At Summa Academy, we are devoted to Project Based Learning.

Every afternoon there will be two or three projects going.  Students, with teacher and parental guidance, will choose their projects. Every project will include children of all ages, and therefore they will experience the many benefits of multi-age interaction. There will be consistent feedback between project learning and the main lesson so the value of each is maximized. And, in keeping with Summa Academy’s culture of connection and relationship, parent education includes participating in at least one project during the year. This builds community with teachers and all students.

Here are some benefits of Project Based Learning:

• students engage an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge
• requires students to learn essential content and varied skills.
• requires critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and various forms of communication.
• allows some degree of student voice and choice.
• incorporates feedback and revision.
• results in a publicly presented product or performance.

Projects allow students to address community issues, deepen communication skills, interact with people of all ages, use technology, and present their work to audiences beyond the classroom. Project based learning excites students as they engage new skills, and enjoy the satisfaction of a completed work.

There is a cornucopia of projects from which to choose. A few examples include building a model city, simulating a foreign culture, theater, community service, etc. Parents will be surveyed and unique expertise drawn upon to emphasize the relevance of all projects.