Projects are the foundation of the academic experience in Summit
Learning. In science, English, and history classes, students apply their
knowledge, skills, and habits to engaging, hands-on classwork that
grounds learning in what students need to know to succeed in the real
world. The final products that students complete are diverse, ranging
from simulating historic debates to presenting proposals for changes to
school policies.
Hands-On Collaboration
In class, teachers immerse their students in real-world scenarios, such
as working with a team, interpreting data, and presenting a persuasive
argument. These projects also allow students to solve tangible problems
and apply their knowledge, skills, and habits to classwork that builds
and refines practices that are useful in the real world. Throughout a
project, students develop multiple cognitive skills, such as the ability
to express ideas with precision and to use relevant, credible sources to
support those ideas. Each project ends with an authentic final product,
which students complete individually or in collaboration with their
peers for an individual grade.
A Few of our Favorite Projects
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Building Your Dream House
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Teaching Newton's Laws with Broomball
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Designing a Rollercoaster
Teachers are Leaders
Teachers are at the heart of every Summit Learning classroom. They lead
every project as experts not only in their subject area but also in the
cognitive skills that students develop and demonstrate throughout the
exercises, providing students with actionable feedback every step of the
way. Each teacher also provides targeted support to students when they
need it through 1:1 working sessions or small-group workshops. This
support ensures that students meet or exceed grade-level expectations
for both content and skills. With this support, feedback, and mentoring,
students are able to develop their own drive for success.
More on Projects
- Student Voice: 5 Things I Love about Working on Projects
6th grader Owen Bruderly describes some of the projects he's worked on and how they've inspired him to reflect on his own progress and impact.
- How One Math Project Inspired a Dozen Architecture Careers
8th grade math teacher Carl Stalla found that 12 of his former students are pursuing careers in architecture thanks to his Dream Home project.