What did we gain by studying shoes for six weeks? The approach of using projects consists of an “in-depth” study of a topic taken from the interests and questions of the children. Our goals are to extend their knowledge, develop, extend, and practice skills, and foster positive dispositions about learning and academic skills.
We were able to extend the children’s knowledge about a wide variety of topics as we asked questions of our visitors: firemen, policeman, cross-country skier, military officer, and dancer. We extended knowledge as the children took field trips to a shoe store, dance class, and sports rental store. New knowledge was gained as the children conducted surveys in the classroom, in the neighboring classroom, and on campus.
The children learned the skills of asking questions (instead of making statements), taking surveys, one-to-one correspondence, sorting, categorizing, graphing, and writing numerals as well as words. They learned economics and marketing as they priced their shoes for sale, shopped in our shoe store, sold shoes to students and faculty, and marketed their designer shoes in a fashion show. The children learned to represent their knowledge through construction, drawings, graphing and writing.
They practiced communication skills as they shared their shoes, conducted surveys and played various roles in our shoe store. There were numerous opportunities to practice writing and other small motor skills.
One of the most important outcomes of our project was the positive dispositions the children have towards learning and academic skills. They all see themselves as able to read our question of the day as well as many books. They know they can represent thoughts with writing and drawing. They jump right in and begin any construction activity we introduce.
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