Here at Red Door, we use a concept known as Project-Based Learning as the basis for our developmentally appropriate, intentionally designed curriculum.
Our Director of Curriculum, Sara Belyea, describes it as follows:
”Project-Based Learning is inquiry-based learning where the process of investigation is emphasized. We are teaching our students how to learn as much as we are teaching them content.”
Each teacher designs her/his lesson with the following “Hows” in mind:
How to look closely and observe
How to investigate, explore, and experiment
How to make predictions and draw conclusions
How to ask questions and find answers
How to take risks
How to learn from mistakes
How to make connections
How to work together and collaborate
How to respectfully listen to the ideas of others
Of course there are skills that come along with Project-Based Learning design that can be used across domains:
Classification
Comparing/Contrasting
Sorting
Comparison
Measurement
Problem Solving
Reasoning
Why did we choose Project-Based Learning?
We choose this approach to curriculum development because these are the traits of a life-long learner.