KELLY PREDHAM
WHY PROJECT BASED LEARNING
Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects.
The AP Business with Personal Finance is a new, year-long Advanced Placement course launching in the 2026-27 school year that blends core business principles with essential personal financial literacy. It is part of the College Board's AP Career Kickstart program and was developed in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The AP Business with Personal Finance is a new, year-long Advanced Placement course launching in the 2026-27 school year that blends core business principles with essential personal financial literacy. It is part of the College Board's AP Career Kickstart program and was developed in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
How the PBL Series Works
- 4 days of online or in-person professional learning during an AP Summer Institute
- Up to 5 online support sessions throughout the school year
- Access to project implementation guides aligned to the course framework
- Overall Curriculum: The course integrates business disciplines like entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, accounting, and management with personal finance standards. Key topics include:
- Personal Goals, Budgeting, and Investing (including retirement planning, loans, and home ownership)
- Management and Strategy
- Personal Saving and Borrowing/Business Finance and Accounting
- Marketing
- Businesses, Competition, and New Ideas
AGENDA
Day 1: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (7.5 hours)
8:00- 8:15 Welcome and Introductions
8:15-8:30 Entry Event: Ideal Graduate
8:30-8:45 Introduce the Driving Question; Goals and Outcomes
- How can PBL help ALL students thrive in an AP classroom?
- Create/share norms after this activity
8:55 - 9:10 Introduce the Elements of High Quality PBL
9:10-9:30 Initial Know/Need to Know Groups
9:30-9:45 Break
9:45-10:15 CED Scavenger Hunt
10:15-10:45 Project 1 Entry Event: Cookie Business
10:45-11:00 Introduction to the Business Canvas
11:00 -11:30 Business Ideation in Project 1
11:30 - 12:00 Hypothesis Testing Problem-Solution Fit
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 1:30 Personal Finance in Project 1: Core Competencies
1:30-2:00 Project 1 PBL Implementation Guide/Connection to CED
2:00- 2:15 Project 1 Debrief with PBL Design Elements and Course Skills
2:15-2:30 Break
2:30-3:15 Teaching with Business Cases
3:15-3:30 Year at a Glance Pacing
3:15 - 3:30 Using the PBL Platform to Inform Planning
3:30-4:15 Time to begin calendaring Project 1
4:15-4:30 Closing: Project 1 clarifying questions & debrief
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Day 2: 8:00 am - 4:30 PM
8:00-8:10 Opening: Driving Question & Learning Outcomes for Day 2
8:10-8:25 Blob Bridge & Responding to Exit Slip
8:25 - 8:45 PBL Main Course review & responding to participant feedback
8:45 - 9:00 Return to “Need to Know” Groups
9:00 - 9:05 The Case for PBL and AP
9:05 – 9:15 How does PBL help with broadening access?
9:15-9:45 Introducing Assessment in PBL
9:45-10:00 Teaching to Standards Discussion
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-10:45 AP BPF Exam Overview
10:45 - 11:30 Project 1 Calendaring for Assessment
11:30 -12:00 Time to Read Project 2 PBL Implementation Guide
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00 1:15 What Keeps You Going? Prompt
1:15 -1:30 Project 2 – Main Course vs. Dessert
1:30-2:00 Project 2 Experience and Debrief
2:00 –2:30 Connect Projects 1 and 2 to AP Exam
2:30 -2:45 Break
2:45-3:15 Project 2 Case Study
3:15 - 4:00 Calendaring Project 2 & Adaptations
4:00 - 4:15 Project 2 Culminating Event
4:15-4:30 Project 2 Clarifying Questions and Closing.
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Day 3: 8:00 am - 4:30 PM
8:00-8:10 Opening Question/ Day 3 Learning Outcomes
8:10-8:25 Blob Tree & Responding to Exit Slip
8:25-8:55 Role of Critique & Revisions (Austin’s Butterfly) (tie back to hypothesis)
8:55-9:25 Critical Protocol: Rose, Thorn, Bud
9:25-10:00 Project 3 and Personal Finance (Unit 3: Part 1)
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:30 Project 3: Personal Finance and Financial Statements
11:30-12:00 Time to read the Project 3 Implementation Guide
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-1:30 Project 3: Culminating Event-Funding Pitch
1:30-2:20 AP Business with Personal Finance Skills (refer back to CED)
2:20-2:30 Think of a Student (diverse students, from struggling to overachiever)
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:20 Scaffolding in PBL: Planning the “Messy Middle”
3:20-4:20 Work Time/Collaboration (Calendaring of Project 3/Adaptations)
4:20-4:30 Closing & Exit Ticket
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Day 4: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
8:00-8:05 Exit Ticket Feedback
8:05-8:20 Ice breaker (Blob Tree)/ Opening Question
8:20-9:00 Embedding Business Competitions within the AP Business with Personal Finance Course
9:00– 9:30 Sharing Calendars in a Small Group
9:30– 10:15 Work Time Based on Feedback
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30-11:30 PBL Culture-Building Choice Breakout Groups
11:30 -12:00 Final Know/Need to Know Inventory
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 2:45 Looking ahead to Projects 4 and 5
2:45 – 3:00 Break
3:00 - 3:30 Overview of Support Sessions throughout the year
3:30-3:45 Gratitude Posts
3:45- 4:00 Commitment Statements