TL;DR: Projects help you organize big topics into smaller steps called milestones. Use SparkAI to turn complex ideas like building a garden or writing a book into a clear, day-by-day learning plan that covers multiple subjects at once!
When a single lesson isn't enough to cover a complex topic, Projects allow your students to dive deep into a subject over many sessions. Whether your child is building a backyard ecosystem or studying the physics of flight, Projects help organize learning into manageable milestones.
These long-term plans are perfect for those "big ideas" that take time to explore. You can track progress step-by-step and see how your child's skills grow over weeks or even months. It is a wonderful way to watch their confidence soar as they complete a big goal!
What are Multi-Session Projects?
Unlike a standard lesson that covers one idea in one sitting, a Project is a collection of related activities. SparkAI helps you structure these by breaking a big idea down into smaller, logical steps called Milestones.
These milestones act as checkpoints that guide your student from their first bit of research to a final presentation. It makes a large task feel much less overwhelming for both you and your student. Plus, SparkAI ensures these projects hit multiple curriculum standards at once!
Creating Your First Project
Setting up a project is simple and feels just like making a lesson. Because SparkAI already knows your student’s interests, it will suggest ideas that keep them excited to learn.
Click the Projects tab on your sidebar.
Click the Create New Project button.
Define the Scope: Enter your topic, like "Designing a sustainable vegetable garden." If you are feeling stuck, you can ask SparkAI for Project Ideas based on your child's recent interests.
Select Students: Choose which children will participate. You can assign the project to one child or a Pod (group) of students.
Set the Duration: Pick how many sessions or weeks you want the project to take.
Generate with SparkAI: Click Generate to create your roadmap, including milestones and required materials. That's it—your big adventure is ready to start!
💡 Good to know: Creating and re-generating projects uses SparkAI credits. These credits help keep your student's mastery profile up to date as they progress through the project.
Managing Milestones and Progress
Once your project is ready, it is broken down into Milestones. These are like chapters in a book, and you have full control over how they work.
Checklists: Each milestone has specific tasks to check off as your student finishes them.
Flexibility: You can drag and drop milestones to change their order or edit them to add your own resources.
Scheduling: You can add specific milestones to your Weekly Schedule to stay organized.
When you mark a milestone as complete, it automatically updates the Student Profile. This shows exactly which skills they practiced during that part of the project. It's a great way to celebrate their hard work!
Collaborative Projects for Pods
Projects are a great way for siblings or friends to work together. When you assign a Project to a Pod, SparkAI does the heavy lifting for you to make sure everyone is included.
Tailored Roles: The platform suggests tasks based on each child's unique strengths and Student Profile.
Different Levels: Tasks are adjusted for different academic ages. This means a 7-year-old and a 10-year-old can work on the same project using activities that fit their own level perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change a project after SparkAI generates it?
Yes! You have full control to edit milestones, add your own tasks, or move things around to suit your schedule. You are the boss of your learning journey!
How do projects help with my child's mastery profile?
As you finish milestones, SparkAI tracks the skills used. This update appears in the Performance tab so you can see their progress across multiple subjects in one view.
What if we don't finish a project on time?
No problem! Projects are flexible. You can adjust the dates or keep working through the milestones at a pace that feels right for your family. Learning isn't a race!
Do I need special materials for projects?
SparkAI will provide a list of suggested materials for each milestone. You can always swap these out for things you already have at home or ideas you find online.
Does creating a project use credits?
Yes, SparkAI uses credits for generating the initial project plan, milestones, and any time you choose to regenerate a section to get new ideas.