Mommy Maestra: project based learning

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Imagineering in a Box: Free Online Program

This school year, I wanted to add something unique, fun, and educational to our homeschool studies. So I was pretty delighted to learn about Imagineering in a Box, a free online program for kids.

What is Imagineering in a Box?

Walt Disney and Khan Academy have partnered to bring this unique learning opportunity to your home or school classroom. The program is a series of lessons made up of a combination of videos and exercises to help your children learn how to create their own theme park.

Real-Life Scenarios

In the videos, you hear from Disney professionals including artists, engineers, construction, management and more. It is a real life example of how much effort it takes from many different people in different fields of work to create something for the public.

They tell you about all the planning that goes into creating a theme park and how each of them has to work together with a team to make the parks come to life. It's an incredibly thorough unit that has been well thought out.

So far, my son has learned about how to create a story as the basis for your land, how to develop a theme, what goes into a layout, and what goes into building design. And there's so much more for him to learn. I love that this unit makes children think about the "big picture" as well as all the small details of what goes into such a big project.

Here's a peek at the introduction. Watch it and see if you think it might be a good fit for your child.

Other Project-Based Activities for Kids

PBL (Project-Based Learning) really is a phenomenal way to teach kids. Years ago I wrote about The Power of Hands-On Learning. And I still firmly believe that there is power in doing.

TeachThought.com has a great list of 50 ideas for project-based learning. But if you are looking for something a little more directed and concrete, here are some other activity based learning projects that come in a kit for you to consider.

3-D Home Kit

The 3-D Home Kit lets you experience some of the work and rewards of being an architect, as you design and construct a detailed, three-dimensional model of your own house design.

Model Engine Kit

Water Jet Rocket Kit

Project-Based Learning Ideas for Summer

I have a love/hate relationship with summer because I love that my kids don't always have something scheduled to keep them busy, but I also hate that they sometimes are just lazy and complain about being bored. 😝

I've already talked about BOCA, my guide for summer learning. And on Wednesday, I shared my first book recommendation.

Well, today's recommendations fall under the "Activities" section.

Project-based learning (PBL) is one of the best ways to engage kids and sneak in some learning. Personally, I think there has to be a lot of thinking going on, physical activity in some form or fashion, and a satisfying end result.

In practice, PBL nurtures specific skills, including planning, critical thinking, reasoning, and creativity, visualizing and decision making, and knowing how and when to use technology, and choosing the most appropriate tool for the task.

Generally, in classrooms, PBL is a joint effort because students work in teams to complete the project. But parents can use PBL at home, too, with multiple children or just one.

Where do I start?

Fortunately, there are quite a few companies out there creating project kits that you can purchase and give to your kids. National Geographic, Thames & Kosmos, and Discovery are just a few examples.

To get you started, I've put together a PBL Idea List and added it to my Amazon shop. Currently, there are 30 45+ different kits on the list, and I'll be adding more as I find them. Here is a peek at some of my favorites...