The Project Approach: Ft. Amelia Troutman

Meet our guest

Our Guest, Amelia Troutman, is the Manager of Education at the Kohl Children’s Museum in Illinois and has years of experience implementing and teaching the Project Approach, first based off of Judy Harris Helm and Lilian Katz, “Young Investigators: The Project Approach In The Early Years” book and method. Amelia is so knowledgable, warm, and eager to help others learn and teach through this hands-on, project-based approach.

For more information about the Kohl Children’s Museum and the Project Approach click HERE

*Please be aware that application deadlines, programs, and museum hours may be affected due to COVID-19

“Choose a topic that is immediate to children’s everyday life and always around them. Topics often fizzle if it’s not immediate enough in their daily life. ”

— Amelia Troutman

Phase One: Identify a Topic
- Bring artifacts, visuals, use webs, and tools (Projects of Chicagoland ) to focus children’s interests.
- What do you see children doing? Really observe them.
- Choose a topic that is immediate to children’s everyday life and always around them. Topics often fizzle if it’s not immediate enough in their daily life.
- Projects CAN be teacher-initiated.
- Webs are a great focusing activity.
Phase Two: Reexamine and Refocus
- Learn more about what they are interested in, through observation and discussions.
- Fieldwork/field site visits expand learning outside of the classroom and don’t have to be overly involved.
- Have students take part in the documentation of their project, take photos, sketches, etc..
Phase Three: Culmination of Learning
- Ask: Are the children’s questions answered?
- Review learning with children: Ask, “How do you want to share what you learned with others?”
It’s OK for children to lose interest in topics throughout the process. This can help inform your next move. Gaps in knowledge can also help inform you of the children’s learning process.