play basketball.- Take pictures, focusing on the artistic side of
- Learn and play baseball.photography.
- Learn swimming.Social
- Learn and play golf.- Read quality historical fiction.
- Learn a style of dance.- Read biographies.
Scientific- Do a geography project.
- Purchase a science kit and do experiments- Study a people group, do a project.
(chemistry, geology, etc.) (check out Pitsco - get- Do a country of the world project.
their free catalog).- Do a history time-period project.
- Obtain a telescope and learn astronomy.Spiritual or Moral/Contemplative
- Purchase a microscope and learn about cell- Spend time in Bible, religious or moral studies,
structure and one-celled animals.prayer and praise, or contemplation. (There is no
Mathematical/Logicalreason why attending religious services cannot be
- Learn to play chess.included as a part of schooling and as a project
- Design a bridge - construct a model. (I amfor your child).
convinced that one of the reasons so many- Do ministry with your local church, synagogue,
children struggle with math is that they do notor other community group.
build complicated things with their hands. There is- Go on a mission trip or a trip to another country
a direct correlation between working withto work with people in need.
complex physical patterns and mathematical- Help the poor nearby - food bank, etc.
thinking.)- Do a study project on a great moral or religious
- Purchase a book of math puzzles and workfigure.
them out.- Read great inspirational books.
TechnologicalYou can see how, if your middle school child were
- Build robotic devices from kits.engaged in 14 of these types of projects through
- Build electronic devices from kits.the school year, with a minimal amount of
- Build a computer."academic busy-work," he or she would gain an
- Make a movie focusing on the equipment used.understanding of the world in which they live way
- Study photography, focusing on the equipmentbeyond what regular educational curriculum can
used.give.
Literary