# data[].attributes.body
This is a phenomenal resource to use to implement project based learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sure, teachers have been assigning projects to students for years. But Project Based Learning is something completely different. So what exactly is the difference between Project Based Learning and "doing a project"?

We like to say it's the main course, not dessert!

Visit a traditional classroom, and you'll probably find that students have done "dessert" projects in at least one unit during the school year. From shoebox dioramas to hand-built models to poster presentations, students are often tasked with creating something related to the topic of the unit.

It's usually done at the end of a unit - after the main course of content is delivered via traditional lessons, lectures, worksheets, and readings.
Think you know the difference? Take the pop quiz!

Without the key ingredients of Project Based Learning, a project like this in and of itself is not enough to deliver deeper learning.

So what's the difference between a dessert and main course project?

In Project Based Learning, the project itself is used to teach rigorous academic content and success skills. Students work to answer an important question-such as "How can we impact hunger in our community?" By exploring the question over a couple weeks or longer, students become immersed in it, pursuing answers from various angles.

Through this process, they apply what they're learning in meaningful ways. Instruction is incorporated into the project, which is designed to meet appropriate academic goals and standards. The project work creates a genuine need for students to learn grade-level content and skills, while working collaboratively, thinking critically and engaging in reflection and revision.

Students see how their work has an impact in the real world.

At the end of the project, the students' work is shared publicly, beyond just classmates and teachers... Students in a STEM project might create a sustainable redesign for a public space and present it to the city council, rather than simply learning from a textbook and creating a poster for the classroom wall. Or in social studies, a student could explore historical and present-day community heroes, and present their findings in a public forum.

By making a "main course" out of Project Based Learning, students become deeply engaged in their work. They understand how what they learn in school applies to the real world. They develop the skills that will set them up for success in college, career, and life.

So do you know the difference?
Here's a little quiz!

Hungry for more? You might also like...

Get inspired with over 60 Gold Standard PBL project ideas.

Find projects

Here is a guide to lead you into the world of PBL one step at a time.

Learn more

What is Gold Standard PBL? Here's what you need to know...

More about us

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
"Doing a Project" vs. Project Based Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
So what exactly is the difference between Project Based Learning and "doing a project"? We like to say: it's the main course, not dessert!

# data[].attributes.body
This is a free resource for educators to make lessons interactive and engage students in formative assessment!

# data[].attributes.body
This is a great app that can be used to cultivate mindfulness practices with children and adults!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Meditation & Mindfulness App for Kids | Buddhify

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Buddhify offers guided meditations for kids to help with focus, dealing with difficult emotions and creating a positive mindset, now and for the rest of their lives

# data[].attributes.body
Student-centered, evidence based approach to learning that creates a positive community in the classroom and throughout the school while increasing learning outcomes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Before you speak, listen." -William A. Ward Listening With Purpose As I listen in on the student conversations occurring around the classroom, I notice that my students have a firm grasp on the basics of listening and speaking. They turn their attention toward the speaker and maintain a calm...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that focuses on the strong link between academic success and social-emotional learning (SEL).

# data[].attributes.body
This article gives helpful tips to teach a trauma-informed classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The principal of an internationally recognized trauma-informed school explains what this form of education is-and what it isn't.

ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) have made their way into the mainstream over the past couple of years, even showing up in a segment that Oprah did for 60 Minutes. And because ACEs have a profound effect on children, the concept has been taken up in the world of education. Approaching education with an understanding of the physiological, social, emotional, and academic impacts of trauma and adversity on our students is driving changes in our systems.

However, these changes are not coming without misconceptions. As the principal of Fall-Hamilton Elementary, an internationally recognized trauma-informed school, I've encountered many misconceptions about trauma-informed education over the past five years. As educators move toward understanding the impact of trauma, including ACEs, and how creating and maintaining positive relationships can serve as a buffer to the negative impacts of trauma, it's vitally important to understand what trauma-informed education is and is not.

6 Misconceptions About Trauma-Informed Education

1. Trauma-Informed education is solely about a student's ACE score: The ACE study conducted by Kaiser Permanente and the CDC is credited with increasing public awareness of the potential negative health outcomes of adults based on their adverse childhood experiences.

That increased awareness is good, but trauma-informed education is not solely concerned with students' ACE score. We should use the ACE study as a catalyst to look deeper into understanding the broad scope of adversity that children are experiencing but that the study did not include. Trauma-informed education includes examining the influence and impact on students in our schools of factors such as racism (explicit, implicit, and systematic; and microaggressions) as well as poverty, peer victimization, community violence, and bullying.

2. Educators must know a student's ACE score to successfully intervene: It is not imperative to know a child's ACE score or specific traumatic experience to provide effective interventions. Being trauma-informed is a mindset with which educators approach all children.

Research indicates that strong, stable, and nurturing relationships foster a feeling of belonging that is essential for all students but is absolutely imperative for healing with students who have experienced trauma. Karen Treisman, a clinical psychology specialist, says, " Every interaction is an intervention." As educators, we must understand the impact of daily positive interactions and affirmations for our students.

3. Trauma-informed education is about fixing kids: Our kids are not broken, but our systems are. Operating in a trauma-informed way does not fix children; it is aimed at fixing broken and unjust systems and structures that alienate and discard students who are marginalized.

If we view our trauma-informed approach as fixing kids, that creates a deficit mindset. Many kids are doing the best they can in the moment. We must meet all students where they are while supporting them with strong, stable, and nurturing relationships.

4. Trauma-informed educators don't give students consequences for inappropriate behavior: There needs to be a clear understanding of the difference between consequences and punishment. Consequences by definition are designed to teach, while punishment relates to personal suffering.

It's important to set clear boundaries and expectations and then to support students into success. When students do not meet expectations or disregard boundaries, it is imperative to teach and reteach the expectations through consistent consequences.

5. Sometimes you have to escalate a confrontation with a student to calm them down: Co-regulation is the idea of keeping calm in order to help calm a student who is experiencing anger, frustration, or fear. A dysregulated adult cannot regulate a dysregulated child. Raising our level of intensity is not a strategy that works.

We should instead use strategies that honor the student's emotions and need for space while also getting their systems to calm in a safe way. This can be accomplished through first making sure that we really are calm and then by validating the student's experiences and emotions in order to get to the root of what is causing those emotions.

This doesn't mean excusing any poor choices the student may have made-it means ensuring that they're in a state where they can understand and accept any consequences, which is necessary if they are to learn from the experience.

6. I'm a teacher, not a therapist-this isn't my job: As educators explore the complexities of being trauma-informed, we need to remember that trauma-informed work is a journey and not a destination. It doesn't mean that teachers need to do the work of professional therapists. Our part in helping students with trauma is focusing on relationships, just as we do with all of our students. The strong, stable, and nurturing relationships that we build with our students and families can serve as a conduit for healing and increasing resilience.

Becoming trauma-informed in our daily practice is truly a process of learning and adjustment, but it is a worthwhile process.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The principal of an internationally recognized trauma-informed school explains what this form of education is-and what it isn't.

# data[].attributes.body
Relationship-focused approach to  support children in being successful.

# data[].attributes.body
Mystery Science is an amazing resource to keep handy for quick mini-lessons aligned with NGSS.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In this lesson, students investigate the mystery of the koa tree, a type of tree that grows in only two places-islands halfway across the world from one another. In the activity, students develop three different physical models of seed structures. They observe how structure affects the seed's function in dispersing away from the tree. Then, they use these observations to evaluate whether koa seeds are likely dispersed by wind, water, or animals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mystery Science offers an open-and-go elementary science unit suitable for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade covering Plant Adaptations

# data[].attributes.body
From writing to typing, to early literacy. This program has a culturally responsive approach to teaching emerging readers and writers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Everything you love about Handwriting Without Tears can be found in our new Pre-K component! Help young learners build pre-writing and emergent writing skills developmentally through engaging, hands-on, play-based activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Everything you love about Handwriting Without Tears can be found in our new Pre-K component! Help young learners build pre-writing and emergent writing skills developmentally through engaging, hands-on, play-based activities.

# data[].attributes.headline
Communication Board - Digital Citizenship Lesson

# data[].attributes.subject
Communication Board - Digital Citizenship Lesson

# data[].attributes.body
I created a communication board for students with communication disabilities to participate with ease.

# data[].attributes.body
Explore the UDL guidelines to embed throughout each lesson and challenge yourself to add more into your practice.

# data[].attributes.body
Engaging way to classroom manage. Parents can stay connected with their child's positive achievements day-to-day. I would only use this tool for positive reinforcement, with a reward for x amount of points.

# data[].attributes.body
This resource details MTSS and provides resources such as handouts, activities, trainings, etc.

# data[].attributes.body
Print and laminate a sign titled "Hall of Fame" to post on the whiteboard. When students are showing a growth mindset or modeling the desired behaviors, they can sign the "Hall of Fame".

# data[].attributes.body
Discover the latest and greatest research in education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was created in 2002 to be a central and trusted source of scientific evidence for what works in education.

# data[].attributes.body
Students choose how they want to demonstrate their learning. Students can view peer responses and comment to practice digital citizenship.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a digital storytelling resource students can use to display their learning.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a way for students to creatively demonstrate their learning through a video.

# data[].attributes.body
Check for student understanding, get  feedback, and provide a place to ask questions anonymously!

# data[].attributes.body
Pear Deck makes slideshows interactive that help the presenter gauge learning throughout the presentation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Join the Peartember celebration for giveaways, exclusive templates, and more! Learn more >

EFFORTLESSLY BUILD ENGAGING INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, RIGHT FROM GOOGLE SLIDES

The fastest way to transform presentations into classroom conversations

Imagine if you could engage every student in your class, every day. What if you could instantly see who's confused and who's ready for more? That's the power of Pear Deck. And now, with the Pear Deck for Google Slides Add-on, you can add the magic of formative assessments and interactive questions to your presentations right from Google Slides.

Design brilliant slides & engage your class

Open up Google Slides & the Pear Deck sidebar

Design a new presentation or open an existing one in Slides. Just getting started with Google Slides? Upload your PowerPoint or Keynote lessons to Google Slides and get going!

DROP IN FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

Our team of educators created a library of templates to support learning objectives typically found at the beginning, middle, and end of a class. Think: bell ringers, checks for understanding, exit tickets, and more. Simply drop in one of these templates for instant engagement and watch your class transform.

Create custom questions

You can always create your own custom activity or question from scratch. Use Text, Number Response, Multiple Choice, and Web Slide questions to engage students. Or upgrade to Pear Deck Premium to add Drawing and Draggable™ response types.

ADD AUDIO TO ANY SLIDE TYPE

With the Pear Deck Add-on, you can leave audio instructions, descriptions, or examples for your students to hear while they read the prompts and respond to Interactive Questions in your Pear Deck Slides presentations. Make a new recording instantly or upload one from your computer. The recordings you insert will play in the Student View of your live presentation Sessions, so it's perfect for any remote learning lesson!

Present with Pear Deck

Start your presentation and students will join your Session from any device with a web browser. As you advance your slides, students will be prompted to answer your questions! Students' answers can be displayed anonymously on the classroom projector, so instead of worrying about getting the right answer and feeling silly in front of peers, your students are putting ideas out there in a safe, anonymous way, discussing, and learning from each other.

GO DEEPER WITH THE tEACHER dASHBOARD

As an instructor, you can quickly see what each individual thinks on the Teacher Dashboard. Noticing a lot of wrong answers? Adapt! Take a pause, back up, re-explain. But don't forget to help the learners help each other: Why did some people choose this while others chose that? How can we find out the right answer? What else do we need to know?

INVITE TEACHERS TO YOUR SHARED tEACHER DASHBOARD

This feature enables teachers using Pear Deck Premium to share Session controls and valuable student insight with other designated educators, including student teachers, special educators, co-teachers, or even substitutes. With a real-time view of individual student work and the ability to guide and provide direct feedback, educators teaching together can better support the diverse needs of learners everywhere!

Using Videos, Animations and GIFs in your Pear Deck? Get ready to Power-up!

Want to show a video about the Mars Rover in your Pear Deck presentation? Need to carefully layer in information on a slide to reduce information overload? Found a perfect GIF of a plant emerging from its seed? If you want your videos, animations, and GIFs to play at full resolution when you present with Pear Deck, install the Power-Up Google Chrome extension.

The Power-Up is a free Google Chrome extension. Installing it ensures that videos, animation, and GIFs embedded in your Pear Deck slides play at full-resolution on the projector and student devices - exactly the way they should!

Install the Power-Up from the Chrome Web Store on the device you use in class. Now when you present with Pear Deck, the Power-Up magically enables the display of your videos, animations, and GIFs.

Get the Power-Up

Learn Pear Deck for Google Slides

Watch a video for self-guided Google training:

Or, dive into a self-paced Pear Deck for Google Slides practice deck:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pear Deck for Google Slides is the #1 Slides Add-on, making it effortless for educators to add interactive questions and formative assessments to their presentations.

# data[].attributes.headline
Universal Design for Learning Lesson Plan Template

# data[].attributes.subject
Universal Design for Learning Lesson Plan Template

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson plan was developed to incorporate UDL in the process of lesson planning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UNIVERSAL LESSON PLAN & REFLECTION TEMPLATE.docx

# data[].attributes.headline
UDL Lesson Plan to Teach Digital Citizenship

# data[].attributes.subject
UDL Lesson Plan to Teach Digital Citizenship

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson plan has 13 UDL guidelines embedded to meet the needs of students with different learning styles.

# data[].attributes.body
This is the presentation that goes with the Lesson Plan on Digital Citizenship and Cyberbullying.

# data[].attributes.body
This timeline is great to print and post on my desk and/or refer to quickly when time is of the essence.

# data[].attributes.body
An equitable resource to check for understanding during a lesson.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Login or sign up for free on Socrative - your assessment partner for real-time assessments and instant insights.

# data[].attributes.body
Teachers can assign students to play Common Core Standards-based games! (Free for teachers and schools)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
SplashLearn: Fun Math & ELA Program for PreK-Grade 5

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SplashLearn is an award-winning learning program loved by over 40 million kids for engaging Math and ELA practice. Aligned with Common Core and various state standards.

# data[].attributes.body
Game for fluency with math facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Effective Math Fact Fluency Solution | Reflex

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Unlock math fact fluency mastery effortlessly with Reflex! Discover the ultimate evidence-based solution to fact fluency challenges for grades 2+. Learn more.

# data[].attributes.body
Game-like learning to engage students with practicing mathematical skills. (FREE for teachers)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here's how nearly one million teachers use Prodigy in the classroom at no cost!

Help students master math standards with a fun and engaging gameplay experience

Adjust and align Prodigy's in-game math content with your lesson plans

Track student development to decide where to best spend your time

No trial period, no hidden costs for educators. Our optional parent memberships ensure Prodigy stays free for all teachers.

Prodigy for Teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here's how nearly one million teachers use Prodigy in the classroom at no cost! Help students master math standards with a fun and engaging gameplay experience Adjust and align Prodigy's in-game math content with your lesson plans Track student development to decide where to best spend your time No trial period, no hidden costs for educators.

# data[].attributes.body
This Chrome extension does it all in Google, it has a text-to-speech feature, speech-to-text, and more. This is a great place to start with extensions in your browser.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Boost reading and writing confidence across all types of content and devices, in class, at work, and at home.

# data[].attributes.body
This extension makes online text accessible to all at no additional cost to include in your Google Chrome browser.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Read Aloud uses text-to-speech (TTS) technology to convert webpage text to audio.  It works on a variety of websites, including news sites, blogs, fan fiction, publications, textbooks, school and class websites, and online university course materials.

Read Aloud allows you to select from a variety of text-to-speech voices, including those provided natively by the browser, as well as by text-to-speech cloud service providers such as Google Wavenet, Amazon Polly, IBM Watson, and Microsoft.  Some of the cloud-based voices may require additional in-app purchase to enable.

Read Aloud can read PDF, Google Docs, Google Play books, Amazon Kindle, and EPUB (via the excellent EPUBReader extension from epubread.com).

Read Aloud is intended for users who prefer to listen to content instead of reading, those with dyslexia or other learning disabilities, and children learning to read.

To use Read Aloud, navigate to the web page you want to read, then click the Read Aloud icon on the Chrome menu.  In addition, the shortcut keys ALT-P, ALT-O, ALT-Comma, and ALT-Period can be used to Play/Pause, Stop, Rewind, and Forward.  You may also select the text you want to read before activating the extension.  Right clicking on the selected text will provide you with yet another option to activate Read Aloud via the context menu.

To change the voice, reading speed, pitch, or enable text highlighting, go to the Options page either by right clicking on the Read Aloud icon and choose Options, or by clicking the Gear button on the extension popup (you'll need to stop playback to see the Gear button).

Read Aloud is an open-source project.  If you wish to contribute bug fixes or translations, please visit the GitHub page at https://github.com/ken107/read-aloud.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read aloud the current web-page article with one click, using text to speech (TTS). Supports 40+ languages.

# data[].attributes.body
Magnify any content in the Chrome window and read with ease!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Zoom in or out on web content using the zoom button and mouse scroll wheel for more comfortable reading. That to each percent value.

# data[].attributes.body
Declutter articles to enhance readability!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Postlight Reader - Clear away the clutter from all of your articles. Instantly.

# data[].attributes.body
Customize colors to improve color perception

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A customizable color filter applied to webpages to improve color perception.

# data[].attributes.body
Increase device volume by up to 600%

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The simplest and most reliable volume booster

🚀 Features
  ⭐️ Up to 600 % volume boost
  ⭐️ Control volume of any tab
  ⭐️ Fine-grained control:  0 % - 600 %
  ⭐️ Switch to any tab playing audio with just one click

🚀 Full screen
  ⭐️ Chrome prevents you from going to a complete full-screen when using any extension manipulating with sound so you can always see the blue rectangle icon in the tab bar (to be aware of audio is being manipulated). There's no way to bypass it and after all it's a good thing that keeps you safe. However you can improve the situation a bit by pressing F11 (on Windows) or Ctr+Cmd+F (on Mac).

🚀 Permissions explained
  ⭐️ "Read and change all your data on the websites you visit": to be able to connect to and modify AudioContext of any website playing audio and to show list of all tabs playing audio

Completely free and with no ads

Made with ❤️ by Peta Sittek

# data[].attributes.body
This is a game-like support for students needing additional support with literacy.

# data[].attributes.body
Standards for teaching digital citizenship and using technology safely.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The ISTE Educator Standards challenge educators to deepen their practice, empower students and rethink traditional approaches to education.

# data[].attributes.body
Entertaining, impactful, and educational for teaching against cyberbullying with older students.

# data[].attributes.headline
Classroom Resources for Teaching ISTE Standards

# data[].attributes.subject
Classroom Resources for Teaching ISTE Standards

# data[].attributes.body
Lessons and activities that help guide teaching ISTE standards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Classroom resources | eSafety Commissioner

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover resources designed to help schools and other educators teach online safety lessons.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a digital whiteboard students can use to work on an assignment. The best part about this resource is feedback. Teachers can provide instant feedback on student work, and students can give help to their peers anonymously.

# data[].attributes.body
Make learning engaging by creating a game-like assessment of learning. Practice healthy competition and make learning fun!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Create a fun learning game in minutes - we call these 'kahoots'. The format and number of questions is up to you. Add videos, images and diagrams to your questions to amplify engagement.

How to create a kahoot on your computer
How to create a kahoot in the app

Kahoots are best played in a group setting. To join a game, you need a unique PIN. If you're the game host, you need a big screen. Players answer on their own devices, while questions are displayed on a shared screen. In addition to live games, you can also send kahoot challenges that players complete at their own pace - for example, for homework or remote training.
How to play a live kahoot
After a game, encourage players to create and share their own kahoots! With one of our premium plans for schools or business, you can co-create games with your colleagues and save time on finding relevant kahoots for your class or training session.
How to help learners become leaders in class

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Want to make learning fun and engaging? Find out how to get started with Kahoot!, one of world's most popular learning platforms.