Sylvia C. Chard

The Project Approach

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Follow this link for the Project Approach Home Page.

When children's minds are engaged in the study or real world topics they can apply knowledge and skills with understanding and flexibility. Projects involve in-depth learning for children in preschool through Grade 6 and beyond. This approach to teaching and learning supports teachers in their response to many of the current concerns in school:

• language across the curriculum
• process writing
• real world math
• problem solving in science
• social studies in the local community
• curriculum integration
• information technology
• collaborative learning
• multiple intelligences
• constructivist education
• developmentally appropriate practice
• multi-age grouping
• inclusive education

Through projects children can become motivated to strive for higher standards in their school work. This commitment is communicated to parents who also become involved and actively support their children's learning. Links can be developed in the local community through the field work which is accomplished in the context of a project.

Teaching through the project approach or method is becoming increasingly attractive to teachers. Many teachers are working to include the study of local real world topics in the classroom as an alternative to using text books or teacher prepared didactic materials. Lilian Katz and I have developed ways to help teachers to guide children's learning through projects by means of a flexible three phase planning structure.

This practical framework for teaching is responsive to children's individual strengths, interests and learning needs. Teachers can see how learning in language, math, science and social studies is complemented by the expressive representations undertaken in art music and drama as real world topics are studied in depth through projects.

A project is defined here as an in-depth study of a topic or a theme undertaken by a class of children, a group or even an individual child. The Project Approach offers a way of teaching through projects in a way which is complementary to spontaneous play for the youngest children and to systematic instruction for children grades 1 - 6.

I have been working through publications, in-service workshops and courses for the past seven years to help teachers to be successful in teaching through projects. I have done this in close collaboration with Lilian Katz, Director of the ERIC Clearinghouse for Early Childhood Education and Professor at the University of Illinois. Many teachers have attended the Institute we offer together in the Summer at the Allerton Park Conference Centre of the University of Illinois.

Project Approach Publications

Our relevant publications include:

Katz, Lilian G. & Chard, Sylvia C. (1989) Engaging Children's Minds: The Project Approach. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing

Chard, Sylvia C. (1998) The Project Approach. Practical Guide #1: Developing the Basic Framework. New York: Scholastic.

Chard, Sylvia C. (1998) The Project Approach. Practical Guide #2: Developing Curriculum with Children. New York: Scholastic.

For further information on the Project Approach click here to see the Projects Home Page.

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Research

1983-93: Ten years of research comprising case studies of six teachers' professional development from their entry into a College of Higher Education in the South Midlands in England until they had completed seven years of teaching in infant and primary schools in England. The six case studies focused on these teachers' developing understandings of children.

1990-the present: Case studies of teachers adopting the project approach to teaching and learning in their classrooms. I am collecting stories from teachers about the project work they are developing following workshops and courses they have taken on this way of working with children.

Vita: to be supplied.

The Project Approach Listserv

For information about the Project Approach Listserv, PROJECTS-Lclick here.

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Last revised: Jan 1, 1998