Project curriculum theory: each phase of school work should be as far as possible a replica of a life activity¶

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 against) · 1 study (1 review), q1 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The organizing theory of Wells' project curriculum holds that "each phase of school work shall be so far as posible a replica of a life activity". Children are organized as families, the year's work is dramatized, and doll families provide motivation even for arithmetic. Proponents extend this to seeking life activities through which all skills, information, problem-solving training, and attitudes are developed.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

Requires school work to be organized as life activities such as families, in which children take assigned roles across a full school year

Constraints¶

As reviewed, the theory was implemented only in grades 1-3 of one Trenton, N. J. school; the grades 4-6 course remained theoretical

Target Learners¶

children in the first six grades of elementary school

Learning Goals¶

school skills
information
problem solving
fundamental attitudes

Claims¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

Rugg, E. U. (1921). New Publications. The Journal of Educational Psychology. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Journal+of+Educational+Psychology

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`design`
`id`	`project-curriculum-life-activity-replica-theory`
`title`	`Project curriculum theory: each phase of school work should be as far as possible a replica of a life activity`
`description`	`The organizing theory of Wells' project curriculum holds that "each phase of school work shall be so far as posible a replica of a life activity".`
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:settle-candidates` on `2026-10-25`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	1 — `rugg-1921`

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