PLANNING GUIDE

Project-Based
Learning

©2019 APRIL SMITH | PERFORMING IN EDUCATION, LLC


Students are increasingly
struggling in school. Many
students see school as a chore
and not a means for finding
enjoyment in the learning
process. Our focus on testing,
coupled with a lack of quality
educational resources, has
made it difficult for teachers to
engage their students in
authentic learning.
©2019 APRIL SMITH | PERFORMING IN EDUCATION, LLC
Welcome!
I'm so excited that you decided to
begin your journey with project-
based learning! PBL made a
HUGE difference in the climate
of my classroom. I can't wait to
see the difference it makes for
you!
-April
The PBL movement is growing
among teachers and
administrators who want to
see a change at their school.
They want their students to
enjoy learning and to learn
important life skills like
financial literacy, business
foundations, and personal
growth. If this describes you,
this guide will help you get
started on your PBL journey!
 Planning Elements
ABOUT

These seven elements are what make project-based learning

such an engaging experience for students.

TOPIC CRITIQUE & REVISION

1 Project-based learning planning is
similar to planning a unit of study.
You’ll need to choose a topic that
students can explore and ask
questions about.
5 Students will need to give and receive
feedback throughout the PBL. They
will make several revisions and do
further research to improve their
projects.

CONTENT PUBLIC AUDIENCE

2 The main reason to use PBL is to
teach standard-driven content.
Before you can plan a PBL, you must
know which standards you want
students to apply to their project.
6 Students should present their project
to an audience other than the teacher
and classmates. This can include other
grade levels, community members,
and/or family members.

DRIVING QUESTION 21ST CENTURY COMPETENCIES

3 The “driving question” is the overall
question students will explore in the
project. They will gain and apply
knowledge to answer this question.
The skills used to complete the project
are driven by the standards.
7 Within the project, students will work
on skills related to real life. These
skills include collaboration, problem
solving, communication, innovation,
and technology use.

IN-DEPTH INQUIRY & CHOICE

4 Students will use resources (including
ones you provide and ones they seek
out) to ask and answer questions.
Project-based learning should allow for
students to make choices that
will  create a different outcome for each
student.

©2019 APRIL SMITH | PERFORMING IN EDUCATION, LLC

 Driving Question
OUR DQ

Is open-ended.

Gives a challenge to tackle.

Pinpoints the audience.

ENTRY EVENT:

Find more information here:

https://www.performingineducation.com/driving-questions/

©2019 APRIL SMITH | PERFORMING IN EDUCATION, LLC

 My PBL Plan
TOPIC

WHAT TOPIC ALIGNS WITH THE SKILLS I NEED TO TEACH AND IS

RELEVANT TO MY STUDENTS?

CONTENT

WHICH STANDARDS & SKILLS FIT WELL WITH THE TOPIC I'VE CHOSEN?

INQUIRY/
CHOICE

WHAT PROCESS DO I WANT STUDENTS TO COMPLETE IN ORDER TO

ANSWER THE DRIVING QUESTION? WHAT CHOICES WILL MY
STUDENTS MAKE ALONG THE WAY?

©2019 APRIL SMITH | PERFORMING IN EDUCATION, LLC

 My PBL Plan Cont.
CRITIQUE &
REVISION

DURING WHICH PARTS OF THE PROJECT WILL I HAVE STUDENTS SHARE

THEIR WORK? HOW WILL THEY SHARE AND REVISE THEIR WORK?

PUBLIC
AUDIENCE

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM LEARNING ABOUT MY STUDENTS’ WORK?

21ST CENTURY
COMPETENCIES

HOW CAN I EXPLICITLY TEACH THE 21ST CENTURY COMPETENCIES?

HOW WILL STUDENTS THEN APPLY THESE COMPETENCIES?

©2019 APRIL SMITH | PERFORMING IN EDUCATION, LLC

Learn How to Launch PBL
ONLINE, SELF-PACED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE

Video Trainings Included: Additional Resources Included:

• Course Introduction
• The Building Blocks of PBL
• Planning Project-Based Learning
• Writing Effective Driving Questions
• Pacing Your Lessons
• Procedures
• Differentiation
• Classroom Management
• Final Products and Grading
• Course guide for note taking
• Editable Planning Pages
• Driving Question Editable Slips
• Student Critique Forms
• Editable Pacing Calendar
• Student Procedure Pages
• Differentiation Planning Pages
• Example Student Pages
• Example Rubric

LEARN MORE

APRIL SMITH • PERFORMING IN EDUCATION, LLC