The success of project-based learning (PBL) largely depends on the quality and availability of resources to make projects, both of which often require monetary support. This might be feasible in private schools, but in government schools, where most children come from low-income backgrounds, the challenge is different.
As a teacher, my focus is on this: can my students create projects even without financial support from their parents? Can they use whatever is available around them to make meaningful projects? With limited resources, can they still grasp the concept and bring it to life through their work?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy—with my training, PBL, and what my students have achieved despite the odds.
Who Am I and What Inspires My Teaching?
I am Juhi Bharti, a Science and Maths teacher in UMS Ghordaul Kumarkhand, Madhepura, Bihar. In February 2024, I became a teacher, and since then, I have been teaching my students using creative ideas that allow them to experience concepts firsthand and engage their psychomotor skills, one of the primary goals of the NEP 2020.
Whenever I get the opportunity to do something new in the classroom, I always find immense pleasure in fulfilling my role and responsibilities as a math and science teacher. I believe in the saying, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way.’
How Do My Experiences Shape My Approach to Teaching?
With limited resources, my main focus is to deliver maximum learning outcomes for students. Project-Based Learning (PBL) focuses on hands-on activities, ensuring that students never get bored as new ideas flow through their fertile minds. With each passing day, students become more creative. Before introducing a new chapter, I provide some clues related to the topic, encouraging students to think about what they will be learning in the coming week. This approach sparks their creativity and encourages them to come up with innovative ideas.
I come from the Araria district of Bihar. Growing up in a lower-middle-class family, I have seen the struggle to secure a stable job and earn enough income. When putting food on the table is a daily challenge, how can parents even consider spending on their child’s education or study materials? This reality shaped my understanding of the struggles many families face.
Today, as a teacher, I draw on these experiences while working with students from middle-class families. I see a reflection of my own childhood in these young ‘scientists’ and understand the financial constraints their families navigate. Knowing this, I never expect my students to bring expensive resources or materials. Instead, I focus on helping them learn and explore with whatever is accessible, ensuring that education doesn’t become an additional burden for their parents.
What Does It Mean to Learn from Nature?
We need to teach students to look around themselves and see what nature has to offer. There’s so much to learn and create using simple, natural materials like leaves, seeds, or even household waste. By encouraging them to think creatively and use what’s readily available, we not only make learning more accessible but also help them better understand the concepts.
How Can Waste Be Transformed into Learning Resources?
Take, for example, a cold drink bottle. It’s a common waste item that students see around them all the time. But can that waste bottle be put to use? Recently, I asked my students to think of ways to repurpose a plastic bottle for a science project. They came up with an idea to create a mini water filtration system.
Using gravel, sand, charcoal, and cotton—materials that are either freely available or inexpensive—they designed a working model to demonstrate the process of filtration. This simple activity not only helped them understand the water purification process but also sparked discussions on sustainability and the importance of reusing waste materials.
Through activities like this, students realize that learning and problem-solving go hand in hand and that even waste can be transformed into something useful with a little creativity.
How Can Teachers Make PBL More Fun & Engaging?
As teachers, we can encourage students to explore their surroundings and use easily accessible materials to create projects. Start small—repurpose everyday items to spark curiosity and creativity. Let’s show students that learning isn’t limited by resources but fueled by imagination. Together, we can make PBL meaningful and inclusive for every child.
