Project Based Learning
At North Star 82, our aim in delivering a project‑based learning (PBL) curriculum is to offer learning that is meaningful, accessible and effective for every pupil. Project‑based learning is an approach where pupils develop their knowledge and skills by working on real‑world projects. They investigate questions, explore ideas and create practical outcomes, helping them understand not just what they are learning, but why it matters.
Project Based Learning
We know that the children at North Star 82 learn best through hands‑on, pupil‑centred experiences. Our PBL curriculum supports this by giving pupils genuine ownership of their learning. Through curiosity, exploration and active involvement, pupils engage in projects that feel purposeful and relevant to their lives.
Alongside subject knowledge, covering the history, geography, art, music and design technology national curriculum, we place a strong emphasis on developing essential life skills such as communication, teamwork, resilience, emotional regulation, problem‑solving and critical thinking. These skills help pupils make academic progress while also supporting their social and emotional development, enabling them to build confidence and form positive relationships within school and beyond.
Lessons and themes that your child will experience:
Term 1
KS1 – What makes me, my school and my city unique?
Lower KS2 – What would I survive better? The iron age or the stone age?
Upper KS2 – What makes King Alfred the great so great?
Term 2
KS1 – What is up with the weather in England?
Lower KS2 – Would Bristol have been better as an Anglo-Saxon or Viking town?
Upper KS2 – How can North Star 82 support sustainability of the planet?
Term 3
KS1 – What makes a great explorer and how would you explore somewhere new?
Lower KS2 – Where is most dangerous place in the world to live and how would you survive it?
Upper KS2 – If you redesigned the worlds first city what would you change and why?
Term 4
KS1 – Why are the 7 saints of St Paul’s important?
Lower KS2 – How does life in the Amazon rainforest compare to Bristol?
Upper KS2 – Why do people live in megacities (Guangzhou, China)?
Term 5
KS1 – How is life in England different from life in Kenya?
Lower KS2 – Why is the UK considered a Christmas country?
Upper KS2 – When was the best time to be a criminal?
Term 6
KS1 – Why do we need to look after our beaches?
Lower KS2 – How can we make the roads safer in Henbury?
Upper KS2 – Where are the best places to produce renewable energy in Henbury?
