Educators at Konnoak Middle School opened their doors to demonstrate some of the most exciting projects students will participate in next school year during their first Project-Based Learning Showcase.
Current and prospective students, joined by their families and district administrators, had the chance to speak with teachers about the projects they’ve been designing for the 2025-26 school year. With help from federal grant funding meant to foster curriculum growth, teachers will be blending core subjects with the arts and electives to create experiences that get students excited about learning. Principal Francesca Gantt says ambitious and creative curriculum design is essential to students’ future success.
“The district has to focus on deeper learning,” Gantt said. “This is our deep dive into deeper learning.”
Visitors to the showcase saw plants sprouting in the school’s aeroponic garden, tested financial software used for building a personal budget, examined Winston-Salem’s urban planning strategies through LEGO models, and investigated a mock crime scene. The STEAM magnet school has plenty of resources to offer students with interests ranging from textiles to 3D printing, but getting the most out of them will require lesson plans that maximize exploration and creativity. Teachers hope they’ll be able to provide that framework with their projects, especially after getting student feedback from the showcase.
“I can see our kids really blooming with this,” said ELA Teacher Alleen Smith-Roberts. “I can see them interacting a lot more and retaining a lot more. Things are really etched into our memories when we put action behind them.”
The early returns from students suggest that Konnoak’s strategy is on the right track. Rising Eighth Grader Ni’ara Karriem Taqwaa was impressed by the sheer variety of projects on display and how different they all felt compared to learning from a textbook. She hopes that she and other students can expect a lot more of this type of learning in the future.
“They’re being really creative,” she said. “I think a lot of people could learn from this.”