Project-Based Learning with Young Children [Paperback]

Deborah Diffily (Author), Charlotte Sassman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0325004471 | ISBN-13: 978-0325004471 | Publication Date: August 1, 2002

If your young students ask, "Why are we doing that?"
if they wonder what school learning has to do with life outside of school,
if YOU wonder how you will motivate, engage, or otherwise inspire your students to take schoolwork seriously,
then read this book.

Deborah Diffily and Charlotte Sassman give us pause to rethink the look, feel, and content of classrooms. They remind us that even the youngest students can fully participate in the life of their schools and their communities. And they show us just how successful children can be in conducting their own projects.

The authors detail the characteristics of an Applied Learning project, a venture in which students connect school work to the real world and direct their own learning. They offer a timeline for one such project, and describe several more, with suggestions for additional project topics, research resources, and end products. Using numerous vignettes and examples from their own teaching experiences, they demonstrate that, above and beyond academic learning, children grow into contributing members of different groups by learning how to negotiate and compromise, direct their own learning, and make daily work choices that mesh classroom learning with real-world projects.

As one six-year-old explained, "Projecks can be educkashional. Projecks can be fun." This book's purpose is the same: to help you understand the power, and the fun, of project-based learning. Try it and possibly change your life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I eagerly await the impact this book will have on the early childhood classrooms I know best.”–Shelley Harwayne, Superintendent of New York School District #2

About the Author

Deborah Diffily is an assistant professor of Early Childhood Education at Southern Methodist University. As a former kindergarten and first-grade teacher, Deborah shares both theory and personal experiences in presentations, articles, and books. Her primary areas of interest are supporting children's development in reading, writing, and science; project-based learning; and working with families.

Charlotte Sassman is a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center in Fort Worth, Texas. During her 25 years in public education, she has been a staff developer, curriculum writer, mentor teacher, and frequent contributor to national magazines. Her primary areas of interest are young children's writing and reading, project-based learning, and school reform.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325004471
• ISBN-13: 978-0325004471
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best education book I have read in years!, October 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Project-Based Learning with Young Children (Paperback)

[...] Unbelievably, Diffily and Sassman have written the most concise and straight forward book for teachers who want a clear understanding of project based learning. This honest educational guide is written from real life classrooms. From the first day the children walk in your door, Project-Based Learning with Young Children lays the foundations for successful learning. The authors encourage teachers to start using projects a little at a time, building gradually to the long term experience. It's a rare nuts-and-bolts type of education book, with room for individual teacher innovation. Diffily and Sassman's love for children, teaching, and projects comes through every page. Skills, critical thinking, and assessment are all here. Project-Based Learning with Young Children is the most encouraging educational book I have read in years. My copy has pencil marks, sticky tabs, and notes written on every page. I have already begun integrating it into my school day with the small successes that make me want to continue to see how the children will continue to dazzle me. Treat your children, as well as yourself, to the rare learning pleasure with projects.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful way to learn!, November 4, 2002

By 

Katherine Ignacio (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Project-Based Learning with Young Children (Paperback)

Project-Based Learning with Young Children is obviously written by good teachers for good teachers. The book is well-organized and easy to read. It suggests ways of working with children that are very respectful of children and the learning process. The best parts of this book are the true-to-life stories of real children doing real work. Diffily and Sassman weave their own experiences working on projects with young children, as well as bringing in "voices" of other project-based learning teachers. I strongly recommend Project-Based Learning with Young Children to any K-1-2 teacher who is looking for authentic ways of teaching young children.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Oh look! A tree... we did symmetry!, June 21, 2010

By 

BlueLikeJazz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Project-Based Learning with Young Children (Paperback)

This book implies that teachers can go outside and teach an enormous amount of curriculum based objectives by simply implementing a 20 minute discussion regarding a tree on the playground. As a result, teachers are supposedly able to check off that students learned symmetry because of the shape of the leaves, engineering because of the roots, photosynthesis because of the color of the leaves, `life' because the tree is a living thing, art because it is beautiful, writing because you can write about it, metaphors because you can compare it to a skyscraper, etc. This book is just someone putting a new name on an old idea. Education has a pendulum that swings back and forth over the years and puts new names to old ideas. Find something that works and stick with it! Don't waste your time "giving in" to all the new "fads." It's about the kids, not about the next guy trying to make a dollar.