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Students Pursue Career-Based Projects

Students select “Houses” of interest and complete long-term projects related to possible careers

Context

Locust Grove students can select a course of study within four “houses” that correspond with a variety of career pathways. The houses are an organizing structure for how Locust Grove implements project-based learning (one of Henry County’s tenets of personalized learning). The intent of Henry County’s approach to project-based learning is to provide students with real-world applications of content, helping them become college, career, and life ready.

The idea for house projects started at Locust Grove High School, which offers career pathways that students choose for 9th grade. Educators noticed high school students were not prepared for this choice, and often ended up not making great pathway choices. As a result, Locust Grove Middle School created houses and related projects that align with the high school’s career pathways. Students in the middle school explore passions related to possible college and career opportunities through their house projects. Sample projects include: writing a novel, constructing a water tower, building a 3D model of an atom, and writing music.

The four houses, and their respective areas of focus, that students can select from are:

  • House of Design - Engineering, Architecture, and Digital Design
  • Cultivating Wellness - Agriculture, Food Science, Healthcare Science
  • Center Stage - Art, Music, Stage Design, Video Broadcasting, Dance, Writing, Drama
  • Community and Commerce - Business, Education, Law, and Justice

Student Does

  • Selects house of interest in the spring before the upcoming school year.
  • Works with house teacher to determine their project related to a house topic.
  • Works on their project during makerspace time.
  • Switches house after a semester if they so choose.

Teacher Does

  • Designs driving questions, objectives, tasks, and pathways for different house projects, relating them to content areas and career pathways.

Technology Does

  • Enables students to work in the house of their choice via Google forms submissions.

Strategy Resources


Educator Voice: House Projects at Locust Grove Middle School

Locust Grove educators explain how House Projects work at the school. Learn More

Locust Grove House Project Overview: Water Towers

Students at Locust Grove Middle School engage in career-based House challenges, which are projects mapped... Learn More

Locust Grove House Project Competition Info: Water Tower

Students at Locust Grove Middle School engage in career-based House challenges, which are projects mapped... Learn More

Locust Grove House Project Design Sample: Water Tower Project

Locust Grove Middle School creates houses and related projects that align with the high school’s... Learn More

Locust Grove House Project Manual

Students at Locust Grove Middle School engage in career-based House challenges, which are projects mapped... Learn More

Locust Grove Engineering Fair Overview

Students at Locust Grove Middle School engage in career-based House challenges, which are projects mapped... Learn More