Start with the end in mind

What do you want the students to do?  Content is usually the first area that needs to be solidified.  What area of your subject are the students going to learn?  This is different than, “what are the students going to learn,” because in the beginning stages, we don’t want to get too detailed, though many teachers have covered the material in previous semesters and have a good idea what they want to have students learn.  

Some said that they didn't learn anything. Their parents disagreed.

A final project can be a movie, poster, Prezi, or, as in this case, a planter just outside the classroom.

After the content area, what will the final project be?  Will students act out an extended scene from a Shakespeare play?  Are they going to create a video depicting the center of gravity on various items?  Will they present to other classes their research on a recently passed law that affects students?

Native plants right outside of our classroom drastically improved the view for all with minimal maintenance.