Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years, Second Edition

This bestselling book has been completely updated and expanded to help teachers use the project approach in child care centers, in preschools, and in kindergarten, 1st grade, and early childhood special education classrooms. For those new to using projects, the book introduces the approach and provides step-by-step guidance for conducting meaningful projects. Experienced teachers will find the teacher interviews, children’s work, photographs (including full color), and teacher journal entries used to document the project process in actual classrooms very useful.

This popular, easy-to-use resource has been expanded to include these new features:

• Explicit instructions and examples for incorporating standards into the topic selection and planning process.


• A variety of nature experiences, with examples that show how project work is an excellent way to connect children to the natural world.


• An update of the use of technology for both documentation and investigations, including use of the Web as well as and video and digital cameras.


• More toddler projects that reflect our increased knowledge from recent mind/brain research about toddler understanding and learning.


• A study guide for pre- and in-service teachers.

Judy Harris Helm heads her own educational consulting and training company, Best Practices, Inc., in Brimfield, Illinois, and is the author of numerous books, including Windows on Learning, The Power of Projects, and Teaching Your Child to Love Learning.Lilian G. Katz is past president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and professor emerita at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Praise for the First Edition

“Everything you could possibly need to start a project is covered in this book, so start investigating!”

—Association for Childhood Education International

“A readable and extremely valuable book…includes a planning journal with step-by-step guidance for doing a first project with young children.”

—Child Care Plus

“Along with tips on how to get started and successfully carry out this approach, readers will find methodologies for maintaining curricular standards and utilizing technology.”

—ENC Focus

“This practical book is full of good ideas for teachers developing investigative projects with the youngest children. A powerful resource, it combines sound educational theory with many ways to support and document learning.”

—Sylvia C. Chard, University of Alberta, Canada

“In this beautifully written book, the reader takes a journey, discovering the many answers to the why, what, and how questions about the project approach. In addition to providing the essential how-to guidebook for projects, Helm and Katz address today’s burning issues—standards, evaluation, special populations, and relation to the larger curriculum.”

—Sue Bredekamp, Council for Professional Recognition