How do you develop meaningful projects?

 I am no stranger to developing projects for kiddos.  The most successful projects are meaningful and have a purpose.  In another life I wrote grants at the school where I taught.  The grants were based on projects the high school kids wanted to do.  We had a huge club.  What did we do?  Projects took a variety of forms: prom dress closet, hands-on science outreach to kindergarten, planting hundreds of trees, hydroponics, raised beds—even a green roof.  

For a few years, schools went all-in on Project Based Learning or PBL.  (Bucks Institute has a host of projects.)  Instead of making all of your instruction projects, be selective.  What project would your family  enjoy?  

Let’s walk through some steps using Design a Playground as the project.  Let’s limit the new play space to your own backyard.

1.  Identify a problem.  In this example, the Killarney School wants to improve their playground equipment.  They identified a problem.  They also are using photos to document the issue with their playground equipment.  This is a good place to start.  If you are designing an ideal playground for your yard, take photos documenting the existing space.  Go further and take measurements.  Create a graphic or plan of the yard.  You are constrained or limited by the space in the yard.

2. If money were no object, what would your ideal space be?  Brainstorm ideas.  Make a list of play equipment, fencing, garden areas, forts, etc.  Circle the most practical ideas.  

3. Form a plan.  Create a plan.  Use commercial guides or Map Your Playground suggestions.  

4. Create a budget. Brainstorm costs.  Here are estimated costs for a commercial playground.  Your backyard might be perfect for a Natural Playground.  What do you already have?  What would you like to add?  Where can you find it?  How much would it cost?  Use a spreadsheet.

5. Do you want to fundraise?   The Killarney School is accepting donations.  Instead, what can your family do to fundraise for the playground?  Yard sale?  Mow yards?  Sell stuff on eBay?  I’ve found yard sales to be excellent sources of funds, especially if you have a good location.

6.  Install the playground.  Be sure to document the entire process.  Take photos, include the plans, maps, spreadsheets, and photos.  I like to make a slide deck of the project.  How many hours did you invest in the project?  Who participated?  What were their roles?  What would you do differently?  Answer these questions in a final report. 

7. Add this project to your digital portfolio.  Identify all of the components and skills: budgeting, planning, permits, math, etc. involved in the project.  Does this type of project take more time and effort?  Absolutely!  However, the results are commensurate with the effort.