Learning Through Exploration

We are beginning project based learning in my classroom. Project based learning happens when "the students decide what projects they want to tackle, and teachers guide them to resources, on the Internet and in books, that help them create something from what they learn. Whether they're building an airplane or a cruise ship, or conducting a funeral for the class praying mantis, AEEC students are learning more than basic facts and skills.They are acquiring a taste for the process of lifelong learning. " Please check out the rest of that article on http://www.edutopia.org/beginning-journey! It's a great explanation of what PBL is all about.
Sometimes I wish you all could be flies on the wall while your children are really, deeply engaged in what they're learning. It is an amazing thing to see! You'd be surpirsed at how their brains work when they are learning something that they are interested in. Last week I started the animal lesson with one of the groups ("teams") in my class. That group decided that they would like to visit Hovatter's Zoo to learn more about some of the animals we will be researching. We used their want to go to the zoo as a letter writing lesson, and they wrote a letter to Mrs. Hartshorn to ask if we could go. We should have an answer this week!
Encourage your children to find answers to things they want to know about. Children, and adults alike, become more excited about learning and learn more when they want to learn. Whenever they have a question about something try not to just give them the answer. Encourage them to find the answer. Provide books and help them on the internet, but make sure that they are actively involved in the learning process.