At Mapleton High School when it hits 2:38, Students start to arrive in their designated PBL class to work on their passion projects.. Words are being exchanged, interest is being sparked and PBL class is starting.

PBL stands for Project Based Learning, which is a “teaching method where students engage actively in real-world and personally meaningful projects”. PBL is different from the rest of the class day because assignments are more flexible and students get to work on topics they’re personally interested in. This is the first year Mapleton High School District is doing Project Based Learning or anything of the sort.

There are a total of seven P.B.L’s that Mapleton offers – culinary, business, media, gardening, construction, sustainability, and electronics. Each of these P.B.L. groups consist of a mix of students in grades 7 through 12 and focus on a variety of projects. 

Culinary – In the culinary P.B.L students are working on their passion projects, which are pieces of work that students want to participate in because they enjoy that certain thing. For their passion projects they have decided to cook something of their choice. Culinary has done a lot for not only the members of the P.B.L but for the Mapleton community as well. They have made a bunch of appetizers for the SFORZA fair for the community to eat and have gotten many good reviews and comments on what they have done so far. They also created beautiful charcuterie bouquets for a recent Spring Dance. Sophomore Averie Walker said,  “I’ve cooked since I was 3 and I think it is a good way to share with the class about my cooking experience.”