This upcoming week marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week, and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate you!
Every day, we hear about countless Gold Standard PBL projects that are transforming students’ lives and communities in meaningful ways. This week, we want to put the spotlight where it belongs: on you, teachers!
Through your passion, creativity, and care, learning has meaning, purpose, and impact. Here are just a few of the incredible examples we’re celebrating this week.
THANKS TO YOU… learning has meaning.
You help students connect content to real life, and that changes everything.
Centering Nature and Place Through PBL: The Fire Project at The Skola
At The Skola, a nature-based elementary school in Whitefish, Montana, students explored the dual nature of fire—its power to destroy and renew. Surrounded by mountains, forests, and waterways, this project blended Project Based Learning and Place-Based Learning, fostering deep connections to the natural world while building critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Read all about this project here.
THANKS TO YOU… students lead with purpose.
You guide projects that ignite curiosity and drive real-world impact.
Hydration Station Project
At Rochester’s School No. 12, students identified a community need and took action by designing and installing a new drinking fountain for their playground—a powerful testament to student voice and agency in creating something meaningful for their community.
Read more about their impact here.
THANKS TO YOU… students have the success skills they need to thrive.
You create learning experiences where academic concepts come alive, and students build the success skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom.
Tiny Houses, Big Learning
At Macdonough STEM Academy in Middletown, Connecticut, elementary students combined engineering, math, and creativity to design and build tiny houses for real community 'clients'—bringing hands-on learning to life while meeting the needs and wants of their buyers.
THANKS TO YOU… hearts and minds are engaged.
You make space for students to care about what they learn—and why it matters.
Hip-Hop as History Project
At Lansing Eastern High School in Michigan, students curated a hip-hop museum to explore history and culture—connecting their identities to historical movements through art and performance.
Learn more about their story here.
THANKS TO YOU… deeper learning takes root.
Because of you, students don’t just memorize—they truly understand.
March Through Nashville Project
Middle school students explored the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in Nashville through a powerful ELA and social studies project. By connecting historical events to their own community, students gained a deeper understanding of the movement’s significance—and a stronger sense of their hometown’s place in history.
This week, and every week, we are grateful for you. Thank you for making learning come alive, for believing in what’s possible, and for changing lives—one project at a time. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
