How to Use Summative Projects to Boost Student Engagement

By Precious Townsend, Fourth Grade Teacher

I remember sitting in my classroom, reviewing the lesson plans for the next unit. I felt confident in my ability to communicate the directions and believed my students would be able to follow along. But something lingered in the back of my mind: Would they truly engage with the lesson? Would the content resonate and stick with them?

I found myself pondering this question for hours, even losing sleep over it. How could I engage a room full of post-COVID students with a lesson designed before the pandemic? It felt like I was competing against TikTok, YouTube, and a whole host of other social media platforms, all of which were vying for my students’ attention. I know I’m not alone in this struggle — many teachers across the country share this concern.

Over time, I’ve learned that embedding a summative project at the end of the unit helps to keep students engaged throughout the lessons leading up to it.

Every effective lesson contains essential components: moments of critical thinking, opportunities for reflection, vocabulary comprehension, and, of course, a few surprises to keep students on their toes. When I add a summative project to the end of the module, it gives students something to look forward to and keeps them engaged throughout the process.

The bonus? It involves families in the learning experience, allowing them to actively contribute to their child’s education. This not only fosters a stronger connection between parents and students but also helps boost parents’ confidence in their role as their child’s first teacher.

So, how do I engage my post-COVID learners? By giving them opportunities to showcase what they’ve learned through creative, hands-on projects.

Summative Project Example: A Lesson on Research, Crafting, and Public Speaking

As an elementary school teacher, I love integrating hands-on projects that not only connect with the curriculum but also engage my students in meaningful learning experiences. In one of my recent fourth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) lessons, we explored the Middle Ages through a creative, multi-step project that spanned across research, crafting, and public speaking.

Here’s a look at how I structured the summative project to boost student engagement and provide rich learning opportunities:

Background Knowledge: Understanding the Middle Ages

When planning this unit, I started by reviewing the scope and sequence of the curriculum to ensure the lesson aligned with the science of reading and supported the development of fluent readers. One of my first priorities was to make sure we had a solid foundation in key vocabulary. I introduced essential terms related to the Middle Ages, such as “castle,” “knight,” and “serf,” while providing clear definitions. For Multilingual Learners (MLs), I made sure to pair each word with visuals to reinforce comprehension.

Setting Clear Expectations and Goals

As we moved into the lesson, I made sure to highlight the targets and success criteria that aligned with the academic standards. I also made teacher notes to identify transferable skills, which would later be part of the rubric for the final project. This helped me stay focused on what students needed to learn, both in terms of content and skills.

For this unit, the culminating project was for students to demonstrate their understanding of the Middle Ages by creating a model of a real castle from that time period. Students had the creative freedom to choose how they built their models, but they were required to label each component with relevant vocabulary and compare and contrast life in a Middle Ages castle to life in the United States today.

Creating Excitement for the Project

When introducing the unit, I made sure to get my students excited about the project. I shared a detailed unit overview and really “beefed it up” to build anticipation. I showed them examples of what their final projects could look like, and even used YouTube tutorials featuring kids their age working on similar projects. It’s amazing how much enthusiasm can grow when students see the possibilities.

I also made sure to keep families in the loop. I sent home exemplars and encouraged parents to actively support their children’s progress. I built in several small action items throughout the lesson to keep everyone on track. For example, the research phase was broken down into three days of homework, followed by one night of material planning. Construction of the project itself was assigned over nine days, and I even incorporated public speaking practice, which was due one week later. I used a messaging platform to check in with families daily, helping everyone stay connected and on task.

The Impact

The results were incredible. Not only were students highly engaged in the lesson, but they also gained valuable skills in research, crafting, and public speaking. They had the opportunity to work collaboratively with their families, and by the end, they were able to present their projects with confidence. Most importantly, they had a lot of fun along the way!

By taking the time to plan a project that incorporates various components of learning — like vocabulary acquisition, research, creativity, and speaking skills — I was able to create an experience that kept students motivated and excited about learning. And seeing their final projects was truly rewarding!

Precious is a dedicated educator with a passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation. With a B.S. and an M.A. already in hand, Precious will soon complete an M.S., furthering her commitment to personal growth and academic excellence. Known for fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment, she strives to inspire students and help them reach their fullest potential, both in and outside the classroom.

Follow the conversation #WhyITeach

To be reminded why your work is so very important and for more stories and advice, visit our collection of teacher perspectives at The Art of Teaching.

You can view the McGraw Hill Privacy Policy here: http://www.mheducation.com/privacy.html. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, and do not reflect the values or positioning of McGraw Hill or its sales.