Making Learning Stick: How to Bring Project-Based Learning Into Your Classroom

When I was in third grade, I had my first encounter with an alien.

Okay, it wasn’t a literal UFO “take me to your leader” alien. I’m pretty sure it was a blow-up party balloon. But these “aliens” that infiltrated my third-grade classroom wanted to learn more about Earth. Specifically, they wanted to learn how plants grow, what they do, and why we need them. 

Over the next several weeks, my teacher guided us in a project that involved studying plants, growing our own, and preparing a presentation to our alien colleagues. I’m not a botanist by any means today, but I do have some plants in my living room that are luckily still alive—and I believe that my love for plants sprouted from that third-grade project (pun absolutely intended).

School projects may be some of the experiences that we remember the most because they helped us engage in deeper and more meaningful ways. Project-based learning is meant to be inquiry-based, student-driven, and solve real-world problems. When students take the lead in a classroom project, what they’re learning finally begins to stick.

So, how do we make projects effective, fun, and useful in an actual classroom?

What Makes Project-Based Learning So Effective?

Project-based learning (PBL) is more than arts and crafts—it’s a critical tool that teaches your students how to apply their classroom skills to the real world. 

Project-based learning works because it helps students see how they can take what they read in their textbooks and practice on tests into their everyday lives. When students are presented with a challenge or an end goal for a project, they have to engage their critical thinking skills, learn to collaborate with others, and communicate effectively. 

PBL is also an effective tool for increasing student engagement. In a project scenario, students have the power to make choices and voice their opinions. This ability to lead empowers students to take a more active role in their learning. And it’s more than just a flashy tri-fold presentation or a PowerPoint slide show with animations. The process, the inquiry, and the mistakes along the way are what really solidify student learning. 

Simple Ways to Start PBL in Your Classroom

It may feel overwhelming to incorporate more projects into the classroom. However, these projects don’t have to be gigantic like building a robot or crafting a working volcano. There are practical and simple steps you can take to take your students out of the textbooks and into project mode:

Start with a question

Project-based learning is all about helping students see that what they learn extends beyond their tests and classroom walls. Frame units and lessons around open-ended, real-world problems.

• How can we reduce waste in our school? 
• What makes a good leader? 
• What would it take to colonize another planet?

Use what you already teach

Don’t start from scratch. Integrate PBL into existing curriculum topics, such as science fair questions, historical dilemmas, and community challenges.

Break up the process

Break up the project into steps, such as forming a research question, researching, planning, creating, and reflecting. Giving students a step-by-step process will help them and you feel less overwhelmed. The best projects are those that have mini-wins along the way, so make sure to recognize and celebrate all their progress. 

Let students take the lead

Choice and an appropriate amount of freedom will help students feel more involved and motivated throughout the project. Give them choice in factors such as topic and how they will present their project. Read more of our tips on student-led learning here. 

Project-based learning doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience that you blow your budget on. Start small and have fun with it. Even better, don’t even start from scratch. In the internet age, there are so many resources available to give you the boost you need into project-based learning. 

Where to Find Ready-to-Use PBL Tools

You don’t need to build projects or experiences with plant-curious aliens from scratch. Right here at Mission.io, we have resources already built to support you and your students. Our Mission Library has over 100 standards-aligned, ready-to-use PBL experiences for the classroom. These Missions have all the tools you need for a successful project: planning tools, technology integration, and helpful tips and tricks for implementation in the classroom.

And we’ll shout it from the rooftops—you’re not alone, and we’re here to support you. Projects should be a fun and memorable experience for teachers and students alike, not a stressful or anxiety-inducing burden. Get started on your first mission and go from classroom chaos to confident and creative learning.

Final Thoughts: PBL Is a Mindset, Not Just a Method

You don’t need to be an expert in alien exploration, gardening, or volcano science in order for your students to learn from a project. Expertise isn’t necessary, but experimentation is. Try out different projects and different methods to see what sticks best with your students.

The more students solve real problems, the more empowered they will feel in their learning. Lifelong learning is a step-by-step process that builds on their experiences, in and out of the classroom.

So just sit back, and think about it for a second: the capabilities your students have, the capabilities they could have, and your role in helping them get there. 

What real-world problems could your students solve?