You might recognize project-based learning as a buzzword in education. There is a reason for all the hype! This style of instruction incorporates curriculum with 21st-century skills in a way that is meaningful and engaging for students. If you’re looking for project-based learning ideas for the English Language Arts classroom, this blog post will introduce you to seven simple and fun project-based learning examples.
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach that pushes students to explore real-world problems, questions, or challenges. Rather than completing isolated tasks or responding to worksheets, students engage in meaningful projects that require them to think critically, collaborate with others, and apply what they’ve learned in authentic ways.
A strong project-based learning experience includes several key elements: a driving question or challenge, student voice and choice, sustained inquiry, opportunities for feedback and revision, and a final product or presentation that is shared with an audience beyond the teacher. These elements transform a simple project into a learning process that mirrors how people operate in the real world.
To put it simply, project-based learning delivers instruction through hands-on assessment. Students will meet the curriculum standards of the unit while they complete the project. The project will incorporate each learning goal by requiring students to reach the goal in order to solve the problem or finalize the project.
What Are Some Examples of Project-Based Learning Ideas?
Your colleagues may have implemented PBL in their classrooms, especially if they teach STEM subjects. Project-based learning ideas are often associated with technical subjects or scientific design. When people think about PBL, they often think of projects like growing a garden, designing an app, or hatching a chicken egg.
The reality is that project-based learning ideas can apply to almost any activity that connects to the real world. If you’re an ELA teacher, you are probably already implementing real-world learning in some way. You can develop project-based learning ideas grounded in reading, writing, researching, speaking, and listening – like planning a vacation or conducting a mock trial!
Project-Based Learning Ideas for English
Here are some simple and fun project-based learning ideas for English Language Arts:
1. Conducting a Classroom Mock Trial
Mock trials are one of the most engaging project-based learning ideas for exploring the legal system and teaching argumentative writing. You can build a mock trial around any novel or short story that features a character who might be guilty of criminal negligence. Examples include Mary Maloney from Roald Dahl’s “Lamb to the Slaughter,” Mrs. Price from Sandra Cisneros’ “Eleven,” and Sanger Rainsford from “The Most Dangerous Game.”
Students will be motivated to dive deep into the text to look for evidence to support their arguments; in doing so, they will come to a greater understanding of the story’s underlying message and overarching themes. To prepare for a mock trial, you will need a central accusation along with mock trial roles to assign your students.
This mock trial outline includes a slideshow lesson, 30+ role descriptions, an objections cheat sheet, a judge script, a universal rubric, and everything else you need to lead your students through this exciting project-based learning opportunity.
2. “Humans of My School:” Community Interview Project
You may have heard of Brandon Stanton’s famous photoblog, Humans of New York. This project pairs portraits with powerful personal stories shared by the people being photographed. With millions of followers on Instagram, Humans of New York has resonated with people from all over the world.
If you’re looking to bring this spirit of connection and storytelling into your classroom, this “Humans of My School” assignment is a great way to do just that! Students will conduct interviews with community members within your school. This project outline introduces students to the Humans of New York project and guides them through the interview process. They’ll prepare thoughtful questions, learn how to conduct an interview, and practice writing a personal narrative.
This assignment can stand on its own or serve as a culminating piece for units on memoir, identity, or journalism. Whether students are interviewing peers, mentors, or school staff, this “Humans of My School” project challenges them to look beyond surface-level details and dig into the experiences that shape people’s lives. In doing so, they’ll refine their writing and communication skills and gain a richer appreciation for the stories all around them.
3. Book Trailer Projects
Book trailers are a student favorite for a reason: they blend literary analysis with a format students genuinely enjoy – video! Book trailers ask students to engage deeply with storytelling elements like tone, mood, conflict, and theme. Like a traditional essay, this assignment encourages close reading, thoughtful reflection on character development, and distilling key plot points – but it does so through a real-world task with an authentic audience.
This project-based learning idea brings together higher-level thinking, narrative structure, planning, and collaboration. Students move through the full creative process – from initial concept to final product – building ownership and pride in their work. They love watching each other’s trailers, and you’ll appreciate how easy it is to assess during class presentations.
This book trailer project includes everything you need to facilitate this assignment, including book trailer instructions, storyboard organizers, peer evaluation forms, student checklists, and an editable rubric.
4. Leading Classroom Debates
You can bring your persuasive writing unit alive by assigning a classroom debate – one of those project-based learning ideas that is always a huge hit! Many of the skills taught in persuasive writing can also be practiced through a lively classroom debate.
Students can begin this assignment by brainstorming different topics of interest. Then, you can assign teams based on student choice. In order to develop a strong argument, students will need to learn how to develop main points and supporting evidence. They will also learn the value of different types of evidence. Finally, they will practice public speaking and listening as they present their arguments and rebuttals.
This classroom debate unit provides everything you need to lead a debate with minimal prep, including a slideshow lesson, graphic organizers, a moderator script, and an editable rubric for assessment.
5. Real-World Resource for Research Essays
Looking for a project-based learning idea to spice up your research unit? Yes, there are ways to make research more exciting! Instead of writing a research essay, you can have students transform their research into a meaningful document – like a pamphlet, infographic, or mini-documentary. We call this a “real-world resource,” and it’s a great way to get students’ research off the page and connect it to their community.
A real-world resource can be any medium used to deliver information to the public. Examples include pamphlets, TED Talks, infographics, podcasts, and more. This PBL assessment is a great opportunity for implementing student choice. Students can select a topic of interest to them to inform their audience.
To expand this unit, you can incorporate teaching MLA format, practicing in-text citations, and other important research skills related to this research unit. The best part about this PBL assignment is that it shows students the value of research in the real world. Your students will see the parallel between expository and argumentative writing and fields including marketing, broadcasting, media production, hospitality, medicine, health and wellness, and more!
This Real-World Resource assignment includes instructions, assessment tools, and student examples. You can use this resource to facilitate this project-based learning idea in your classroom.
6. Designing Comic Strips
Project-based learning ideas often offer creative alternatives to traditional forms of assessment like the 5-paragraph essay. This comic strip project is highly visual assignment that gets students thinking differently about literature. Instead of writing another essay, students can retell key scenes and highlight literary elements like conflict, character development, and theme – all through illustration and dialogue.
This assignment naturally lends itself to project-based learning. Students plan, draft, revise, and produce a final product that shows both comprehension and creativity. They will make decisions about layout, tone, and pacing to demonstrate storytelling and analysis skills. Since they have the freedom to design their own panels, they can also take ownership of their work. Whether they’re hand-drawn or digital, these comic strips make for standout end-of-year displays that celebrate student voice in a unique way.
7. Planning a Vacation
Out of all of these project-based learning ideas, this one is perfect for those long winter months! Have students plan a vacation and practice various forms of writing. This type of project will invite students to explore the world without leaving the classroom.
Students can begin this project by thinking about a place they’d like to visit. The next steps are to use research skills to write an article about the local customs and culture. Students can then plan their daily itinerary and use graphic texts to illustrate their trip timeline or vacation budget. You can even have students practice narrative writing by crafting daily journal entries during their trip! This vacation planning project has everything you need to assign and assess this activity.
Tying it all Together: Project-Based Learning Ideas for ELA
These project-based learning ideas offer a powerful way to deepen student engagement, promote critical thinking, and bring literacy skills to life in meaningful, memorable ways. Whether students are producing a book trailer, leading a debate, or designing a comic strip, they’re showing what they know using real-world skills. These project-based learning ideas invite students to create, collaborate, and reflect, shifting the focus from what they know to what they can do with that knowledge.
Looking for a no-prep option to bring these project-based learning ideas into your classroom? All of the assignments featured in this blog post are included in my Project-Based Learning Bundle for English Language Arts. To preview this bundle and see what teachers like you are loving about it, click here.
